Developing Children’s Mathematical Understanding in the Upper Elementary Grades: Part I
Number, Operations, and Algebra
MthEd 573
1 unit
Dr. Nadine Bezuk
Nadine.Bezuk@sdsu.edu
--draft—(final version will be posted by Jan. 17, 2012)—draft-In order to earn credit for this course, participants must:
1. Attend and participate in your team’s mini-institute and both days of your team’s research
lesson,
2. Implement Smith et al’s “five practices for orchestrating math discussions” in your
classroom, and
3. Reflect on what you’ve learned by completing the assignment below (due date: Friday,
April 20, 2012).
Course Objectives: Students will understand, analyze, and deliver effective mathematics
instruction by implementing Smith et al’s “five practices for orchestrating math discussions” in their
classroom and reflecting on this implementation.
Required Text:
Teaching Student-Centered Mathematics, Grades 3 – 5 or Grades 6 - 8 by John A. Van de Walle
and LouAnn H. Lovin (2006)
“Orchestrating discussions” by Margaret S. Smith et al. Mathematics teaching in the middle school,
14 (9), May 2009, 548, - 556.
Course Assignment: Final Reflection and Analysis
The purpose of this assignment is to implement Smith et al’s “five practices for orchestrating math
discussions” in your classroom and reflect on this implementation. Your response should be
completed on a word processor and be at least three pages long (double-spaced).
Please describe:
 The lesson you taught, including your grade level and any other information necessary
to understand your context.
 How you anticipated student responses.
 How you selected particular students to present their mathematical work.
 How you sequenced the student responses that were displayed in a specific order; and
 How you connected different students’ responses with each other and to key
mathematical ideas.
 How you are thinking differently about the teaching and learning of mathematics as a
result of your participation in Project ALGEBRAIC (compare/contrast then with now,
citing specific pre/post classroom examples).
Deadline: April 20, 2012 (submitted as an attachment via email to Dr. Nadine Bezuk,
Nadine.Bezuk@sdsu.edu)
MthEd 573
Spring 2012
Page 1
Notes for completing SDSU Registration Form (available at
http://www.ces.sdsu.edu/Client/docs/pdfs/extension/reg_form.pdf):
1. Download and print the Registration Form.
2. Enter your personal information at the top of the form.
3. If you don’t have an SDSU Red ID#, just leave that section blank.
4. Term: Spring 2012
5. You must include your Social Security Number if you don’t have an SDSU Red ID#.
6. Schedule number: not yet available
7. Fees: $87
8. Units: 1
9. Dept/Course Number: MthEd 573
10. Course Title: Devel. Math Understand.
11. Course Dates: approximately 1/18/12 – 4/27/12
12. Instructor signature is NOT required.
13. How you heard about the program: Recruited by instructor
14. Sign and date
15. Indicate how you’re paying the $87 fee and complete information or attach payment.
16. Mail completed registration forms directly to the College of Extended Studies Registration
office at the address at the bottom of the form (College of Extended Studies Registration,
5250 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182-1919).
17. Forms must be received by April 1, 2012.
MthEd 573
Spring 2012
Page 2