Math 149 field experience

Math 149. Capstone Mathematics for Teachers. Spring 2017.
Field Experience
You are expected to complete at least 20 hours total of field experience. You should spend at least 12 hours (more recommended) in the math club/extracurricular activities setting; the remaining time, up to 8 hours, can be regular math lesson observation in grades 9-12.

Lesson observation
Choose a few classrooms to observe. The Geometry class taught by Daniel Jones at the University High is especially recommended. If you don't have much observation experience yet, try to observe a variety of math courses in a variety of grade levels (but only grades 9-12), taught by a variety of teachers. Every class is different, and every teacher has a different teaching style, so it would be best to observe different practices.
You may either choose schools/classes from the following list, or make your own arrangements. Please let your instructor know (as soon as you decide) which school(s) you would like to observe classes in.
The following teachers have agreed to occasionally have observers from our class. However, you should keep in mind that some days may be inconvenient (a test may be given; or a teacher may have other committment and have a sub; etc.) For that reason and also to be polite, before you go to observe a lesson, send an email to the teacher (copy to your instructor) stating that you are a Fresno State student taking the Capstone Mathematics for Teachers class, and asking whether it would be OK to observe their lesson on such and such date. Remember to arrive in advance so that you have time to find the building and the room and to introduce yourself to the teacher before class. Ask where you could sit so that not to disturb the class. Stay quiet, don't talk to the students, and don't disrupt the class in any way. You must stay for the whole class because if you leave in the middle of class you will disrupt the class.
- University High School
  Please remember to email the teacher (copy to your instructor) before attending any class, asking if it would be OK to observe a class on a certain day (more or less any day will be fine, but the teacher would like to know that you are coming, and also you need to confirm that there will be no test that day).
  Teacher: Daniel Jones (djones@csufresno.edu)
  Room: 104 (UHS)
  Days: any, Mon through Fri
  Class: Geometry (Integrated Math II), periods starting at 10AM, 11AM, 1PM, 2PM.
Upon completion, you must turn in:
- time sheet (template here),
- your notes (handwritten),
- your reflections: describe the concepts taught, including definitions given, theorems stated and/or proved, and procedures/algorithms described; were the definitions and statements and/or proofs rigorous? Could they be given more rigorously? If so, how? If not, why not (i.e. what additional knowledge would be needed that is not covered in high school)? Were the procedures/algorithms explained (i.e. explained why they would work, under which conditions they would work, etc.)? Which questions did the students ask? In particular, did they ask to clarify any concepts/theorems/procedures? Which of the teacher's answers or examples were most helpful to the students? Feel free to include any of your thoughts or comments or suggestions. While our main focus is on the content, comments on any teaching styles observed are welcome too. A satisfactory paper will be at least one full page for each hour observed (longer is better).
Grading: Your observation notes and reflections will be graded by your instructor.
Observing, assisting with, and leading extracurricular activities (for advanced students; not tutoring!)
Below are a few opportunities. Choose any that you would like to lead/help with. You will often team up with other people in our class, and work in small groups (of 2-4 people). We will need to meet (sometimes once, sometimes more than) before each problem solving session to go over the concepts, problems, and solutions. Whenever you schdedule a meeting with your group members, please let your instructor know when and where your group is meeting so that the instructor can attend your meeting if possible. Sometimes we may discuss your field experience in class. Pre-approved (see below) group meetings (outside of class) count toward your field experience hours.
- Math Circle, grades 3-10
  1. Saturday, January 21, 9:45-11:30 AM
  2. Saturday, February 4, 9:45-11:30 AM
  3. Saturday, February 18, 9:45-11:30 AM
  4. Saturday, March 4, 9:45-11:30 AM
  5. Saturday, March 18, 9:45-11:30 AM
  6. Saturday, April 1, 9:45-11:30 AM
  7. Saturday, April 15, 9:45-11:30 AM
  8. Saturday, April 29, 9:45-11:30 AM
  9. Saturday, May 13, 9:45-11:30 AM
  1 hour long meeting with the leading faculty is needed before each session. Contact Dr. Jenna Tague for grades 3-4, your instructor for grades 5-6, and Dr. Ravi Somayajulu for grades 7-10.
- Problem Solving Playground/Math Circle, officially grades 11-12, in practice grades 9-12
  1. Thursday, February 9, 5:30-7:30 PM, S 141
  2. Thursday, February 23, 5:30-7:30 PM, S 141
  3. Thursday, March 9, 5:30-7:30 PM, S 141 - Math Field Day practice
  4. Thursday, March 23, 5:30-7:30 PM, S 141 - Integration Bee practice
  5. Thursday, April 6, 5:30-7:30 PM, S 141
  6. Thursday, April 20, 5:30-7:30 PM, S 141
  7. Thursday, May 4, 5:30-7:30 PM, S 141
  No preparation neccessary.
- Math Kangaroo Prep
  1. Saturday, January 28 - no preparation needed, observers welcome
  2. Saturday, February 25 - at least 2 hours long prep meeting is needed for each session
  3. Saturday, March 11 - at least 2 hours long prep meeting is needed for each session
  - 9:45-11:45 - grades 1-6
  - 1:30-3:30 - grades 7-10
  Your instructor is in charge of these.
- Math Field Day Prep
  1. Saturday, February 11, 9AM-12PM, grades 6-10
  2. Thursday, March 9, 5:30-7:30 in PSP/MC, grades 11-12
  3. Saturday, April 8, 9AM-12PM, grades 6-10
  Your instructor is in charge of these.
- Math Kangaroo Competition, grades 1-12
  Thursday, Mar 16, 5:30-7:30PM, ED 140. No preparation necessary.
  Contact your instructor if you wish to help.
- Math Kangaroo Solutions and Awards, grades 1-12
  Saturday, Mar 25, 9:30AM-12:00PM, S2 building - at least 2 hours long prep meeting is needed for each session
  Contact your instructor if you wish to help.
- High School Integration Bee
  Thursday, April 5, 6:45-??PM (probably until approx. 9:30). Some help may be needed (contact Khang Tran if interested), observers welcome.
- Math Field Day, grades 7-12
  Saturday, April 22, the event is approx. from 8AM-4PM, the exact time of your assignment will be determined by you and the Math Field Day coordinator (this year, that's your instructor). Typically assignments are approx. 3-4 hours long. No preparation necessary.
  As many volunteers as possible are welcome!
Upon completion, you must turn in:
- time sheet (template here),
- reflections/thoughts/suggestions for improvement,
- evaluation filled out by you (top part) and the teacher (bottom part) - if your instructor was not present.
- peer evaluation filled out by you for each group member - if had any group prep meetings with peers without your instructor present.
- peer evaluations filled out by your group members will be submitted by your group members directly to the instructor.
Grading: Your reflections will be evaluated by your instructor. Your performance will be evaluated by the teacher (if applicable), group members, and instructor.
Finally, you should prepare a short presentation about your field experience. You may choose the topic you want to present on: a class activity you liked (whether the class was taugh by you or the teacher you observed), your lesson plan, teaching strategies you learned, etc. Since you will be often working in groups, presentations may be prepared by groups as well. However, in this case, make sure that all of the group members are involved in preparing the presentation as well as presenting.
For extra credit
Complete additional hours leading/helping with extracurricular activities (i.e. in excess of 12 hours in that setting and in excess of 20 hours total of field experience). You will get 1 point (1% of your grade) for each additional hour.

This page was last revised on 16 May 2017.