St. Michael's College Graduate Education Program
Mathematics and Diversity in the K – 8 Classroom
GED 612, Summer 2008

Time and location

August 4 - 15
M - F 8:30 - 12:45 Room 309, St. Edmunds. Saint Michael's College  

Instructors
Tim Whiteford PhD 802-654-2744 SMC Department of Education
Rita MacDonald 802-654-2849 SMC Department of Applied Linguistics
 

Required texts:

To be determined

Selected Web resources

The SMC Math Education  web-site: http://academics.smcvt.edu/twhiteford/Math/Math.htm
The GED Math and Diversity web-page: http://academics.smcvt.edu/twhiteford/MathandDiversity/DFI.htm
The Education Department Pages: http://academics.smcvt.edu/twhiteford/index.htm
VDOE Special Education; http://education.vermont.gov/new/html/pgm_sped.html
ESL website: www.vermontesl.org

General Statement

This course will explore theories, ideas and practices for teaching math to students with diverse characteristics at the pre-K – 8 levels in the context of the regular classroom. Students will investigate current literature on cultural, pedagogical and developmental issues related to how children learn mathematics in the four selected areas of diversity; math and students with special needs, math and students with specific math disabilities (e.g. dyscalculia), math and students in poverty, and math and students who are speakers of other languages (ELL). 

This course is designed to explore, and model, how professional educators from different fields of interest can work together by sharing their knowledge and expertise to improve math instruction for those students who, for one reason or another, find learning math difficult.   

Course participants will explore the nature of selected areas of the K – 8 math curriculum, a variety of forms of adapted, accommodated and alternate assessments, issues relating to cultural diversity and mathematics, adaptive instructional materials, math content adaptations, classroom strategies and developmental theories of learning. 

The primary focus of the course will be on helping participating students apply their mathematical pedagogical content knowledge in the unique contexts of helping students with diverse needs learn and enjoy mathematics within an inclusive setting.

Principles for Vermont Educators
Although the course will touch on all 16 of the Principles for Vermont Educators, the following Principles will be addressed most explicitly.

Principle #3 The educator understands how individuals and groups differ and creates
                    equitable instructional opportunities that respond to the needs of all
                    students.
Principle #4 The educator understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to
                     provide opportunities for all students…..
Principle #5 The educator creates a classroom climate that encourages respect for self
                     and others….
Principle #8 The educator integrates students with disabilities into appropriate learning
                    situations.
Principle #10 The educator understands conditions and actions which would tend to
                      discriminate against students on the basis of sex, race, etc.
Principle #11 The educator works as a team member…..
Principle #12 The educator recognizes multiple influences on students inside and outside
                     the school and accesses appropriate systems of support.

Course objectives

Students will construct an understanding of, and meaningful connections between, each of the following with specific reference to math education. Students will demonstrate:

1. a practical understanding of the SIOP model of instruction.
2. the ability to use pedagogical content knowledge in selected math content areas.
3. knowledge of the general characteristics of students with selected diverse needs