CI 402/CI 413
INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE: preK-8

www.education.wichita.edu/alagic/402fall02/firstpage.htm

FALL 2002  Section #18995  / # 19058 ; 8:30 - 11:40  TTh (251CE)

  

Dr. Mara Alagic

Reaching for excellence! 
This course is always work in progress :)

Office: 205 Corbin;  
Office hours: 11:50 - 12:50 or by appointment   www.wichita.edu/education/ci/malagic

Phone: (316) 978 6974
      Fax: (316) 978 6935
  mara.alagic@wichita.edu 

 

Global Learning

 This week Assignments Reflective questions Information Form (2) Links  
Syllabus Topics Calendar Photo Gallery CI 413
   

Announcements and Reminders:

 
12/12 WELCOME BACK!
11/16

Please devote necessary time for this reflection. I will count it as two reflections(#10 and #11). Think first how you can finish the first three statements, and then how you could support them. I know you are all very busy and therefore you have two weeks to respond. DUE December 1.


 Think about the following statements: 

  1. As a teacher, I'm like a ______________.

  2. Sometimes when I teach, I feel like a _______________.

  3. A teacher's role is to _________________.

In thinking about these statements, you probably realize that there are different metaphors for the different contexts of teaching and for the different roles a teacher takes on. Choose a metaphor that describes the kind of teacher you hope to become. 

  1. Explain how this metaphor characterizes you as a teacher. 

  2. Provide an example from your experience that illustrates your metaphor. 

  3. Do you think this metaphor will influence or guide your teaching? If so, how?

 
10/30 Block III:  Portfolio evaluation forms are due in COE Office 107 by the December 1, 2002.

Wichita Public Schools mathematics standards: http://www.usd259.com/curriculum/math/curriculum.htm

Wichita Public Schools science standards: http://www.usd259.com/curriculum/science/standards.htm

Have a look at Math Unit and Science Unit and make sure that your part is okay. If it is missing or needs changes, let me know ASAP.
10/28 Reflective question for this week (#9):
What strategies did you observe in the classroom of your cooperating teacher? Are those strategies on your group concept map of strategies?
10/17
  • Have a look at the Interview calendar. E-mail me 3 acceptable times for a short interview. Let me know if none of these times work ASAP so we can try to schedule something else.
  • Self-evaluation including a spreadsheet with your grades is due on Saturday, October 17.
  • "Midterm" reflection is due October 29.
  • Your classroom observation from the school visit is due October 29.
  • An electronic version of your science lesson with corrections) is due October 29.
  • Do not forget reflection #8 :-)

Have a wonderful Fall break and a great school visit on October 24. Let me know if you have any questions!

  
10/14 Reflective question for this week (#8):
The TICKLE assignment gave you an opportunity to investigate one child's thinking and to try out some teaching ideas with the same child. How do you think that experience relates (or does not relate) to the classroom teaching? 		 
09/30

Dealing with student diversity is a major issue in education today. Diversity has become a particularly relevant topic in science education as new emphasis is placed on reaching ALL children.

The questions posed for reflection this week and next week both focus on diversity. Since next week is the last week for Global Learning discussions in the Queensland classrooms, we'll post both questions at the same time. This is done with the hope that many of you will be able to complete both of the reflections by next Monday, October 7, and send them to your e-mates. 

For those who've had difficulty with the e-mate arrangement, you are invited to send these reflections (and any other reflections that haven't been completed) to the Australian instructor, Dr. Geoff Rogers. Dr. Rogers has kindly agreed to forward your emails to the appropriate students. His email address is ga.rogers@qut.edu.au. As before, please add my email address on the CC line. 

Here, finally, are the questions:

Week of October 1 (Reflection #6)
  As you teach science, what approaches might be helpful in dealing with a diversity of cultures and languages among your students? (You may wish to consider the recommendations for inquiry and communication found in the National Science Education Standards.) 

Week of October 8 (Reflection #7)
 As you teach science, what approaches might be helpful in dealing with a diversity of developmental levels among your students? (Remember that children with special education needs often go to resource rooms for reading and math, but they are mainstreamed for science.)

  
09/21 Reflective question for this week (#5):
(a) Define mathematics anxiety, as you understand it. What can elementary/primary teachers do to prevent/overcome mathematics anxiety in their students?
(b) What about "science anxiety"? What does your e-mate think about it?

!!! Please notice that the reading assignment for the coming week has been changed:
 Reading for this week
PSSM - Geometry p. 96-101 & 164 - 169; Problem solving p. 182 - 187
SS Expanding the science "box" p. 252-270

  
09/19

QUIZ #4 (take home - e-mail)
Keeping up with our reflective practice :-)

When answering the following two question, please be very specific and give support to your statements:

  1. Evaluate work of your Math Unit group in terms of

    • quality of mathematics preparation
    • quality of pedagogical strategy used
    • time management
    • team-work
    • other
  2. ONE thing relevant to your future teaching that you learned today.

* * * * *

Reading for this week
PSSM - Geometry p. 96-101 & 164 - 169; Problem solving p. 182 - 187
SS Expanding the science "box" p. 252-270

TICKLE #3 due September 24

 

  
09/16 REFLECTIVE QUESTION:
Why do effective teachers answer questions with a question?

Your reaction to this question should be part of your response to your "global" partner (e-pal, e-mate).

 
09/09 Third reflective question:
What is your understanding of the concept of VOLUME? At what age should children understand concept of volume? Please elaborate: What is YOUR thinking /understanding about this?

Your reaction to this question should be part of your response to your "global" partner (e-pal, e-mate).

  • Volume activities for TICKLE #2
  • TICKLE #2 due September 17
  • Math Unit due September 19
  
09/05 Second reflective question:
Based on past experience, how do you feel about learning science and mathematics?

Your reaction to this question should be part of your response to your "global" partner (e-pal, e-mate).

 

August 27

 First reflective question:
 Describe one, most positive experience, that you had with (learning) science.

Your reaction to this question should be part of your response to your "global" partner (e-pal, e-mate).

 

August 24
  • First days of classes are often overwhelming, especially in the Block III. To get yourself familiar with requirements and develop your personal plan of action/work, I recommend that you spend some time browsing through the course web site and materials, keep up with your reading and make sure to let me know if you have any problems. 
  • Check your e-mail. If you do not have an e-mail from me today, I probably do not have your correct e-mail address. Please contact me. My information is on the top of this page.
  •  Reading for TUESDAY:
    • Principles and Standards for School Mathematics:  Teaching principle, p.16 - 19; Learning Principle, p.20 - 2;  Standards introduction;  Numbers and operations p.29 - 36;  
    • Science Stories - How do students learn science, p. 7 - 17. 
  

August 17

Above all, information and knowledge are growing at a far more rapid rate than ever before in the history of humankind. As Nobel laureate Herbert Simon wisely stated, the meaning of "knowing" has shifted from being able to remember and repeat information to being able to find and use it (Simon, 1996).

How People Learn. (NRC, 2000). 

  
 

If you have any questions please e-mail me at mara@math.twsu.edu

 
 

Note: Weather Cancellations - Call 978 6633 (select 2) to obtain information on weather related class cancellations.

  

 

 

Mara's homepage

QUESTIONS? 

Updated August, 2002

Maintained by:  Mara Alagic
 

Mathematics Education

Curriculum & Instruction Department

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas  67260-0028