SED 535  Contemporary Mathematics Teaching      Assignment         Due: October 14, 2008

 

Read:

á          Shaughnessy, J.M. & Burger, W.F. (1985). Spadework prior to deduction in geometry.  Mathematics Teacher, 78(6), 419-427.

á          Sowder, J. & Philipp, R. (1999). Promoting learning in middle-grades mathematics. In E. Fennema & T.A. Rhomberg (Eds.), Mathematics classrooms that promote understanding, (pp. 89-108). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.         

 

 

Write to submit: 

Both articles frame the act of teaching not as imparting a body of knowledge to unknowing students but instead as moving students through a series of universal developmental stages.  Shaughnessy and Burger discuss stages of geometric development (namely the van Hiele levels), while Sowder and Philipp address the transition from additive to multiplicative reasoning. 

                  If we really took to heart this ÒdevelopmentalÓ view of teaching—that teaching is essentially a matter of moving the learner through a series of universal developmental stages—it could have profound implications for how we:

á          structure courses

á          plan lessons and activities

á          group students

á          assess students and schools

á          involve parents

á          use classroom technology. 

Choose one of the above bulleted aspects of math teaching.  In 1-2 paragraphs, describe some changes you think would need to be made to this aspect of practice if we took seriously this ÒdevelopmentalÓ view of teaching math. 

 

 

 

SED 535                                                 Mid-Course Feedback                                                                         Fall 2008   

 

Years of teaching (please circle one):            3 or fewer                      4 or more

 

Please take the time to answer these questions honestly and specifically.  This feedback will help me organize the remainder of the course to best meet your needs. 

 

My goals for the course so far have been:

á          to increase your awareness of current theories and ideas about mathematics teaching

á          to help you see the relevance of those theories and ideas to practice, particularly your own

á          to demonstrate that, to a significant degree, teaching is an intellectual enterprise

 

1)  How well have each of the following aspects of the course served to accomplish my goals?

 

a)  In-class activities—

 

 

 

Please mention any specific activities that were particularly effective or ineffective for accomplishing my three goals:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

b)  Readings—

 

 

 

Please mention any specific readings that were particularly effective or ineffective for accomplishing my three goals:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

c)  Assignments—

 

 

 

 

2)  Please comment on how well the following aspects of the course have held your interest.  Name any specific activities or assignments in each area that you found particularly interesting or not.

 

a)  In-class activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

b)  Readings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

c)  Assignments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

3)  How well have the in- and out-of-class activities helped you make sense of the readings and relate them to practice?  Specific examples are helpful.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4)  Any suggestions for improvement or other comments that you think would be helpful to me? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you!