Math 211: Elementary Math I - Fall 2010
Instructor: Jodi Fasteen
- Office: 328 Neuberger Hall.
- Office hours: Wednesday 10-11am and Tuesday/Thursday 1-2pm. Also available by appointment.
- e-mail: "jfasteen" at "pdx.edu"
- website: http://www.mth.pdx.edu/~jfasteen
- Homework
Text:
- Bennett and Nelson, Mathematics for Elementary Teachers: A Conceptual Approach 8th Edition
- Bennett and Nelson, Mathematics for Elementary Teachers: An Activity Approach 8th Edition
- Manipulation Kit (included with above too)
Prerequisites: The prereq for this course is Math 95 or its equivalent. Therefore,
you should be familiar with problem solving, basic algebra, radicals and exponents. You should also
be familiar with order of operations and fraction and decimal manipulation.
The goal of Math 211 is to explore a variety of approaches to elementary school math
topics. This requires that you have a level of confidence with these skills.
There will be a prerequisite quiz during the first week of class. This will count toward your grade
and indicate whether you are prepared for this course
Topics and Goals: We will explore problem solving, whole number numeration and operations, set theory, algebra,
and number theory. These topics are contained in the text in Ch 1-4. There will be an underlying
theme of problem solving in all of the topics we will cover.
Goals:
- Think visually with the aid of concrete models and diagrams
- Understand and connect ideas and concepts
- Problem solve and reason mathematically
- Invent procedures and make generalizations
- Communicate mathematically
- Respect and understand the mathematical thinking of others
- Enjoy learning and doing math!
Attendance / Participation:
- If you are sick, please stay home! Contact me by email (preferrably) or phone and
let me know. We will attempt to work something out.
- Participation is a factor that will affect your grade. Keep in mind that participation is less about perfect attendance
and more about really being involved when you are present. Missing class for illness is understandable. Quizzes and tests
can be made-up, provided you contact me before you return to class. Every student is allowed one missed homework.
- If you must be absent for non-health reasons, email me in advance to explain the situation.
(If you tell me in class I will likely forget)
- If you are absent, please arrange to get notes from a classmate.
- If you have multiple absenses for illness and need to submit late work, you should be corresponding with me by email. You'll need to
attach a printed copy of the email correspondence giving permission for the late assigment. Late work
should be submitted in my office or mailbox and not in class.
Disability Services: If you have a learning or physical disability and are in need of academic accommodations,
please contact PSU’s Disability Services at 503-725-4150. They will determine any adjustments that need to be made
for your individual needs.
Grading:
| Homework Assignments & Quizzes & In Class Activities & Participation | 35% |
| Midterm 1 | 20% |
| Midterm 2 | 20% |
| Final Exam * | 25% |
| .......... |
| Grading | Scale |
|---|
| A | 90 - 100% |
| B | 80 - 89% |
| C | 70 - 79% |
| D | 60 - 69% |
| F | 0 - 59% |
|
* You must earn a passing grade on the final exam in order to pass the course.
Homework Assignments:
- Homework will generally be from the textbook or workbook or class worksheets.
- Late homework is generally not allowed. (Exceptions to this must be worked out via email,
rather than in class, and should be related to an unexpected absence/illness.)
- It is to your benefit to work with your peers and ask
your questions _before_ the assignments are due. You are also welcome to ask any homework questions you'd like
in my office or via email.
- Homework is intended to follow-up what was recently covered in class,
or to help you consider material that will be further covered in class. Careful planning goes into sequencing lessons,
so it is important you remain current to get the full benefit. Assignments will often ask you to explore a topic
before we begin to work on it in the classroom, so failing to do the homework may leave you unprepared for class.
Quizzes: Quizzes will be given at random over recently covered material or homework.
Please come to class each day prepared to demonstrate knowledge from the previous day's material.
This will help us to avoid waiting until tests to iron out the kinks.
Prerequisite material is fair game for quizzes. i.e. The correct use of order of operations and
fraction operations is expected.
Calculators: Calculators will be used rarely in class, if at all. Before you use a calculator
on your homework, ask yourself "Do I really need a calculator?" (The answer is usually no.)