600-176-003 Mathematical Explorations for Elementary Teachers   Fall 2007

 

003 TR      2:00-3:15        PHY152

 

Instructor:      Gary S. Luck

                        Office:  EMS E412       Phone: 229-5528

                        Email:     gluck@uwm.edu

                        Web address: www.uwm.edu/~gluck

 

Office Hours: MW 1-3 and by appointment. Confirm all meetings through email.

 

Prerequisites for course: C or greater in 175 or repeating Math 176.

            NOTE: The pre-req for the School Of Ed methods classes is a minimum C in 176.

 

Goal of course: This course focuses on the content of two major content areas in K-8 mathematics: 1) Geometry and 2) Probability and Statistics.

 

Text:

1.        Beckmann, Mathematics for Elementary Teachers, Copyright 2005 with Class activities book. [Required]

2.       Math 176 Packet at UWM Bookstore: Cost $8.65

 

Syllabus: Chapters 7-9, 11, 12 from above text. In addition, numerous handouts, especially for probability and statistics, will be provided during the course of the semester. See additional page for agenda (tentative) of assigned homework problems.

 

Reading: Make sure to do all assigned reading! It will motivate much of class discussion.

 

Homework: Homework will be collected on a daily basis. It will be graded on a 0-5 basis. Homework will be considered late if not handed in when requested (due date). Maximum credit for late work will be 2 of 5 points. Late assignments will be accepted for credit up to one week after due date. I will not review all of your work; I will comment to you on a subset of the entire assignment and give you an appropriate grade. However, completion of all problems will be perused to award you the maximum of 5 points for your work. A final homework grade will be determined by the total number of points accumulated during the semester. Homework should be marked clearly with name, assignment number, page and problem numbers. There will be a total of 20 assignments. Please not all assignments will be graded and/or collected!

 

Homework,cont: Many problems ask for explanations. The text and answers for the exercises provide models. Carefully written explanations are an important part of the answer. Talk mathematics!!! As future teachers you will need this practice.

 

 

Attendance and Class Participation: Class attendance and participation in the class activities, discussion, group work and board work are vital for you to maximize the benefits that this course can bring to you as a future classroom teacher. For this reason, attendance and participation are included in your final grade (see below).

 

Calculators: You may decide to bring a calculator to class. We will spend time in class discussing the appropriate use of this tool. Graphing calculators, such as the TI83+ and TI84+ have valuable applications which may be downloaded to your personal calculators. These will be available at no cost during the semester.

 

Supplies: You will need a compass, protractor, ruler (with inch and cm marks), and graph paper. Bring this equipment to class every day!

 

Grading:

           

Quizzes

Geometry (2), Prob&Stat (1)

9/20, 10/11, 11/20

 

100 points total:

50 points/quiz: best 2 of 3

Midterm #1

Geometry

10/30/07

200 points

Midterm #2

Probability and Stats

12/6/07

200 points

Homework

 

Daily

100 points

Final Exam

 

12/17/07 7:30-9:30am

300 points

 

Final Exam room location TBD.                                                  Entire Course= 900 points

Mark your calendars!!! Do not miss these important dates. Official proper medical documentation is required for any makeup!  This is more than merely a doctor’s note! Make sure to take care of any problems prior to any absence.  Again… Do not miss these important dates!!!!

 

Additional comments on grading: embedded in each midterm are 15 points for attendance and 15 points for class participation.

 

Dates to Remember:

  • 9/17  last day to add, last day to change to or from credit/no credit/audit status
  • 10/1  last day to drop without a “w” on record; receive partial refund
  • 10/26 last day to drop
  • 12/12 last day of classes
  • 12/13 study day
  • 12/14, 17-21 exam period

 

If you are a student with disability, please feel free to contact me early in the semester for any help or accommodations you may need.

 

095 Tutoring:

Each 176 student will have the opportunity to tutor students in a Math095 classroom on two occasions this semester. Times for these classes are spread throughout the day, morning and afternoon. The thought behind this opportunity is that you all are planning on being K-8 teachers. It provides an opportunity to do one on one teaching. Between you and your tutee, you can work on the task of “talking math” in an arithmetic and algebra setting. Approach it as a fun activity! Each of these two sessions will account for 10 of the 200 points on each of the midterm tests (Geometry and Probability & Stats). You must complete your first tutoring session by 10/26. The second session must be completed by 11/30. You may schedule up to two additional tutoring sessions (if you so enjoyed the experience) for 5 free points per session added into your accumulated semester point total.

 

Important! As a student at UWM, you should read the information in the following link:

 

http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/SecU/SyllabusLinks.pdf