ELE 383 - Teaching Mathematics for Urban Learners in Grades K-6

3 Credit Hours

Teaching Mathematics in Elementary Grades is an exploration of elementary mathematics instruction methods, assessment, and materials. Emphasis is on connecting physical models, appropriate spoken dialog, and mathematics symbols to help children construct an understanding of essential number concepts. The primary goal of this class is for teacher candidates to develop a foundation for helping children learn mathematics with meaning, to recognize the value in all children’s mathematical thinking, and to support their learning through responsive teaching. A guiding principle for this class is—Children can make sense of mathematics if they believe mathematics makes sense. The teacher candidate, as a teacher, can help them believe this. This course, Teaching Mathematics to Urban Learners in Grades K-6, continues the process of preparing the teacher candidate to teach, specifically to teach mathematics. The teacher candidate will design and implement instructional activities informed by the teacher candidate learning to understand what it means to know and learn mathematics, and then evaluate the outcomes of those activities based on student artifacts (i.e., what students say, do, or create). Teaching Mathematics is centered on a close examination of the interplay between teachers, students, content, and the world beyond schools, and how such interactions enable students to develop deep conceptual understanding. The teacher candidate will learn how content and pedagogy combine to make effective teaching. Clinical field experience hours are part of the course requirements (10 hours).