Syllabus
Math 131, Winter 2011
Math for Elementary School Teachers 1
“Teachers open the door but you must enter by yourself.”– Chinese Proverb
Section: 5980
Time: 11:30 to 12:50 MWTh
Location: 19-010
Instructor: Meredith LaFlesh
E-mail: mlaflesh@tacomacc.edu
Phone: (253) 460-4337
Office: 9-55
Office Hours: MWTh 10:30 – 11:20am, Tu 10:30 – 12:15, & by appointment.
Webpage: www.tacomacc.edu/home/mlaflesh
Course Overview: Welcome to Math 131! I admire you for choosing to help children become life-long learners! This
class will give you a firm foundation that will allow you to be successful in teaching your future elementary students.
We will examine topics from our adult perspective, and we will remember the frustration and excitement involved in
learning new and strange concepts. I hope you will come to view the teaching and learning of mathematics as a
process that never stops being stimulating for you and for your students.
Course Description: A course for prospective teachers focusing on the mathematics underlying modern elementary
school math curricula. Topics include whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and their operations, and proportions and
percentage. The course emphasizes deep conceptual understanding, problem solving, and communication of
mathematical ideas.
Instructional Methods Used: This is an interactive class. You will work in small groups and use manipulatives
frequently. Writing explanations of mathematical processes will help you solidify your understanding.
Learning Objectives: College-wide Learning Outcomes: Tacoma Community College has identified five collegewide learning outcomes that form the foundation of our educational emphasis: Communication (COM), Critical Thinking
and Problem Solving (CRT), Responsibility and Ethics (RES), Information & Information Technology (IIT), and Living
and Working Cooperatively/Valuing Differences (LWC).
Course Objectives: After completing this course the student will be able to:
1. Apply problem solving strategies including models, tables of data, pattern recognition, and “guess and check”
to a variety of mathematical problems. CRT
2. Use number sense and reasoning to evaluate solutions to problems for accuracy and efficiency. CRT, COK
3. Understand and use the notation of basic set theory. COM
4. Understand and apply both deductive and inductive reasoning methods. CRT
5. Apply the properties of the real numbers to justify reasoning and solve problems involving whole numbers,
fractions, decimals, ratios, percents, and proportions. CRT, COM
6. Use the properties of the real numbers to justify both non-standard and the standard algorithms for
computing with whole numbers, fractions, decimals, ratios, percents, and proportions. CRT, COM
7. Use manipulatives to explore, illustrate, and justify computational methods. CRT, COM
8. Understand and apply a variety of cognitive models for the mathematical operations of addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division. CRT
9. Write complete mathematical solutions and justify reasoning using correct and coherent English. COM, CRT
10. Appropriately use technology, such as scientific calculators and computer software, as a tool for problem
solving and exploration. IIT, CRT
11. Relate the NCTM standards to the mathematical content of this course.
12. Collaborate with classmates in order to achieve the above learning objectives. LWC
Required Text: Mathematics for Elementary Teachers: A Conceptual Approach 8th edition by Bennett and Nelson.
Calculator: A scientific calculator is required. The TI-30XII is strongly recommended. These are the types of
calculator that will be used during lectures and the only calculator that will be supported in this class. If you choose to
use another calculator, I will not be able to help you learn to use it. You are responsible for knowing how to operate it.
Graphing calculators, calculators with symbolic manipulation capability, and calculators on cell phones are not allowed
on in-class activities.
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Class Rules
Each person in this class is entitled to respect. It is important to me that you show respect for your fellow students and
for the learning process. These rules are designed to ensure that all students get the respect they deserve and the
learning they have paid for.
1. When one person is talking, please listen quietly.
2. Please turn off your cell phone, pager, etc. before class begins, as the noises they make distract people who are
trying to learn.
3. Please do not engage in disruptive behaviors (unacceptable talking, arriving late, leaving during class, etc.).
The first time, you will receive a verbal warning.
The second time, you will be required to leave class.
You may not return to class until you have made an appointment with me, and we have come to an
agreement as to how to better support learning in the class. Assignments missed because of behavior
cannot be made up.
