TEXT: An Exploratory Course in Algebra for Middle School Teachers, Elliot C. Gootman

PROFESSOR: Dr. Elliot Gootman
Room 502, Boyd Graduate Studies Building
Phone: 542-2637 (my office), 542-2211 (math. dept. office)
(* If I am not in my office, and you let the phone ring about 6 times, it should transfer automatically to the dept. office.)
E-Mail: gootman@math.uga.edu
Web Address: http://www.math.uga.edu/~gootman/

OFFICE HOURS: (a) Wednesday, 1:25-2:15
Thursday, 10-11
Friday, 9:05-9:55
(b) or whenever else you want to see me. Just email me, or mention to me before or after class that you would like to see me, and we can set up a time.

GRADING: Homework 15%
Two hours exams 18% EACH (September 29, November 17)
Comprehensive Final 25%
Homework and/or Intermath writeups, with extensions 12% (*)
Mathcounts and middle school class observations and writeup 12% (**)

(*) Intermath is a professional development program for teachers with web site http://www.intermath-uga.gatech.edu/. On the web site are a list of algebra investigations. The writeups will consist of either 2 intermath problems, or 1 intermath problem and 1 substantial homework problem from the course notes. A writeup will present the problem, method of investigation and conclusion. An extension is a problem suggested by the given problem, which is not explicitly mentioned in the given problem. Your writeups should also present the extension problem, its method of investigation, and conclusions.

(**) I strongly believe that even a content class for teachers can be enriched by the infusion into the class of a real school experience. We are fortunate in having here in Clarke County a master teacher, Mr. Shareef Bacchus of Hilsman Middle School. Mr. Bacchus (http://www.nctm.org/dialogues/2002-04/20020403.htm ) is a 2000 Presidential Awardee for Excellence in Mathematics Teaching, and the coach of the very successful Hilsman Mathcounts team (http://mathcounts.org/). A requirement of this class is that you observe a Mathcounts coaching session at least twice during the semester, and that you also observe Mr. Bacchus teaching an algebra class at least twice during the semester. The writeup, which should be about 4-5 pages long, should describe your observations, feelings and thoughts about both the Mathcounts coaching sessions and Mr. Bacchus’ algebra classes. These writeups will be kept confidential. Details on the scheduling of these observations will be discussed in class.

To partially balance the additional time requirements these observations impose upon you, classes will not be held on Wednesday, October 29, Monday, November 3, and Wednesday, December 3.

Attendance and class participation are integral parts of the course. Accordingly, you will be allowed to miss at most 2 50 minute class periods. Any additional missed classes might result in the lowering of your grade.

I encourage students to work together on the weekly homework. However, you should write up your homework solutions individually. For the end of semester writeups, you can discuss the mathematics of the problem with others, but the writeup should again be completely individual work.

Comments on homework solutions. Your homework solutions should read as good prose explanations of what the problem is, and how you are solving it. Of course, mathematical notation can be used to make the prose concise.

All course participants are expected to abide by the University Honor Code and Academic Honesty Policy.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Algebra for middle school teachers. Relationships between quantities and the interpretation of such relationships numerically, graphically, algebraically, and functionally. Emphasis on problem solving and applications, connections with geometry, arithmetic and data analysis, and math competitions such as Mathcounts.

COURSE OBJECTIVES OR EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES

To strengthen and deepen knowledge of algebra and classes of . functions, and of the connections between algebra and arithmetic, geometry and data analysis. To use algebra techniques for problem solving, and to be able to explain clearly why the techniques work. To gain some familiarity with the Mathcounts competition.