| Instructor: | Joyce Ahlgren |
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| Office: | Jack Brown 330 |
| Office Hours: | Monday 8:40-9:10 a.m., 12:00-1:30 pm., Wednesday 8:40-9:10 a.m., 12:00-1:30 pm., Friday 8:40-9:10 a.m, 12:00-1:00 p.m. Or by appointment |
| Quarter: | Fall 2009 |
| Units: | 4 |
| Prerequisites: | The completion of Math 301A with a grade of "C" or better (not "C-"). |
"Mathematics for Teachers, An Exploratory Approach to Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry" by Robert G. Stein with Laura Wallace. It can be found at the bookstore. We will be covering Chapters 8.4-12.
Paper, either notebook paper or graph paper, ruler (inches and centimeters), scissors, and colored pencils. Also, algebra tiles are optional but highly suggested.
We will be discusing algebra in context, algebraic techniques, problem solving, linear functions and their graphs, rates and units, perimeter, area, volume, square roots and the Pythagorean Theorem.
The goals of the course include developing conceptual understanding of the above-mentioned topics; using multiple representations, namely numbers, pictures, words, symbols, and graphs to make connections by interpreting information within each representation and by translating among the different representations; developing clear explanations both orally and in writing; and developing problem solving skills. These goals are consistent with the goals for students in grades K-12 as outlined in "Mathematics Framework for California Public Schools" adopted by the California State Board of Education, March 2005 and also with the recommendations for the preparation of teachers of mathematics by the Mathematical Association of America. Included in these recommendations is the following statement: A teacher of mathematics must "posess knowledge and have an understanding of mathematics that is considerably deeper than that required for the school mathematics they will teach." Please visit www.cde.ca.gov/ci/ma/cf and www.maa.org for more information.
Problems from each section will be assigned daily and collected each Wednesday. To receive full credit homework must be legible and all steps must be shown. An answer to questions is not as important as your explanation of how to get the answer. When you are writing up your homework problems pretend that one of your future students will be reading it. Therefore, be precise! Please staple your pages if you have more than one page. Homework is due at the beginning of the class. Absolutely no late homework, for any reason, will be accepted (rather you have two coupons for late homework).
In addition to the regular homework problems, you will be required to complete two math explorations. These explorations will be opportunities for independent investigations of supplemental or enrichment topics. We will not necessarily cover these topics in class. In the explorations, the questions must be answered thoroughly, clearly, and correctly. For example, if you are asked to find a pattern, you should describe the pattern in words and illustrate the pattern by showing examples. Please do the explorations on one side of the paper and treat them as mini-projects. Give as much detail as possible so that someone who reads your paper can understand the exploration without having to refer to the text. Your score will be based on completeness, accuracy and neatness! You may ask classmates or me for help, but the work must be your own - no duplicate copies of problems. Not late explorations will be accepted. The first exploration will be due on or before Monday, October 12 and the second exploration will be due on or before Monday, November 9.
There will be two exams tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, October 21 and Wednesday, November 18. The final exam is cumulative and will be given Wednesday, December 09, from 4:00 p.m. until 5:50 p.m. No make-up exams will be given (unless you have a written verifiable excuse), and no calculators are allowed on the exams.
To pass this course, you must demonstrate competency in basic skills, achieve a score of 65% or better on the final exam, and have an overall average of 70% or better on homework, participation, explorations, midterms, and the final exam. If you pass 85% of basic skills questions (approximately 25-35% of the final exam) and get an overall percentage of 65% or better on the final exam, then letter grades will be assigned according to your overall percentage as follows with +/- grades being assigned in the upper and lower ends of each range (with the exception of A+). See the grading scale below for grade assignments.
