During the next ten weeks the hope is to increase your knowledge of mathematics while helping you view mathematics as an exciting, creative subject where active involvement is essential for understanding, cognitive flexibility, and development of positive attitudes toward critical thinking and problem solving.  This is only one stage in the continuing evolution of you as a mathematics teacher.

The primary goal of this course is to assist you in becoming a confident and capable mathematics educator.  With this goal in mind, these are the course objectives:

•  Apply principles of learning theory and utilize methods that help ALL students understand mathematics and become confident in their ability to do mathematics.

•  Utilize methods to help students develop an understanding of concepts and skills, not just rote memorization.

•  Realize the importance of positive student attitudes toward mathematics and the importance of creating a secure environment for taking intellectual risks and approaching problems in multiple ways.

•  Become familiar with a wide variety of resources, including activities, manipulative materials, and children’s books for use in mathematics instruction, and for incorporating assessment as part of instruction.

•  Assess students’ mathematical thinking and various levels of understanding of mathematics concepts and procedures, and plan instruction based on those understandings.

•  Become aware of issues regarding equity in teaching and learning mathematics.