MATHEMATICS FOR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS

About Math 205

Welcome to math for teaching. This three credit
course is designed to provide you with a strong
background in the topics of elementary school
mathematics and to provide you with activities
that you can take directly into the classroom. Additionally
this class will provide you with a new way
of looking at some of the mathematics you have
already learned. For students enrolled in the Bachelor
of Arts in Elementary Education program at the
University of Alaska Fairbanks this class addresses
the State of Alaska and UAF Standards for educating
effective, culturally responsive teachers licensed to
teach K – 8. Math 205 starts to address the mathematics
content of the K – 8 curriculum so teachers
can develop deep conceptual and procedural understanding
of key mathematics content areas. You will
be provided with a textbook and student resource
book. You will need to purchase a scientific calculator
to be used with assignments if you don't already
have one. Assignments relate to all the material and
each assignment will direct you to the appropriate
resource. Manipulatives provided in the packet
will be used throughout the course to demonstrate
concepts and ideas.

Prerequisites

The UAF catalog states the prerequisites for this
course are MATH F107X / MATH F161X or placement.
Restricted to B.A.S. and B.A Elementary
Education degree students; others by permission of
instructor.

Required Text and Materials

Mathematics for Elementary Teachers (4th Edition) by Tom Bassarear; © 2008
Explorations: Mathematics for Elementary Teachers by Tom Bassarear.
Manipulatives Kit to Accompany Mathematics for Elementary Teachers, 2nd edition, Tom
Bassarear

Scientific calculator (not included with course materials): your choice

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS

Written assignments accompany each lesson. For each assignment to be
complete you should go through the following check sheet. Have you:

1. Read the assignment?
2. Completed the text assignments?
3. Completed the assigned investigations?

If your answer is YES to all the above you are ready to turn in the assignment.

The items to be turned in are the text assignment and the Explorations assignment. Attach a lesson
cover sheet to each assignment and submit it in the pre-paid mailing envelope provided with you
materials.

Students much show work on all appropriate problems. The answer should be circled or highlighted .
Explorations MUST be turned in as part of each assignment.

Regarding lesson turnaround time, my goal is to return your work as promptly as possible. I pick-up/
return lessons to CDE at least once a week . This allows for lesson scores to be available with CDE usually
within 5-7 business/school days after the lessons have been received by CDE.

The reality of mailing lessons in is that there is a 3-4 week turnaround from the time a student deposits
their lesson in the mail, USPS delivers to CDE, CDE logs in lesson , I pick-up lessons, grade lessons,
return lessons to CDE, CDE enters score in their system , lesson is mailed back to student, and USPS
delivers graded lesson.

There are many variables affecting the return time of your actual lesson, and if you feel there is an extreme
delay in receiving your graded lessons back, you are encouraged to contact CDE 907-474-5453.

Here is an example of how a problem should be written up.
Problem 50, page 189

a) Since 34 can be written in expanded form as 30 + 4 and 23 can be written as 20 + 3, these can be
treated as binomails. Thus the FOIL method will work. Another approach to the problem could be to
use the area method. I will show the three methods.

Problem 2a, page 252. Find the following

GFC (12, 30, 75)

Prime factorization

Common factors 3
so the

Ladder Method

the only factor that divides

into all factors it is the GCF

EXAMINATIONS

There will be three (3) examinations. Examinations will cover the text material and the Explorations
material. The final examination will cover material from the entire course. When you review for examinations,
note that each chapter in the text has a summary and review exercises.

GRADES

Grades will be based on the following:

1. Examinations	60%	Exam # 1	20%
		Exam # 2	20%
		FINAL	20%
2. Text Assignments	20%
3. Explorations	20%

The instructor chooses not to use the +/– grading policy for establishing final grades.

YOU MUST PASS THE FINAL EXAM TO RECEIVE CREDIT FOR THE CLASS.

GRADING SYSTEM- Year-based course

Since the student has the option of extending an extra six months, no INCOMPLETE grades will be
issued. If at the end of the one year time period, at least 50% of the coursework has been handed in, and
the student submits the extension request and appropriate fee, an extension of six months will be granted.
At the end of six (6) months, if the course has not been completed and the student has not requested
a second extension, a letter grade (A through F) will be assigned. To receive credit in the future, the
student must re-enroll and pay appropriate fees.

If at least 75% of the coursework has been completed, and the student submits the second extension
request and appropriate fee, an extension of three (3) months will be granted. At the end of three (3)
months, if the course is not complete a letter grade (A through F) will be assigned. To receive credit in
the future, the student must re-enroll and pay the appropriate fees.

GRADING SYSTEM- Semester based course

If less than the entire course has been submitted by the work completion date for that semester, then
a letter grade of “F” will be assigned, unless the student has asked for an Incomplete grade.In order to
receive an incomplete for this course, the student must have completed at least five (5) assignment and
have at least a “C” average in the completed coursework; and request an incomplete, in writing, at the
Center for Distance Education. Time allowed to finish the incomplete course will be the end of the next
immediate semester. Students who are granted an incomplete and who do not complete the course or do
not finish a significant amount of the remaining coursework will be assigned a letter grade “F.”

Instructor Information

Your instructor, Roy Roehl can be reached by mail or fax through the CDE office
or by cell phone in the evening 3pm to 7 pm (Alaska time) at 907-378-3182.

Planning

First, enter today’s date at the top of the schedule.
Second, if you have a certain deadline you must
meet for course completion, put it at the bottom
of the schedule. Otherwise, set a planned date for
completion. If you are a graduating senior, check
with the graduation office to find out the date all
grades are due.

Third, opposite “final exam” enter a date at least two
weeks before your planned date of course completion.
If you are a graduating senior, plan to take the
final exam at least one month before graduation.

Fourth, enter planned dates for submitting each
written assignment. Try to pace yourself. Unless otherwise
specified by your instructor, up to two lessons
per week should be submitted. (You might want
to enter your plan in pencil, so it can be revised if
necessary.)

If you are a graduating senior or have any other
personal deadlines, it is imperative that you write to
your instructor on your first lesson and inform him/
her of your needs. Although the staff and faculty will
do everything possible to help you, a lack of planning
on your part does not constitute an emergency
for the staff and faculty! Please plan ahead!

YEAR-LONG: Remember, we assume you will take
up to a year to finish this course. At a bare minimum,
it should take three months to complete a
course. Instructor permission (in writing) must be
obtained to finish in an accelerated time frame.
SEMESTER-BASED: If you are a semester-based
student, follow the semester time requirements
provided with your book purchase. Remember lessons
cannot be accepted if turned in all (or several)
at once.