Welcome to Geometry

This is the class syllabus.  It is identical to what was used in class.

About MATH 3242

Assignments

List of Glossaries

Useful Websites

Tools

Augusta State University

Department of Mathematics and Computer Science

MATH 3242A * 1:00-2:15

MATH 3242B * 2:30-3:45

Spring 2010 * Allgood Hall E362

Mathematics for Early Childhood Teachers II

Instructor Linda Crawford, Ph.D. ·      Allgood Hall N322 ·      706-667-4477 ·      lcrawfor@aug.edu

Office Hours ·      Monday & Wednesday 12:00-12:45, 4:00-4:30 ·      Tuesday & Thursday  2:45-3:45 ·      Other times by appointment

Course Description: A study of fundamental geometric concepts.  Includes a study of two- and three-dimensional shapes, geometric transformations, spatial visualization and reasoning, and measurement.

Prerequisite: Admission to Teacher Education

Supplies:

·         LiveText Membership

• Bassarear, T. (2008). Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers (4^th ed.). Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.
• Colored pencils
• Ruler (metric & English units)—ASU bookstore has a good flexible ruler
• Protractor–small ones work best and ASU bookstore has a good one
• 3-ring binder for course notebook
• Scientific or graphing calculator (to be used only when instructor permits)

Read the open letter, About MATH 3242, for all students taking this course.

Some of the assignments will be in PDF form so you will need Adobe Reader software—this can be downloaded free from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.

I often use Windows Journal to grade assignments you submit electronically. You may need the computer program Windows Journal Viewer to open the returned assignment. You can download it free by clicking on Windows Journal Viewer.

Some assignments will be submitted through GeorgiaVIEW Vista (WebCT Vista).  You can access Vista by going to “My Courses” on Pipeline OR at https://m.view.usg.edu/webct/entryPage.dowebct.  If you need help with Vista, visit the online support center at http://help.view.usg.edu.

If you need help with technology, check with the Information Technology Student Help Desk–either in person or by phone.  The number is 706-737-1676.  Information about the Help Desk can be found at http://www.aug.edu/its/support_center.html.

If you have a disability and wish to receive accommodations in class, please apply with the Office of Disability Services.

Assignments to be turned in are due at the beginning of the class period.  Put the assignment on my desk when you arrive for class.  Even if you are absent, your assignment is still due at the beginning of class.  If you will not be in class on a day that an assignment is due, you may email it to me or place it in my mailbox before class starts or send it with another student.  A late assignment will be accepted only in extreme and documented situations.

If You Have to Miss a Class…

MATH 3242 class sessions are interactive, providing many opportunities for you to express your own ideas and to listen to the ideas of your fellow classmates.  Much of what you learn in the course takes place by participating, sharing, and interacting with others through small-group and whole-group discussions.  This kind of learning cannot take place if you are absent so regular attendance and punctuality are required.

Frequently, ideas that we introduce in one session are expanded upon and developed more fully in later sessions.  Thus, every class session is important.  However, if you find that you are unable to attend a particular class session or might miss a part of a session (by coming late or leaving early), please contact me as soon as possible.  Make arrangements to turn in assignments if you are going to be absent—even if you are absent you are expected to turn the work in when it is due.  You should ask a classmate to obtain any handouts given out during the class you will miss—do not ask me for handouts that you miss.  You are also responsible for any announcements made during the class.  Impromptu class assignments cannot be made up.

Prior to returning after a missed class you are responsible for meeting with a classmate(s) to discuss the class session you missed.  After this meeting you must write a 200-300 word “Missed Class Paper” (typed) which includes the names of your classmates with whom you met, a description of the activities of the class you missed and how you engaged in these activities with your classmates, any research you might have done (use your book and the web as resources), an explanation of your understanding of the mathematical ideas investigated in class, any insights you gained, and any questions you have about these mathematical ideas.  The paper is not to be merely a list of what was done in class but instead shows your effort at making sense of these ideas and what learning you have gained.  The paper is due at the beginning of class on the day you return.

Roll will be taken; any student who is absent more than 10% of the class time (equivalent to 3 classes) may be dropped with a WF.

The percentages to determine your course grade:

·         Tests (tentative dates Feb 10 & Mar 24) ·         Daily assignments—for ex, homework, quizzes, in-class assignments Extended assignments—for ex, journal writings, projects, on-line discussions Participation–click here for more information ·         Comprehensive final exam

25% 15% 20% 10% 30%

The grading scale will be A, 100-90%; B, 89 – 80%; C, 79 – 70%; D, 69 – 60%; and F, below 60%.

