Syllabus
Instructor Information
Name:
Dr. Kimberly Vincent
Email:
vincent@math.wsu.edu
Office location:
Neill 330
Phone:
335-3143
Course Information
Course title:
Methods of Teaching Secondary Mathematics
Course number:
Math 330-1
Course discipline:
Teacher Education
Course date:
Monday, August 22, 2005 through Friday, December 16, 2005
Location:
Neill 5W
Meeting day(s):
MWF
Meeting time(s):
3:10-4:00
Prerequisite(s):
Linear Algebra-- Math 220; intention on becoming a secondary
mathematics teacher
Course Goals
Course goals:
This course is intended for students preparing to teach high school
or middle
school mathematics. It is my goal that you leave this course
understanding that teaching mathematics involves a
communication component
that is impacted by culture and gender, as well as familiarity with
a
variety of teaching methods.
Textbooks--None required, however you are required to purchase a bundle of
software.
Required reading:
The software bundle includes: Geometer's Sketchpad (version 4),
Fathom and
KaleidoMania.
Required reading:
Various articles will be supplied or put on reserve in Brain
Library in Cleveland Hall,
throughout the semester.
Required reading:
The following books will be loaned to each of you:
 Fires in the Bathroom
 Number Devil
 Flat Land
Course Objectives
Each of you will be
able:
 to create and implement effective pedagogical strategies
 incorporate collaborative learning and appropriate technology
 design a variety of assessment tools
 connect mathematics to the real world
 incorporate inclusive teaching strategies
 acquire knowledge of the state learning goals and
Essential Academic Learning Requirements by
(a) demonstrating knowledge of the goals
(b) demonstrating skill in developing curriculum, instruction,
and assessment of students in grades 4-12 Math EALRs, and
(c) demonstrating the ability to have a positive impact
on 4-12 students learning in the Math EALRs
Policies
Introduction:
NOTE OF RESPONSIBILITY: NO MAKE-UPS. If you miss any
in class work,
you will not be able to make them up.
NO LATE WORK accepted.
If you are sick and unable to attend class the day work is due, then
be sure to get the work turned
into my mailbox before 5 p.m. (I am not responsible for work
placed in the mail boxes-- any lost work is your responsibility.)
Additional
information:
Reasonable accommodations are available for students who have a
documented disability.
Please notify me during the first week of class of any
accommodations needed for the course.
Late notification may cause the requested accommodations to be
unavailable.
All accommodations must be approved through the Disability
Resource Center (DRC)
in Administration Annex, Room 205 on the Pullman Campus,
Phone 335-1566, e-mail drc@mail.wsu.edu
Grades
Scale:
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F: Below 60
D-: 60-66
D: 67-69
C-:70-73
C:74-76
C+: 77-79
B-:80-83
B:84-86
B+:87-89
A-:90-93
A:94-100
Break Down of
Percentages:
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Topics for Course
Infused Throughout: 
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Attendance and Participation 20%
Final Project/Portfolio 50%
Journal Writing 10%
Professional Development and reflections 10%
Practice Teaching and Reflections 10%
EALRs and NCTM Standards
Inclusive Teaching
intro to Equation Editor
Use of Technology
Lesson Planning
Assessment
Attendance and Participation
Required and
There are many reasons each class is important to attend. One
Valued:
reason is to allow
you to input your ideas in the discussions and to benefit from the
comments of the
instructor and your classmates. You will also experience learning
in settings
that model strategies we discuss. If you cannot make a class
(because of illness or
another understandable reason), please inform Dr. Kim in
advance. Most in-class work
cannot be made-up, due to the discussions.
Final Project/Portfolio
Purpose:
This will constitute a lasting collection of teaching strategies,
resources, lesson plans, etc.
This is intended to be a contribution to your mathematics teaching
file. It should be
carefully organized into sections. Any materials that you have
created should be kept
electronically as well as in hard copy form. Your portfolio will be
reviewed 1-3 times
during the semester by 15-20 minutes appointments with Dr. Kim
or by turning in
designated components. The last review of your portfolio occurs
at your exit interview
with Dr. Kim during finals week. You will receive ongoing
feedback during the semester
on various things, this will allow you to continuously add to the
depth and improve the
quality of your portfolio.
Journal Writing
What?:
We will do a variety of reflective writing in journals each week.
Sometimes the
journal entries will be done electronically through WebCt,
sometimes they will
be done in your blue book during class or outside of class. These
should be
thoughtful reflections to my prompt. Occasionally, you will be
able to write
about wherever your own concerns or excitements take you.
Professional Development:
This entails a choice of attending the Northwest Math Conference
or attending CompuTeach a workshop for public school teachers
ComputTeach
Workshop:
The CompuTeach Workshop for middle and high school teachers,
see http://www.sci.wsu.edu/cos/computeach/index.html for more
information. You will write a summary of the work done and the
impact on teachers', students' and your learning.
Northwest Math
Conference:
This is a meeting of about 2000 teachers and math educators held
each October
in Oregon, Washington or British Columbia on a rotating basis.
This fall's
conference is in Portland OR, October 13-15, 2005.
Student registration is approximately $50.00 if done by the early
registration deadline
of October 4th (you are responsible for this cost). Information
about
the conference is available at the conference website
I hope most of you will plan to attend. It is almost sure that I have
obtained
funding for transportation. To get credit in Math 330 you will
write a brief summaries of talks and workshops attended.
Further details will be provided at a later date.
Practice Teaching
INland Northwest
Math Experience, IN
ME Its In me is it in
you?:
If we receive funding that I have requested, then we will conduct
the third annual
INME in early November one day for high school kids and one
day for middle school kids
You will design
activities allowing students to discover mathematics with a handson focus. As a class
we will plan, organize and create the activities to be done. More
details will follow.
Lesson Presentation
Learn from your
Peers:
Throughout the semester you will be writing activities or detailed
lessons. If time allows
you may have the opportunity to share some of these with your
classmates
at various times (time may not permit). The grade for a
presentation will be half
of attendance and participation--if there is time to present one of
your activities
or lessons. If there is not time to do these in class then we will
share through the
class website.
Final Note
Let the Fun Begin:
I enjoy mathematics and I enjoy teaching. The two are both a very
important part
of me and they both allow me to do what I love--work with people
who might share
my excitement. Do not hesitate to ask for help or advice whenever
you need it. My
office hours are for you, so come to them often. I hope you will
have fun and work
hard this semester-I always do!