Commentary: Informal Guide to Concepts and Processes Courses

 

            This is a handout, distributed with the syllabus in our Concepts and Process Courses, which are now “Math for Teachers” classes.  It’s an update of the

 “What is This Class About?” handout, which I originally wrote at Theresa Perry’s suggestion, when I talked to her about being frustrated that students kept assuming the expectations of my course were the same as the expectations of their high school classes (getting right answers quickly is all that matters, 90% = A, etc.), no matter how many times I told them differently.  She suggested I be more explicit, and it has made a world of difference in helping students adjust to a course that is (unfortunately) for many, much different from any they’ve had before, in a subject that makes them very nervous. 

            The tone of this handout is different from the original, in that it’s for a new course, with students from a broader range of math backgrounds, albeit with a narrower range of professional interest (all are prospective preK-6 teachers).  The focus is less on math anxiety and more on specialized math for teaching.

            The handout covers all sections of the course.  Each instructor writes a separate description of his or her policies (mine is below).  I ended up changing some of the policies listed, particularly w/regard to the notebook and to the types of assessment.  7/05

 

 

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