This field experience assignment is due Wednesday, November 6.

During your field experience, you should either observe math being taught or teach math yourself as often as possible. Your field experience assignment is to produce four separate essays about four different mathematical topics that you observed being taught, or that you taught yourself. (If you are not able to observe four different topics, say so, and try to write about lessons addressing different aspects of the topics.) Provide the following in each of your four essays:

1. The mathematical topic, the grade level, who taught the lesson (you or a teacher), and a description of what the teacher and students did in the lesson. (1/2 point)
2. A careful analysis and discussion of the strong and weak points in the way that the mathematical topic was presented, and in the mathematics learning that took place. What aspects of the lesson did or did not help the children learn the mathematical topic, and why do you think those aspects did or did not help the children learn? (2 1/2 points)
3. EITHER: describe one or more ways that the presentation of the mathematics, or the mathematical questions, problems, or activities given to the children could have been improved in the lesson, and discuss why you think your suggestions could result in improvement, OR: describe how the lesson could be extended and built upon; what mathematics could you present to the children, and what mathematical questions, problems, or activities could you give the children to build upon the learning that took place in the lesson? what mathematics learning would you expect to result from your suggestions? (2 points)

Your score on parts 2 and 3 of each essay will be based on the depth, insightfulness, persuasiveness, and clarity of your analysis and discussion, and the extent to which it specifically addresses the points listed in parts 2 and 3.