MTHED 420Teaching Mathematics In The Elementary Schools

3 credits · Mathematics Education · Penn State

MTHED 420 is designed to help teacher candidates: 1) to come to see mathematics, mathematics learning, and mathematics teaching as complex and to develop an inquiry approach to these domains; 2) to improve their understanding of the mathematical concepts and procedures they will teach, and to improve their understanding of children's mathematical learning and thinking about these concepts and procedures; 3) to increase their ability to choose among tasks, lessons, and curriculum materials from a variety of print and electronic sources based on intended mathematical understandings; 4) to develop a productive mathematics culture in the classroom; and 5) to explore key educational issues, such as equity, assessment, and technology, with respect to mathematics teaching and learning. In the course, teacher candidates explore important mathematical ideas and their development. They will become familiar with important pedagogical principles and questions. To help candidates develop an inquiry approach toward teaching mathematics, course assignments engage them in reflecting on readings and class discussions, their previous experiences as a learner of mathematics, and their ongoing experiences observing and teaching in classroom settings. MTHED 420 is a part of a block of courses in a PSU teacher education program that is unified by a basic set of principles and a field experience component.