Math 211: Elementary Math I - Winter 2011

Instructor: Jodi Fasteen Office: 328 Neuberger Hall. e-mail: jfasteen@pdx.edu Tentative Office hours: I will generally be available in the Math Resource Center (NH 305) 10-noon Mondays and Wednesdays. This is the room next to our classroom. You are welcome to use this room as a study space whenever it is open and to ask me questions whenever you find me there. website: http://www.mth.pdx.edu/~jfasteen Homework

Co-instructor: Susan Stein Susan will be participating in class throughout the term and will be the main instructor for the second half of the term. e-mail: sstein@pdx.edu Office hours: Tentatively Tues/Thurs before class, in the Math Resource Center (NH 305). Her office hours will start the second half of the term. An alternate website will likely be used for assignments for the second half of the term. Check back later.

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.

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 the instructor by email and try to make up missed topics before you return to class.
• If you are absent, please arrange to get notes from a classmate.
• 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.
• 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)

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 25% Attendance/Participation 10% Midterm 1 20% Midterm 2 20% Final Exam * 25%

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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.
• Homework may be graded thoroughly or merely checked for completion. If you have questions, please ask.

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.)