Math 158T: Tutor Training

Susan Tappero, Ph.D.

Office: 714A MESA Study Center

Phone: 479-5785

E-mail: sue.tappero AT cabrillo.edu

 

 




Course # 63817 ......................................Fall Semester 2009

Class Meets: Thursdays 6-7,
Room 713

This seminar course will provide an overview of mathematics and science instruction at the middle school, high school and college levels. It will provide an initial exploration of some theories and practices of designing and delivering excellent science and math instruction at these levels. The course has a component of student field work consisting of 3-5 hours per week in the MESA Study Center at Cabrillo, or in a placement in a math or science classroom of a local middle or high school, as part of the Aurora Teaching Initiative.

  • Student Expectations:
    attend every class meeting,
    keep up with the required readings,
    participate fully in class discussions,
    keep a course journal to be turned in periodically
     

Course Schedule              

Reading and Reference List

What to Include in the Journal

Critical observations of your daily experiences in teaching or tutoring, reflections in what went well, what did not go as well, critical reflections of others' techniques you observe for teaching mathematics in a one-on-one, small group or large group setting and your developing philosophy and individual approach to teaching. Reading notes from the classroom materials that are assigned.

Santa Cruz City Schools

Live Oak School District

Pajaro Valley Schools

Scotts Valley Schools

Students in the Aurora Teaching Initiative are placed with math and science classroom teachers iin middle schools, junior high schools or high schools in one of these local districts.

California Content Standards

Content standards were designed to encourage the highest achievement of every student, by defining the knowledge, concepts, and skills that students should acquire at each grade level. The content standards were designed by professionals from the appropriate fields of study and then they were adopted by the California State Board of Education. To help students achieve at high levels, local school officials and teachers are encouraged to take these standards and design the specific curricular and instructional strategies that best deliver the content to their students. The content is attainable by all students, given sufficient time, except for those few who have severe disabilities.

 

California Math Standards

California Math Framework

 


California State Board of Education commissioned mathematics professionals to describe the rigorous content that students need to acquire at each grade level so that California schools can be on a par with those in the best educational systems in other states and nations. This was done in response to the report, A Nation at Risk, by the National Commission on Excellence in Education (1983), described the"rising tide of mediocrity" in our schools.

California Science Standards

Academic content standards for science education at kindergarten through grade twelve, adopted by the California State Board of Education. Grade 7 focuses on life science and Grade 8 focuses on physical science

 

Rising Above the Gathering Storm


This book makes a case for the urgent need to increase America's talent pool by major improvements in math and science education at all levels. It is behind many of the federally- and state- funded initiatives, such as the Aurora Initiative, to increase dramatically the production of math and science teachers.

Contemporary Educational Psychology:Wikibook

Student-Produced Materials about Education

 

This "Wikibook" book deals with topics, themes, and examples that represent one way of understanding educational psychology. It is organized to parallel closely the content of the commonly used PRAXIS II test called “Principles of Learning and Teaching” , published by the Educational Testing Service. The PLT test is required in 25-30 American states for persons seeking permanent certification as public school teachers. Developed at the University of Manitoba.

Developing Your Own Educational Philosophy


Here are some links to samples of personal philosophies of education for you to explore and some discussion of the answer to the question:. Why should I develop a personal philosophy of education?

Brain-based Learning and Related Research

concepts

articles

classroom applications

overview

some surprises

resource list

Current research results about the brain and learning is providing insights for teachers and for learners alike, in many ways providing new understandings, in other ways giving suggestion for classroom practices. These are just a few links to many references you can find about this subject online and in journals and books.

Learning Styles & Preferences

Your Cognitive Profile

Index of Learning Styles

Learning Style Inventory

It is a popular educational belief that most people favor some particular method of interacting with, taking in, and processing stimuli or information. Based on this concept is the idea of individualized "learning styles." A learning style is the method of learning particular to an individual that is presumed to allow that individual to learn best. Teachers have developed some techniques to allow teachers adapt their classroom methods to address the varied learning styles of their students.

