Professor: Dr. Hamid Behmard
Office: room: AA 206, phone: 838-8869, email: behmarh@wou.edu
Office Hours:11:00-12:00 Mon-Thur, other times by appointment.
Text: Mathematics for Elementary Teachers by: Bennett and Nelson 5th edition. We will cover chapters 9-11.
References: excellent reference books: Math on Call (Middle School) and Math at Hand (Elementary).
Who: This class is intended for students who are planning to become mathematics educators at the elementary level.
How: You learn this by

• learning/reviewing the fundamentals of elementary school mathematics;
• participating in the class activities which include group homework;
• learning to do mathematics the way you will later teach it;
• utilizing  Official Scoring Guide , Oregon Standards and other teacher resources.

• WEB Links for teaching Mathematics
• Geometry Forum Newsgroups Archives
• Geometer's Sketchpad: Login on the network with your login name. Create an Icon for sketchpad under V:/SKETCH/GSKETCHP. On windows 95 open the Programs Folder and then in the Mathematics folder you will find Sketchpad. You can buy a copy of the program for $39.95 at the bookstore. The student version has an excellent collection of problems and activities for learning Sketchpad. Work though pages 1-18 of the Workshop guide to learn to use the program.
• NCTM Standards 2000  This will be the guide for teaching mathematics in the next 5-10 years.
• Official Scoring Guide
• Oregon Mathematics Benchmarks 3-8.

Tests: There will be a one hour test (midterm) given in the term on July 10th. There is no make-up for missed midterm.

Final exam: A comprehensive final exam will be given on Thursday July 31st. The final is required for all students. There is no early final exam.
 

Grading:
     Homework        30%
     Midterm            30%
     Final                  40%
Grades will be assigned according to the following scale:
             A   90-100%
             B   80-89%
             C   70-79%
             D   60-69%
             F   30-59%
 

Computer activity: You will be given a number of computer activities for the term. These activities may be done in groups of 2 or 3. Having a calculator for this class is recommended.

Problem Of the Week: You will have a number of POW's during the term. Some of the projects are to be done as a group and some individually. Look at Official Scoring Guide for guidance on grading and doing open ended problems.

Writing Assignment: Write a one page paper on the topic; Geometry and Me. Your answers to the following questions could be a good start. Include any other relevant information.

1. Do you like geometry? Are you good at it?
2. What specific topics in geometry did you like, and which did you dislike?
3. What people did play a positive role in inspiring you to learn geometry, and why?
4. Who played a negative role, and why?
6. In what environments do you learn the best? What environments hinder your learning?

Readings Assignment: Read two articles about teaching geometry or measurement. A summary and your reaction of each will be due July 31, 2001. These readings must be from The Arithmetic Teacher, Teaching Children Mathematics, or Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School. You can find a list of
readings starting on page 789 in your text and on the web page for this book.

Work sample: Select three problems or activities you have completed that address at least one of the Oregon Mathematics Benchmarks 3-8 for Geometry or Measurement . At least one should require the use of the computer or calculator. Write a short paragraph telling why each problem was included. Last, write a page on important points you learned this term, what grade you feel you should receive, and why you should receive this grade. Due: July 31, 2001.