Below is the information on SL specifically in this class. Get familiar with the list of activities, read the rules and expectations, then complete and sign Service Learning Plan.
Also, indicate your general preferences in SL preference form (optional) and availability for specific activities on SL sign-up sheet. More activities will be added later.

In this class, SL will involve at least 24 hours of observation, participation, assistance with, and instruction of extra-curricular activities (for advanced/interested students; not tutoring).

Below are a few pre-approved activities. There are four types.

1. Observe (mostly grades 1-8). No preparation is necessary. You earn as many hours as the time spent observing the activity. You may choose to observe only up to 8 hours of activties.
2. Participate (mostly grades 9-12). For some activities, no preparation is necessary. For Math Kangaroo practices, you need to solve sets of problems before the session. You earn as many hours as the time spent participating in the activity.
3. Proctor/assist. No preparation is necessary. You earn as many hours as the time spent proctoring the activity.
4. Lead/teach. 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 or twice, sometimes more than that) before each problem solving session to go over the concepts, problems, solutions, and/or prepare our materials. A limited number of pre-approved group meetings outside of class count toward your service learning hours. However, you will also need to do some work on your own between those group meeting.

   Rules and expectations:

   • If you sign up to lead/help with an activity, make sure you work on it and attend all scheduled prep meetings. If you do not prepare, you will not be allowed to lead/help with the session. Also make sure you show up to the session. A no show may receive 0 points.
   • If you sign up to observe an activity, no preparation is required (sometimes a little bit of preparation is possible, but it is optional). Make sure you show up to the session. A no show may receive 0 points.
   • If you signed up for an acitivty and soon realized that you have a conflict, notify your group members and your instructor as soon as possible.
   • If you prepared for an activity, remember that you have a certain role. So if you are late or do not show up, your team members will have a harder time leading the session. If you truly have an emergency on the day of the activity, notify your group members and your instructor (cell phone: 559-960-9420, email: mnogin@csufresno.edu) as soon as possible.
   • Whenever you schdedule a meeting with your group members, please copy to your instructor so that the instructor can attend your meeting if possible. Also make sure that the whole group is aware of the meeting and everyone in the group is welcome to join. Meetings may be held in person on the Fresno State campus or via Zoom during reasonable hours (unless approved otherwise). Whenever you email your group members regarding meetings/preparation, make sure to reply to all. You will not receive credit for your prep meetings if the above conditions are not met.
   • In your group meetings, you will decide on what to include, how to distribute the work, discuss solutions, finalize the materials, and practice your presentations. You may often be required to do some "homework" between meetings. This homework does not count towards your hours, only your group meetings do.
   • Whenever original materials are developed for a session (e.g. a Math Field Day practice session), have all your materials ready at least one week in advance. This will give you and the instructor/teacher in charge time to proofread them.
   • Make sure you are properly prepared. Proofread all your materials really carefully. The goal is to have error-free problems/solutions/anwers for all sessions. Make sure you understand all solutions very well and are ready to lead the class discussion. If you have any difficulty, work with your group members and your instructor until you are confident. Remember that your prep meetings count towards your service learning hours. It is better to lead fewer activities and spend more time preparing for each one so that you are most ready and confident.
   • Be professional, inclusive, considerate, and prompt. Check your email regularly and reply in a timely manner.
   • When observing an activity lead by other people, please be respectful. No talking, eating, making noises, or other distractions.
   Failure to comply with the above rules and expectations will result in a lower grade.

   Pre-approved activities:

   • Math Circle, grades 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, PB 011, 012, 013
     1. Saturday, January 28, 9:50-11:30 AM
     2. Saturday, February 11, 9:50-11:30 AM
     3. Saturday, February 25, 9:50-11:30 AM
     4. Saturday, March 11, 9:50-11:30 AM
     5. Saturday, March 25, 9:50-11:30 AM
     6. Saturday, April 22, 9:50-11:30 AM
     Observers are welcome in all groups: grades 3-4, 5-6, and 7-8 on all dates, but the number of observers for each meeting is limited. No preparation neccessary.
     Sign up here.
     Fresno Math Circle website

   • Math Circle, grades 9-12 (regular sessions), PB 013
     1. Wednesday, February 1, 5:30-7:30 PM
     2. Wednesday, February 15, 5:30-7:30 PM
     3. Wednesday, March 1, 5:30-7:30 PM
     4. Wednesday, March 15, 5:30-7:30 PM
     5. Wednesday, March 29, 5:30-7:30 PM
     6. Wednesday, April 12, 5:30-7:30 PM
     7. Wednesday, April 26, 5:30-7:30 PM
     8. Wednesday, May 10, 5:30-7:30 PM
     No preparation neccessary. Participate in the activities along with the high school students. Dr. Khang Tran is teaching this group.
     Sign up here.