Art of Questioning

Asking Good Questions in the Mathematics Classroom

Questioning in Class (videos)

Questioning Strategies

Questioning Ideas

Class ideas to stimulate student discourse

Do we teach students to think? The answer to this may depend on whether a teacher has the skill and practice to build a climate of inquiry and shared discovery in the classroom. Skilled teachers can raise questions that ignite student curiosity and discussion, or offer a question that can simmer over several days, or pursue a line of questioning that leads to understanding. It takes lots of practice, but the result is worth it.
Class responses to specific situations

Professional Organizations

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics: NCTM

National Science Teachers Association: NSTA

Phi Delta Kappa

What are professionals in the field talking about? What is the state of the teaching profession and the issues at different grade levels that matter in teaching for the U.S? What can be learned from other educational systems found in the world? The professional associations are an excellent resource for anybody interested in these questions.

To Review

Teaching Tips Index


Tips for Teachers

 

 

Dates ...................................................Class Discussion Topics................................... Readings & Journaling Assignments

September 3

Overview of course; support for students in local classrooms, training for MESA tutors and workshop facilitators.

Read materials on brain research in the area of learning. See link above.
September 10

Past experiences in teaching or tutoring. Importance of communication skills. Classroom culture and your place in the classroom. Background to current teacher initiatives.

Read excerpts from Rising Above the Gathering Storm
September 17

Classroom Tips for Creating a Learning Environment for Math:

 

Read about educational psychology from the linked sites given. Choose chapters that pertain to your assignments or seem interesting.
September 24

Guest Speakers

Class cancelled
October 1 Issues of teaching English language learners math and science

Read the applicable California Math Standards & Science Content Standards to your placement.

In journals, assess students in your class according to the math standards for that grade level.

October 8

Discussion: where do the students in your classroom stand with respect to the state standards?

Prompts for journal entries this week:

What is the role of the student voice in your classroom?

What techniques for managing class discussion are being used in your classroom?

October 15 Student misconceptions in math

Assessing learning
Read Ed's Strategy
October 22

Powers of Ten Video
Introduction to Manipulatives: Geoboards

 

Read about educational philosophies from the linked site given. How is your personal educational philosophy developing?

October 29

 

More Manipulatives: Cuisinaire Rods

Introduction to Lesson Plans

Decide on the topic you will use for the lesson plan that is the class final assignment. Do some research on lesson plans on the web and decide on the format you will use.

 

November 5

 

Nano tech Classroom Kits Demonstration & Practice Determine your own learning style using one of the methods in the links provided.

November 12

Multiple Learning Styles & Multiple Approaches in Math and Science Subjects

Journals: Note evidence of learning styles in students and in teaching approaches

 

November 19

 

 

Discussion: Art of Questioning

Read through the links for the Art of Questioning
Journals: How does your placement teacher use questioning? Jot down some questions you like.

November 26

 

Thanksgiving Holiday

 

 

December 3

 



Guest Speakers

 

Read through the ideas and strategies for dealing with difficult tutoring or teaching situations in the links provided. (use link "Part I")
Mrs. G's strategy was one that involved turning a problem student into a teacher's assistant. During the week, try to recreate Mrs. G's strategy on a small scale during your teaching or tutoring experiences. See readings in "Part II"

December 10

 

Some difficult tutoring or teaching situations
Part I

Some strategies to deal with difficult tutoring or teaching situations

Part II

Discussion: Characteristics of a
Good Teacher

 

Final Assignment:
this 1-1.5 page assignment is due by the end of finals week

Teacher trainees:

Select one of the standards relevant to the teaching/tutoring assignment you are in to develop a short lesson on that topic, using at least one of the following:

  • learning styles,
  • brain-based research,
  • educational psychology,
  • manipulatives,
  • art of questioning

Tutor trainees:

Write a self-evaluation of your own tutoring. Include strengths, weaknesses and ideas for improvement. Incorporate at least one of the aspects from the bulleted list above.