Journal of Open-Ended Reflections
A component of effective teaching is reflection on practice.  The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) states in its Principles and Standards for School Mathematics that teachers must have “opportunities to reflect on and refine instructional practice–during class and outside class, alone and with others” (p. 19).  Your assignment of a journal of open-ended reflections will provide you with the opportunity to become a more reflective thinker.  You will submit at least one journal entry per week through Vista (go to theHomepage for our class).  To avoid losing your work while in Vista, you may prefer to type your journal entry as a Word document and then copy and paste it into Vista.

Your journal is for you to write your thoughts related to teaching and learning mathematics. You may want to record how the class activities, readings, discussions, homework, have impacted you. You may want to record those ah-ha moments. You may want to record ideas you are wondering about, ideas you are struggling with, ideas that are clearer. Becoming a good teacher is a process; thus, a record of how you are changing and what is contributing to that change allows you to see your own development. This is not an area for you to record what we did in class (your class notes serve that purpose). Instead this is your own personal journal so the focus is on YOU. You should submit at leastone journal entry per week. A few well-thought-out sentences are sufficient. It will not be sufficient for you to write something hurriedly that is superficial and lacks depth of thought.  For example, “I am understanding everything we are doing in class” is an inappropriate journal entry. An example of an appropriate entry is: “In class tonight Susie solved the pigs and chickens problem using a picture. I thought I had to use algebra so I never considered using a picture. We were always expected to set up equations to solve problems and using pictures was not allowed. I think I understand the problem much better though when I solve it using a picture. I can really see what is happening while the algebra I may do but not really understand what I’m doing.”  Do you see that the appropriate entry shows a personal response to what happened in class? The inappropriate response really conveys nothing.

Although each person’s journal is unique, good journals share the following characteristics:

·         personal observations

·         connections between personal experience and the mathematical ideas investigated

·         questions, speculations, and predictions

·         evidence of developing an awareness of yourself as a learner and as a teacher

Although this is your personal journal, I will periodically read through your reflections and make comments as appropriate.  Your journal grade for the semester will be based upon how well your entries meet the criteria described, the timeliness of the entries (dates are recorded in Vista), and the progress you are making as a reflective thinker.

A journal is like a good friend who is never too busy to listen.

Course Notebook
Organize all materials (handouts, class notes, homework, readings, writings, tests) in a 3-ring binder.  This notebook will be a record of your work in the course and will also serve as a tool for reflection.  It will also be a valuable resource to you when you begin teaching.

Professional Organizations

You are encouraged to join the following professional organizations:

• Georgia Council of Teachers of Mathematics (GCTM).  This membership is free for students who have never taught so your first 5-point homework assignment is to join GCTM.  If you are not a member, go to http://www.gctm.org, fill out the application, and submit it electronically.
• National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM).  The student membership is $39 and includes your choice of an electronic journal–Teaching Children Mathematics is recommended for K-5 teachers.  The application can  be found at http://www.nctm.org

Classroom Policies

·         It is a policy of Allgood Hall that food and drink are not allowed in the classrooms so cups, bottles, etc. should be capped and stored in your bag.  Furthermore, food and drink interferes with group activities and the use of manipulatives.

·         It is distracting to me and disruptive to the class activities if you leave the classroom during the class period.  Thus, I ask you to refrain from “taking a break” except for an emergency.

·         Visitors, including children, are not permitted without my prior permission.

·         You are expected to check your campus email regularly.

Academic honesty

Cheating will not be tolerated.  This pertains not only to in-class work but to outside assignments as well–any assignment that you submit as your own should be a report of YOUR thinking.  Any student who is caught cheating will face serious consequences.  You should read ASU’s statement on academic honesty in the catalog.

Dates to Remember

Journal entries due	No later than noon on each Monday beginning Jan 18 and continuing through April 26.  You will have at least 14 entries (none due for week following Spring Break).
Tests	Feb 10 & March 24 (tentative dates)
Midterm date (if you plan to drop the course, you should do so on or before this date)	Wed, March 3
Student holidays	January 18 April 5-10
Classes end	Wed, April 28
Final exam for MATH 3242B	Monday, May 3, 3:30-5:30
Final exam for MATH 3242A	Wednesday, May 5, 1:00-3:00
GCTM Conference at Rock Eagle—Information will be available at www.gctm.org	October 13-15 (Wed-Fri)
Teachers Teaching with Technology (T3) International Conference in Atlanta. The T³ International Conferences is a conference for middle grades to university educators interested in using educational technology to enhance the teaching and learning in Mathematics and Science.  Registration is $145 but is free for preservice teachers—should register by January 22.	March 5-7 (Friday-Sunday)