   • AMC 8 Solutions, grades 5-8
     1. Tuesday, January 31, 5:30-7:30 PM, S2 208
     Observers are welcome. Preparation (40 minutes) is encouraged but not required. Your instructor is in charge of this session.
     Sign up here.
     AMC Problems

   • Math Kangaroo Practice Sessions, PB 011, 012, 013
     1. Saturday, February 4
     2. Saturday, February 18
     3. Saturday, March 4
     • 10:00 AM-12:00 PM - grades 1-2, 5-6, 9-10
     • 1:30-3:30 PM - grades 3-4, 7-8, 11-12
     Leaders are needed for grades 3-4, 5-6, and 7-8, at least 3-7 hours of preparation is needed for each session depending on the grade level. Observers are welcome in most sessions. One helper is needed in grades 1-2, no preparation is necessary. Participants are welcome in grades 9-10 and 11-12. Your instructor is in charge of all these.
     Sign up here.
     Math Kangaroo web page

   • Math Kangaroo Competition, grades 1-12
     1. Thursday, March 16, 4:30-8:00 PM - IT 290, 294
     Helpers are needed. No preparation neccessary. Your instructor is in charge of this competition.
     Sign up here.

   • Math Kangaroo Solutions and Awards, grades 1-12
     1. Saturday, April 1, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM - PB 011, 012, 013, 101, 102, 103
     Leaders are needed for grades 3-4, 5-6, and 7-8, at least 3-7 hours of preparation is needed depending on the grade level. One helper is needed in grades 1-2, no preparation is necessary. Your instructor is in charge of this.
     Sign up here.

   • Math Field Day Practice Sessions at Fresno State
     1. Wednesday, March 8, 5:00-7:00 PM, location TBD, grades 6-8, coordinated by Dr. Agnes Tuska, leaders needed
     2. Thursday, March 9, 5:30-7:30 PM, location TBD, grades 9-12, coordinated by your instructor, leaders needed
     3. Monday, March 27, 5:30-7:30 PM, location TBD, grades 9-12, coordinated by your instructor, leaders needed
     4. Thursday, March 30, 6:00-8:00 PM, location TBD, grades 6-8, coordinated by Dr. Agnes Tuska, leaders needed
     Leaders are needed for grades 6-8 and 9-12, see above. You will work with Dr. Agnes Tuska (agnest@csufresno.edu) to lead grades 6-8, and your instructor to lead grades 9-12. At least 8-10 hours of preparation will be needed, depending on the grade level.
     Participants are welcome in grades 9-12. Observers welcome in grades 6-8.
     Sign up here.
     Math Field Day website

   • Math Field Day Event, grades 6-12
     Saturday, April 15, the event is usually in the morning and early afternoon, the exact time is TBD for this year. The exact time of your assignment will be determined by you and the Math Field Day coordinator. Typically assignments are approx. 3-4 hours long. No preparation is necessary. As many volunteers as possible are welcome. Sign up to volunteer at the Math Field Day. Dr. Kay Kelm (kbyler@csufresno.edu) is the Math Field Day coordinator this year.

   • Games/puzzles Sessions at Local Schools, grades 1-6, after school.
     Leaders are needed. Games/puzzles and instructions are provided. Preparation is necessary. Days/times and the amount of time commitment are flexible. Please let your instructor know if you are interested. Also, if you are interested in doing more than expected in this class, we have funds to compensate you for your time. You can also do a combination: count some (unpaid) hours for this class and get paid for other hours.

   • Math Field Day Prep Sessions at Local Schools, grades 6-12
     Please let your instructor know if you are interested and/or have any ideas.

   Upon completion, you must turn in:

   • time sheet (template here).
   • notes taken if you were observing.
   • materials developed if you developed your own materials for the activity.
   • reflections are required for all SL activities. Describe the concepts taught, including, if any, 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 elementary/middle/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? What problems were given/discussed? Which problems allow interesting extensions? Which problems lead to learning more advanced mathematics? Did the participants have interesting approaches/solutions, insightful questions or observations? What mathematics or a problem solving technique did you learn while working on these problems or observing or leading the activity? Also, reflect on the pedagogical side of your experience. Did you observe any new teaching styles or techniques? What did you notice about the students? How were students with different learning styles helped? Were there any gender/ethnicity/social background differences, concerns, or issues that you were not aware of before? How were any concerns or issues handled? What did you learn as a future teacher? How can you become a better teacher, educator, and role model for your students? Finally, reflect on how your work benefits the students and the community.
     Reflections must be typed. Please use a 12pt font. A satisfactory paper will usually be 1-2 full pages for each hour observed or lead.
   • evaluation filled out by you (top part) and the teacher (bottom part) - if your instructor was not the faculty in charge of this activity.
   • 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.

   Timeline for turning in papers: All papers (time sheets, materials developed, notes, reflections, peer evaluations, teacher's evaluations) related to meetings/activities held during dates 1-15 should be turned in by the end of the same month. Papers related to meetings/activities held during dates 16-31 should be turned in by the 15th of the following month. Exception: all papers related to meetings/activities held in the month of May should be turned in by May 15. Upload all your papers to Canvas.

   Grading: Your reflections will be evaluated by your instructor and account for 25% of your SL grade. 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, problem solving strategies you learned or taught, teaching strategies you learned, anything you have learned about the students and how to be a better educator and role model, and other topics you may have discussed in your written reflections. This presentation is your chance to share your experience and what you have learned with the whole class (rather than just the instructor). Since you will be often working in groups, presentations may be, but do not have to 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 (i.e. in excess of 24 hours) leading/helping with extracurricular activities. To be eligible for extra credit, you must earn at least 70% for the required 24 hours. In this case, you will get 0.5 points (0.5% of your grade) for each additional hour.

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   This page was last revised on 1/19/23.