Deepening Mathematical Understanding for Elementary Teachers - Program Courses

Schedule

Choose six content-focused and two leadership courses

Course Descriptions

CI 510 Building a System of Tens (3 cr.)
Explore the base ten structure of the number system and how that structure is used in multi-digit computation. Investigate how basic concepts of whole numbers reappear when working with decimals. Student thinking is at the center of this course through examination of student work and students at work (written and video cases).

CI 510 Making Meaning for Operations (3 cr.)
Examine the actions and situations modeled by the four basic operations. The course begins with a view of young children's counting strategies as they encounter word problems, moves to an examination of the four basic operations on whole numbers, and revisits the operations in the context of rational numbers. Student thinking is at the center of this course through examination of student work and students at work (written and video cases).

CI 510 Reasoning Algebraically About Operations (3 cr.)
Examine generalizations at the heart of the study of operations in the elementary grades. Express these generalizations in common language and in algebraic notation, develop arguments based on representations of the operations, study what it means to prove a generalization, and extend their generalizations and arguments when the domain under consideration expands from whole numbers to integers. Student thinking is at the center of this course through examination of student work and students at work (written and video cases).

CI 510 Patterns, Functions, and Change (3 cr.)
Discover how the study of repeating patterns and number sequences can lead to ideas of functions, learn how to read tables and graphs to interpret phenomena of change, and use algebraic notation to write function rules. With a particular emphasis on linear functions, explore quadratic and exponential functions and examine how various features of a function are seen in graphs, tables, or rules. Student thinking is at the center of this course through examination of student work and students at work (written and video cases).

CI 510 Examining Features of Shape (3 cr.)
Examine aspects of 2D and 3D shapes, develop geometric vocabulary, and explore both definitions and properties of geometric objects. The course includes a study of angle, similarity, congruence, and the relationships between 3D objects and their 2D representations. Student thinking is at the center of this course through examination of student work and students at work (written and video cases).

CI 510 Measuring Space in One, Two and Three Dimensions (3 cr.)
Examine different attributes of size, develop facility in composing and decomposing shapes, and apply these skills to make sense of formulas for area and volume. Explore conceptual issues of length, area, and volume, as well as their complex inter-relationships. Student thinking is at the center of this course through examination of student work and students at work (written and video cases).

CI 510 Working with Data (3 cr.)
Work with the collection, representation, description, and interpretation of data. Learn what various graphs and statistical measures show about features of the data, study how to summarize data when comparing groups, and consider whether the data provide insight into the questions that led to data collection. Student thinking is at the center of this course through examination of student work and students at work (written and video cases).

Mathematics Pedagogy and Leadership Focused Courses 

CI 510 Advanced Mathematics Methods (3 cr.) 
Exploration of worthwhile mathematical tasks provides the context for examining learning, teaching, and assessment. Topics include effective learning environments, strategies for planning lessons with a focus on student thinking/understanding, and analysis of materials and resources.

CI 510 Leadership and Coaching in Mathematics (3 cr.)
This course provides an understanding of research-based, best practices for mathematics learning, teaching, and leading. Engage in activities designed to enhance pedagogical knowledge of mathematics and knowledge of leadership, while modeling the kinds of learning experiences that have been shown to make a difference in mathematical thinking, understanding and achievement. Attention to multiple levels of learning (i.e., classroom and the professional learning community within grade-level, building, district, and beyond) - each focusing on improving mathematics instruction.