SED-536:
Methods of Teaching Mathematics in Secondary Schools for Current Practitioners
SED-536 is a six-week course focused on creating and implementing effective methods in the math classroom; students will discuss current principles and standards, enhance instructional planning, and explore strategies for engaging students through technology, differentiation, and other strategies in order to maximize student learning. Here are some additional helpful tips for each of the assignments.
How to Check Your Feedback and Grades
1. Click on the Reports Tab > Gradebook.
2. Click on the week you’d like to review; for example, to view Module 1 grades/feedback, click on W1.
3. Click on the name of the assignment you’d like to review.
4. You’ll see an attachment under the “Instructor’s Document” at the bottom of the page; you can also click on “View Rubrics” to see how your assignment was graded.
2. Click on the week you’d like to review; for example, to view Module 1 grades/feedback, click on W1.
3. Click on the name of the assignment you’d like to review.
4. You’ll see an attachment under the “Instructor’s Document” at the bottom of the page; you can also click on “View Rubrics” to see how your assignment was graded.
Module 1: Aligning Lesson Plans & Rationale
This assignment is asking you to revise three of your existing lesson plans. The goal with many of the assignments in this course is to reflect on, revise, and rethink how we are teaching math content to students. Our first assignment provides one such opportunity!
If you are new to teaching math and don't have three math plans to revise, you may use lessons found online to revise (please be sure to cite these sources using APA format); OR you can create your own original lesson plans.
Additionally, if you are looking for lesson plan templates, you'll find them in the General Resources tab above, or via our course in the Resources tab > Student Success Center > Colleges > College of Education.
Here are some suggestions for navigating the NCTM site:
o Visit http://www.nctm.org/standards/content.aspx?id=16909
o Click “Math Standards and Expectations” on the left side of the page.
o Then select the area you’d like to focus on.
o The expectations should now be available to you; you may use these “expectations” in your assignment, as I don’t expect you to pay for access to this site.
Regarding a rubric for the rationale portion, here is the criteria I will use to evaluate your rationale:
o All of the required assignment content was present. Major points were compelling and thoroughly addressed. Significant support was evident, relevant and convincing. Word length requirement was met. (30 points total)
o Paragraphs were sophisticated and well constructed; ideas progressed and related to each other. Writer is clearly in command of standard, written, academic English. (10 points total)
If you are new to teaching math and don't have three math plans to revise, you may use lessons found online to revise (please be sure to cite these sources using APA format); OR you can create your own original lesson plans.
Additionally, if you are looking for lesson plan templates, you'll find them in the General Resources tab above, or via our course in the Resources tab > Student Success Center > Colleges > College of Education.
Here are some suggestions for navigating the NCTM site:
o Visit http://www.nctm.org/standards/content.aspx?id=16909
o Click “Math Standards and Expectations” on the left side of the page.
o Then select the area you’d like to focus on.
o The expectations should now be available to you; you may use these “expectations” in your assignment, as I don’t expect you to pay for access to this site.
Regarding a rubric for the rationale portion, here is the criteria I will use to evaluate your rationale:
o All of the required assignment content was present. Major points were compelling and thoroughly addressed. Significant support was evident, relevant and convincing. Word length requirement was met. (30 points total)
o Paragraphs were sophisticated and well constructed; ideas progressed and related to each other. Writer is clearly in command of standard, written, academic English. (10 points total)
Module 2: Math Topic Area Essay
For this essay, you will select one specific math topic to focus on, then you will outline how to teach this topic using all four DOK levels (activities, videos, assessments...you name it!). For example, a previous student selected the following topic: Trigonometric Functions: Sine, Cosine, and Tangent. Then she provided various ways to address each DOK level and included three pieces of research to support her ideas.
An outline for your paper might look like this:
o Paragraph 1: Introduction (topic, why you selected this topic, etc.)
o Paragraph 2: Level 1 Examples
o Paragraph 3: Level 2 Examples
o Paragraph 4: Level 3 Examples
o Paragraph 5: Level 4 Examples
o Paragraph 6: Conclusion (classroom application, obstacles, etc.)
o Final page: References (at least 3)
Another student selected Linear Equations; she approached her paper in a more linear manner (pardon the pun!), moving sequentially through her unit, with examples of how she will address each DOK level along the way.