4. If you intend to bring people (especially children) who are not enrolled to class, you must get permission from the
instructor first, and the visitors must follow all class rules.
5. You are welcome to bring food and beverages to classes held in most buildings on campus as long as you do not
distract other students and you clean up after yourself.
6. Attendance is especially important in this class. Much of the learning can only occur through classroom discussion
and activities. While emergencies do occur, for the sake of your future students, please be in class whenever possible.
7. Come to class on time. Arriving late to class distracts your fellow students and disrespects the learning process.
8. Late work not be accepted. As dedicated educators, you must be prepared and punctual. If you are late (even
one second), your work will be late.
9. TCC e-mail accounts are provided for each student. You can check your TCC e-mail from any computer on
campus as well as from any off-campus computer that has access to the Internet. You should check your TCC e-mail
at least once a day because I will use your TCC e-mail account to send you class assignments and information. If
class is canceled due to weather, or if I will not be able to attend class due to illness, I will e-mail you no later than
7:30am. I will also occasionally send information about scholarships and other things I think you could use, but I will
never send spam.
10. Cheating is unacceptable. As stated in the TCC catalog: “students are expected to be honest and forthright in
their academic endeavors. Cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, or other forms of academic dishonesty corrupt the
learning process and threaten the learning environment for all students.” Students who engage in behaviors that may
be interpreted as cheating will receive a zero score on the assignment in question. A second offense will result in an
“E” course grade. Common "cheating" behaviors include
 communicating with another person while an exam is going on in the room,
 using notes, cell phones, or other resource material not specifically allowed during an exam,
 copying or allowing another student to copy work at any time,
 talking to someone outside of your group during a Group Solve, and
 presenting another person’s work as your own.
It is your responsibility to be honest and to appear honest.
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General Information
Students with Special Needs: All students are responsible for all requirements of the class, but the way they meet
these requirements may vary. If you need specific academic auxiliary aids or services due to a disability, please
contact the Access Services Office in Building 7 (253) 566-5328. They will require you to present formal, written
documentation of your disability from an appropriate professional. When this step has been completed, arrangements
will be made for you to receive reasonable auxiliary aids or services. The disability accommodation documentation
prepared by Access Services must be given to me a minimum of one week before the accommodation is needed so
that appropriate arrangements may be made.
Withdrawing From The Class: If you decide for any reason to stop attending class, you should withdraw. It is your
responsibility to withdraw yourself. No one else can do it for you. This may allow another student who wants to take
the class to enroll. If you do not withdraw yourself, you will receive a “V” or an “E” grade for the class.
For Help With Homework
The Al-Kwarizmi Math Advising and Resource Center: The Math Center is located in 19-22.
 Math instructors are available to help with math questions 8:30am-1:30pm Monday through Friday and 5:308:30pm Monday through Thursday.
 Tutors are available Monday through Thursday from 7:00am to 9:00pm and Friday from 7:00am to 2:30pm,
and Saturday from 11:00am to 3:pm.
 For best results, bring specific questions or problems you are working on to ask about. Even if you do not
have any problems, the Math Center is a pleasant place to study. You are always welcome there!
The Tutoring Center: The Tutoring Center is located on the second floor of Building 7. Student tutors are
available by appointment for one-on-one tutoring. The hours during which tutoring is available in specific subjects may
vary from quarter to quarter. Call the Tutoring Center at (253) 566-6032 to find out what their current schedule is.
Drop-in tutoring is available Fridays from 1:00 to 4:30.
The Open Door Policy: I want you to get the help you need when you need it. If my door is open, please come
in, sit down, and tell me what I can do for you. I am, of course, always available during my scheduled office hours.
