Syllabus for Math 207 Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers:  Geometry

Spring, 2004

Course meetings:  MWF 1-2:10pm SBS D-121

Instructor:            Matt Jones, Ph.D.                                                                Email:  mjones@csudh.edu

Office:                    NSM A-120                                                           Office Phone:       (310)243-2410

Office Hours:       M 12-12:45pm       2:30-5:15pm

                                W 12-12:45pm       8:45-9:00pm

                                I am also available by appointment.

Course Website:  http://www.csudh.edu/math/mjones/Math207/

 

Text:  Mathematics For Elementary School Teachers, Second Edition, by Bassarear, New York:  Houghton Mifflin, 2001.

 

Course Description:  This class is designed for prospective elementary teachers.  We will cover the material in chapters 6-10 of the textbook.  The topics we cover include proportional reasoning, probability and statistics, and geometry.

Expected Outcomes:  Students will be able to:

  • Organize and present data in a graph, as well as read information from a graph
  • Express simple probabilities as rational numbers, and apply the elementary properties of probability
  • Recognize and analyze geometric shapes and their properties, including lines and angles
  • Recognize symmetry and its relationship to transformations
  • Be able to express values in different units of measurement, including units of area and volume, and perform computations of length, area, and volume

 

Grades: A:  92% or better, A-:  88-91%, B+:  84-87%, B:  81-83%, B-:  77-80%,

C+:  74-76%, C:  71-73%, C-:  68-70%, D:  65-67%, F 64% or below.

Make-up/Late work Policy:  I do not accept late or make-up work.  If you experience a severe emergency, special arrangements may be made at my discretion.

Evaluation Categories:  I will use a point system to determine your grade:

                Journal                   100 points                                             

Homework               90 points

                Quizzes                  200 points

                Test                        100 points                                             

Final                       210 points

Total                       700 points

Journal:  There will be classroom assignments specifically designated to go in your journal, typically an average of 1 problem per class.  The journals will be collected 5 times over the course of the semester, each time being worth 20 points.  Late journals are not accepted.

Homework:  Homework is assigned every class period and is due each Monday.  Homework is graded out of 7 points.  Five (5) points will be given for attempting all but one or two of the assigned problems, six (6) points will be given for attempting every problem, and seven (7) points will be given if, in addition to attempting every problem, solutions are complete and correct.  I will drop your lowest homework score from your grade.  Late homework is not accepted.

Quizzes: There will be a quiz every Friday from January 30 through March 26, except that we will not meet for class on February 20.  The 8 quizzes will each be worth 25 points, and will be based on the homework collected on Monday of the same week, as well as the classwork from the week.  Make-up quizzes are not given.

Test:  An exam will be given on Monday, May 3, and it will be worth 100 points.

Final:  The final exam will be worth 210 points, is held on Monday, May 17, from 1-3 pm and will be cumulative.

Other Policies: 

I enforce University and Math Department policies, including the ELM requirement.

Please have your beepers or cell phones turned off or in silent mode.  If you need to make or answer a call, please exit the room.