Regardless of the way you choose to organize your paper, the main purpose is to carefully consider how you can integrate all four levels of DOK with one specific topic in mind. You will return to this topic (and can use the ideas in this essay) in your Module 6 assignment (creating a unit plan that focuses on the Module 2 essay topic).
For more details on DOK (Depth of Knowledge), here are a couple of resources:
o A helpful video about DOK: http://vimeo.com/42788913
o NCY’s DOE Common Core Library of resources: http://schools.nyc.gov/Academics/CommonCoreLibrary/default.htm (Many other states have similar sites that are quite thorough, as well!)
o A simple Google search for “depth of knowledge”, “DOK”, and “dok math” will result in lots of useful information.
o Here is a handout of Webb’s DOK levels.
If you need resources to aid in writing your essay, you will find several in the General Resources tab above. Per GCU policy, please be sure to use the 6th edition of the APA style guide.
An outline for your paper might look like this:
o Paragraph 1: Introduction (topic, why you selected this topic, etc.)
o Paragraph 2: Level 1 Examples
o Paragraph 3: Level 2 Examples
o Paragraph 4: Level 3 Examples
o Paragraph 5: Level 4 Examples
o Paragraph 6: Conclusion (classroom application, obstacles, etc.)
o Final page: References (at least 3)
Another student selected Linear Equations; she approached her paper in a more linear manner (pardon the pun!), moving sequentially through her unit, with examples of how she will address each DOK level along the way.
Regardless of the way you choose to organize your paper, the main purpose is to carefully consider how you can integrate all four levels of DOK with one specific topic in mind. You will return to this topic (and can use the ideas in this essay) in your Module 6 assignment (creating a unit plan that focuses on the Module 2 essay topic).
For more details on DOK (Depth of Knowledge), here are a couple of resources:
o A helpful video about DOK: http://vimeo.com/42788913
o NCY’s DOE Common Core Library of resources: http://schools.nyc.gov/Academics/CommonCoreLibrary/default.htm (Many other states have similar sites that are quite thorough, as well!)
o A simple Google search for “depth of knowledge”, “DOK”, and “dok math” will result in lots of useful information.
o Here is a handout of Webb’s DOK levels.
If you need resources to aid in writing your essay, you will find several in the General Resources tab above. Per GCU policy, please be sure to use the 6th edition of the APA style guide.
Module 3: Topic Area Lesson Plan & Rationale
First, be sure to read the articles in our Week 3 course material. You'll find some informative details about utilizing problem-solving strategies in the math classroom. In addition, here are a few starting places to get those creative juices flowing as you create your original lesson plan:
o Florida's DOE has partnered with the University of S. Florida to develop a comprehensive collection of problem-solving strategies: http://floridarti.usf.edu/resources/format/pdf/Classroom%20Cognitive%20and%20Metacognitive%20Strategies%20for%20Teachers_Revised_SR_09.08.10.pdf
o Teacher TeRaze Mickle shares her passion for helping students solve problems. Her excitement is contagious! https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/math-problem-solving-strategies
o NCTM's overview of problem-solving in the classroom: http://www.nctm.org/standards/content.aspx?id=26860
o This site provides a detailed look at a variety of ways to approach problem-solving: http://www.learner.org/courses/teachingmath/grades9_12/session_03/index.html
o Florida's DOE has partnered with the University of S. Florida to develop a comprehensive collection of problem-solving strategies: http://floridarti.usf.edu/resources/format/pdf/Classroom%20Cognitive%20and%20Metacognitive%20Strategies%20for%20Teachers_Revised_SR_09.08.10.pdf
o Teacher TeRaze Mickle shares her passion for helping students solve problems. Her excitement is contagious! https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/math-problem-solving-strategies
o NCTM's overview of problem-solving in the classroom: http://www.nctm.org/standards/content.aspx?id=26860
o This site provides a detailed look at a variety of ways to approach problem-solving: http://www.learner.org/courses/teachingmath/grades9_12/session_03/index.html
Module 4: Technology Tools Presentation
This 18-24 slide PowerPoint presentation is all about technology tools for the math classroom. Be sure to select tools that support the topic that you selected in your Module 2 Essay, and be sure to use at least five sources to support your ideas (don't forget to include the citations and a References slide at the end). One final suggestion is to use the slide notes to expand upon your ideas; this will ensure that your slides are not too cluttered and that you are able to go into greater depth with your ideas. You will find helpful PowerPoint tips in the General Resources tab above (once there, select PowerPoint Tips). I'm looking forward to seeing what you discover!