Helpful Websites
Meredith’s webpage: www.tacomacc.edu/home/mlaflesh
The textbook site: www.mhhe.com/bbn
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Grading System: Letter grades will be assigned based on the following:
Percent
Letter Percent Letter
Grade
Grade
87 – 89 B+
93 - 100 A
83 – 86 B
90 – 92 A80 – 82 B-
Percent Letter
Grade
77 – 79 C+
73 – 76 C
70 – 72 C-
Percent Letter Percent Letter
Grade
Grade
67 – 69 D+
63 – 66 D
0 – 59 E
60 – 62 D-
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Grade: A grade of "Satisfactory" will only be given for grades of D or above (that is, 63%
or above). If you are planning on taking another math class for which this course is a prerequisite, such as Math 132,
you must receive a C- or above (that is, 70% or above) to go on. A "Satisfactory" will not be sufficient to get you into
the next class.
A grade of Incomplete, I, will be given only in emergency situations, at the instructor’s discretion, and only if at least
75% of the work has been completed with a passing grade.
A grade of WI is given at the instructor’s discretion when a student has completed all assigned work and is forced, due
to circumstances beyond her control, to withdraw from class after the 50th day of the quarter.
A grade of V is given to a student who has attended class at least once and stops attending before doing enough work
for the instructor to evaluate the student’s performance.
A grade of Z is given to a student who has never attended class.
Grades: Your final grade will be determined by your performance on the following graded events:
3 Exams
100 points each
2 Projects
100 points each
Final Exam
200 points
Class Participation
5 to 10 points each
Homework
10 to 20 points each
All work that is not word-processed must be in pencil!
Exams: Each exam is comprehensive and may cover material from previous chapters; however, most of the material
tested will be from the most recently covered topics. There are no make-up exams. If you must miss an exam due to
an emergency, you must leave a message on my voice mail or send me an e-mail explaining the reason for missing
the exam before the time of the exam. If it is a genuine emergency, I will then give you 95% of your final exam
percentage for the exam you missed. A second missed exam will result in a 0 grade.
Final Exam: The final exam is comprehensive and will assess your mastery of course objectives.
Substituting the Final Exam grade for the course grade: If you complete all projects and exams and miss no more
than one class participation event, earn at least 80% of the possible homework points, and earn a final exam score that
is higher than your computed course grade, I will assign your final exam score as your course grade.
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Study Groups: Students who score in the top 10% of the class on the first exam may be invited to be Study Group
Leaders. Study Group Leaders will hold a 1-hour study session at a regularly scheduled time once a week on campus.
Students wishing to participate in a study group will choose a Study Group Leader. The groups will meet together
regularly to study, work homework problems, etc.
Skipping the Final Exam: Each Study Group Leader who (1) meets the requirements for substituting the final exam
grade for the course grade, (2) maintains a 90% course average, and (3) conducts a 1-hour study group session and
turns in an attendance report each week will not have to take the final exam.
Projects: There will be two projects this quarter. The first will be a small group problem solving project. The second
will be an individual project. All answers to questions and explanations in the project must be written in complete,
correct English sentences. Part of the grade will be based on correct use of the English language.
Class Participation: Small group activities and pop quizzes will earn you class participation points. Pop quizzes are
essentially free points for students who arrive ready to work on time, stay until the end of class, and attend regularly.
Pop quizzes may be given at any time during the class period. There is no way to make up lost participation points.
Extra Credit
Extra credit will appear online the weekend after you earn it.
1. You earn one point for every hour you study with a designated Study Group Leader (maximum of 2 points per
week). You must sign in with the Study Group Leader each time you attend.
2. You may earn extra credit by volunteering to do homework problems on the board if you have already done the
problems and have your solutions with you.
Getting Your Grade: After the first weekend, you can check your grade regularly on-line by following these directions.
Log in to the MyTCC Portal at http://my.tacomacc.net and select the “My Classes” tab.
Next to the listing for this class, you should see an OIS icon that looks like this:
When you click on the icon, a new window will open with a “Grade Book” link that will show you your grades for this
class.
If you find an error, you have two weeks from the day the assignment was recorded to bring it to my attention.
Chain of Command: If you have questions or complaints about your grade or any other aspect of the class, please
follow the steps below:
1. See me and present your case in a professional, unemotional manner. I am always willing to listen to a good
argument. If I am wrong, I will admit it. If you are not satisfied, go to step 2.