| Week of 09/28-10/02 | For Monday, September 28: Read Section 8.4. Wednesday, September 30: Last day to add via MyCoyote Self Service. For Wednesday, September 30: Read Section 9.1. Homework due on Wednesday, October 07: Handout-Percents: A Conceptual Approach (6,8,9,12), Page 221 (1,5), and Basic Skills 1-5. |
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| Week of 10/05-10/09 | For Monday, October 05: Read Section 9.2. Homework due on Wednesday, October 14: Page 227 (1,3,4) and Page 231 (1,2) and Basic Skills 6-10. For Wednesday, October 07: Read Sections 9.3 and 9.4. Homework due on Wednesday, October 21: Page 242 (1,2,3,5,6). |
| Week of 10/12-10/16 | For Monday, October 12: Read Section 9.5. Homework due on Wednesday, October 21: Page 250 (1,2,6,7) and Handout-Linear Functions in Context (1,3,4) and Basic Skills 11-13,15,16. Wednesday, October 14: Last day to drop via MyCoyote Self Service. Homework due on Wednesday, October 28: Pages 256-258 (2,6). |
| Week of 10/19-10/23 | For Monday, October 19: Read Section 10.1. Homework due on Wednesday, October 28: Page 266 (1,3,5,7,9,10a,10c,10e) and Basic Skills 17,18,19,20,21. Wednesday, October 21: Exam 1 (Chapters 1-4). |
| Week of 10/26-10/30 | For Monday, October 26: Read Section 10.2. Homework due on Wednesday, November 04: Pages 274-275 (1,2,3,4) and Basic Skills 22,23,24,25,26. For Wednesday, October 28: Read Section 10.4. Homework due on Wednesday, November 04: Picture Problems Handout (4,5). |
| Week of 11/02-11/06 | For Monday, November 02: Read Section 10.4. Homework due on Monday, November 16: Pages 291-295 (3-G&C,13-Pix,20-G&C,32-G&C) and Basic Skills 27,28,29,30,31. For Wednesday, November 04: Read Section 10.6. Homework due on Monday, November 16: Rates Handout (2,5,6,7,8) and Pages 304-305 (4,5,6,7,11). |
| Week of 11/09-11/13 | For Monday, November 09: Read Section 11.1 and bring Page 312 to class. Homework due on Wednesday, November 25: Area Handout (1,2,4,5) and Pages 313-314 (1,2). Wednesday, November 11: Holiday - Veteran's Day. |
| Week of 11/16-11/20 | For Monday, November 16: Read Section 11.3. Homework due on Wednesday, November 25: Perimeter Handout (4,6,7,8) and Pages 321-322 (1,2,3,4). Wednesday, November 18: Exam 2 (Chapters 9.5-10.4). For Wednesday, November 18: Read Section 11.4. |
| Week of 11/23-11/27 | Monday, November 23: Exploration 2 Due. Homework due on Wednesday, December 02: Area, Perimeter, and Volume Handout (1,3,5,extra credit:6) and Pages 328-329 (2,3,4). For Wednesday, November 25: Read Section 12.1. Homework due on Wednesday, December 02: Pages 339-340 (4,5,6,7,10,11,12). Friday, November 27: Holiday - Thanksgiving . |
| Week of 11/30-12/04 | Monday, November 30: School Closed. For Wednesday, December 02: Read Section 12.2. Homework due on Monday, December 07: Page 345 (1,3a,5a). Friday, December 04: Last day to turn in Redos and Any Homework other than Page 345. |
| Week of 12/07-12/11 | Wednesday, December 09: Final Exam (4:00-5:50 p.m.). |
If you are in need of an accomodation for a disability in order to participate in this class, please let me know ASAP and also contact Services to Students with Disabilities in UH-183 at (909) 537-5328.
Keep in mind, we will be covering alot of material. Try not to fall behind! Even though the homework is collected only once a week, try to do the problems as soon as possible after we cover the material in class. Do a little each day, and it won't seem as much as trying to complete the whole assignment the night before it is due. We can answer/present homework problems at the beginning or end of a class, but we may not have time in class to answer all questions. Therefore, come see me in my office for extra help if you need it. I am more than happy to help with any problems you may be having!
I am looking forward to working with each and every one of you!