Module 5: Topic Area Assessments
You will use your Module 3 Topic Area Lesson Plan for this assignment in order to create a total of six assessments:
*5 assessments will be formative.
*1 assessment will be summative.
*One assessment must be an exam.
*Two assessments must be authentic and/or performance-based assessments.
*All assessments should target the DOK level you identified for your lesson plan. Challenge your students to think!
Additional Tips:
*As far as the outline of the five formative assessments, they can be brief (2-5 sentences for each?). For example, perhaps one of the formative assessments is an exit ticket, you can explain how it will be used and what it will be assessing.
*For a great site about authentic assessments, visit http://jfmueller.faculty.noctrl.edu/toolbox/whatisit.htm.
*When writing the 250-500 word justification of your assessments, consider the following questions: Are they valid? Do they meet CCSS? How do they measure student achievement?
*5 assessments will be formative.
*1 assessment will be summative.
*One assessment must be an exam.
*Two assessments must be authentic and/or performance-based assessments.
*All assessments should target the DOK level you identified for your lesson plan. Challenge your students to think!
Additional Tips:
*As far as the outline of the five formative assessments, they can be brief (2-5 sentences for each?). For example, perhaps one of the formative assessments is an exit ticket, you can explain how it will be used and what it will be assessing.
*For a great site about authentic assessments, visit http://jfmueller.faculty.noctrl.edu/toolbox/whatisit.htm.
*When writing the 250-500 word justification of your assessments, consider the following questions: Are they valid? Do they meet CCSS? How do they measure student achievement?
Module 6: Unit Plan & Rationale
Our final assignment is a culmination of the previous weeks' concepts and includes the following:
Unit Plan
1. Develop a 5-day unit plan based on the topic area identified in Module 2. The lessons must utilize strategies appropriate for students in your
current setting and must be your own, original lesson plans. Make sure to include the following:
a. Lesson title
b. Concept/topic
c. Lesson goals/objectives
d. Standards (CCSS and other relevant standards for your state and curriculum)
e. Required materials
f. Problem-solving strategies
g. Introduction/anticipatory set
h. Step-by-step procedures
i. Assessment
j. 3 technology and web resources
k. Adaptations and extensions
2. Include at least three references to support your plan.
3. Please be sure to refer to the grading rubric to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment.
Unit Plan Rationale: Write a 250-500-word rationale on how to implement this unit plan in your current setting. Consider classroom specific
factors such as population, developmental areas, and resource access.
Unit Plan
1. Develop a 5-day unit plan based on the topic area identified in Module 2. The lessons must utilize strategies appropriate for students in your
current setting and must be your own, original lesson plans. Make sure to include the following:
a. Lesson title
b. Concept/topic
c. Lesson goals/objectives
d. Standards (CCSS and other relevant standards for your state and curriculum)
e. Required materials
f. Problem-solving strategies
g. Introduction/anticipatory set
h. Step-by-step procedures
i. Assessment
j. 3 technology and web resources
k. Adaptations and extensions
2. Include at least three references to support your plan.
3. Please be sure to refer to the grading rubric to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment.
Unit Plan Rationale: Write a 250-500-word rationale on how to implement this unit plan in your current setting. Consider classroom specific
factors such as population, developmental areas, and resource access.