2. See the Mathematics Department Chair, Valerie Morgan-Krick, Building 20. If you are still not satisfied, go to step 3.
3. See the Dean of the Science Division, Mike Flodin, Building 29.
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Homework
You should read each section in the text thoroughly, and expect to work on homework outside of class two to three
hours per hour spent in class.
Homework must be turned in on paper unless otherwise specified.
There will be two types of homework assignments for this class.
1. I will give short, written assignments from time to time.
a. Written assignments must be word-processed.
b. Late work will not be accepted for any reason.
2. I will assign problems from the book every class day. I will not collect these, but I will base homework
quizzes on them. See below for standards for the quizzes.
I expect a professional job.
Work must be done in pencil.
Work must be neat. (The instructor’s aesthetics are the criteria for neatness.)
When you have used a calculator to solve the problem, a description of all steps needed to complete the
problem, not calculator key strokes, as well as a clear statement of the solution must be included.
Abstract, symbolic problems (problems that do not involve words) must have all work shown vertically in
columns with at least one inch of blank space between the columns.
54
Fractions and rational expressions must be written vertically, like this
or
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9  x2
.
x3
Problems requiring explanations must include complete explanations in complete sentences. “Yes” and
“No” are not complete explanations.
For applications, a narration of all steps needed to complete the problem as well as all supporting work
must be included.
All problems that involve graphs must be on graph paper. That is, the problem, the work needed to graph
the equations, and the graph must be on the same page. The words “see graph” are not acceptable. See the
following page for Graphing Guidelines.
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Graphing Guidelines
The following requirements are those of the TCC Mathematics Department and your instructor.
AXES:
1. Axes and any straight lines are drawn with a straight edge.
2. If either axis requires a scale other than one square = one unit, both axes must have the scale clearly
indicated.
3. Axes are labeled with appropriate letters and with the meaning and units of the axis. (See Graph B.)
ACCURACY: 1. Graph paper is used.
2. If the graph of a function continues infinitely, the ends of what is drawn must have arrows
(see Graph A). If a graph terminates, the ends will have closed circles or dots (see Graph B).
3. The vertex of a parabola is rounded, not pointed. (See Graph C).
4. Asymptotes are drawn with a dashed line. Graphs approaching asymptotes appear to get closer and
closer, not touching the asymptote and not pulling away from the asymptote. (See Graph D.)
CLARITY: 1. The coordinates of important points: intercepts, maximum or minimum points, vertices, and points of
intersection, are clearly labeled on the axes or the point itself is labeled with an ordered pair.
2. If multiple equations are graphed on a single set of axes, each graph is labeled with its equation.
3. Separate problems should be graphed on separate axes.
4. Each graph is neat, big, and dark enough to be easily read and understood.
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Tentative Course Schedule
Check the website www.tacomacc.edu/home/mlaflesh for problems to turn in.
Date
Jan. 3
Jan. 5
Jan. 6
Jan. 10
Jan. 12
Jan. 13
Jan. 17
Jan. 19
Jan. 20
Jan. 24
Jan. 26
Jan. 27
Jan. 31
Feb. 2
Feb. 3
Feb. 7
Feb. 9
Feb. 10
Feb. 14
Feb. 16
Feb. 17
Feb. 21
Feb. 23
Feb. 24
Feb. 28
March 2
March 3
March 7
March 9
March 10
March 14
March 15
Tuesday!
Topic
Introduction and Standards
Problem Solving
Problem Solving
Problem Solving
Sets
Sets
Martin Luther King’s Birthday Observed No Class
Numeration Systems
Numeration Systems
Numeration Systems
Numeration Systems
Exam 1
Whole Number Computation
Whole Number Computation
Whole Number Computation
Whole Number Computation
Number Theory
Exam 2
Integers
Math Department Retreat – No Class
Fractions
Presidents’ Day – No Class
Fractions
Fractions
Decimals
Decimals
Ratios and Proportions
Percents
Percents
Exam 3
Review
Assignment
Final Exam 11:30 to 1:30
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