CIT 609 Special Topics: Curriculum Design I
Winter 2017

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Assignment #3

Professional Goal

      Education is a profession that involves continuous growth in order to keep up with emerging research in student achievement in learning. In mathematics, student learning has moved away from rote learning towards a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of mathematical concepts. In order to attain a learning environment that promotes this level of comprehension, I have decided to align my professional goal with our school-wide goal of incorporating literacy across all content. For many students, mathematical terminology can seem like a foreign language. In many problems, students must have a sufficient understanding of mathematical terminology used within the problem in order to solve the problem accurately. Utilizing graphic organizers, like the Frayer Model (Image 3.1 below), provide students with a strategy to learn new terms and apply them appropriately within the context of the mathematical concept being introduced. As an educator, it is imperative to continue to search for strategies that work for students. Even though my content is mathematics, there are many strategies utilized in reading and writing that can be used in understanding mathematical problems as well as providing strategies to approach mathematical problems. Continued professional development in these areas will allow me to strengthen my skills in incorporating these strategies within my content which will enhance student learning in my classes. 

3.1 Frayer Model

Assignment #4

Continuous Professional Improvement Plan of Action

Continuous professional improvement plan of action
 
 
 
 
Type
 Sponsoring Organization
 Location
 Session Title
 Date/Time Offered
 National Conference (Example)
 American Library Association-virtual conference
 Online
 Tempting High School Boys with Good Reads
 Ongoing
 National Conference
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
 Las Vegas, NV
  2017 Innov8 Conference
  11/15-17/17
 State Conference
Colorado Board of Education
  Lamar, CO
  Teaching Math to English Learners
  5/25/17
 State Conference
Colorado Council of Teachers of Mathematics
 Ft. Collins, CO
 Leveraging Classroom Instruction to Maximize Student Achievement on the PSAT/SAT
 3/4/17
 District In-service
 
 
 
 
 District In-service
 
 
 
 
 District In-service
 
 
 
 
 District In-service
 
 
 
 National Professional Organization
 
 
 
 
 National Professional Organization
 
 
 
 Professional Journal Article
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
  Online
Using Communication to Develop Students' Mathematical Literacy (January 2001, Volume 6, Issue 5, pp. 296)
  Ongoing
 Professional Journal Article
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
  Online
Learning Mathematics Vocabulary: Potential Pitfalls and Instructional Strategies (Denisse R. Thompson and Rheta N. Rubenstein: The Mathematics Teacher
Vol. 93, No. 7 (October 2000), pp. 568-574)
  Ongoing
  • 2017 Innov8 Conference
                This conference is hosted by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and will offer mathematics teachers with hands-on experience in implementing research-based mathematics education practices. It will also allow mathematics teachers to collaborate and provides many opportunities for mathematics teachers to share ideas and resources. Altogether, it is a beneficial opportunity for mathematics teachers to gain new and innovative strategies to engage students and establish a community of meaningful learning.
  • Teaching Math to English Learners
                Many times, I have heard mathematics referred to as a foreign language. In some ways, I agree with this comparison. There is much terminology used in mathematics that is not used in other subjects or in everyday conversation. Students must learn how to recognize the terminology and apply its meaning to various situational problems. Even though many mathematical symbols are 
  • Using Communication to Develop Students' Mathematical Literacy
                Communication is an integral component of comprehension. In mathematics, communication can aid in developing student understanding of various concepts. It can provide a more meaningful learning environment in which students can explain their understanding of concepts to fellow classmates. 

Assignment #5

       Professional development is an ongoing endeavor for educators to learn innovative and essential ways to meet the needs of their students. Students' learning needs are constantly evolving with the changing times and the ever-changing availability of technological resources. In a school that is diverse with many students that predominantly speak another language as well as living with family members that also speak another language, it is imperative to develop an understanding of teaching these students how to develop an academic language that allows them to comprehend mathematical concepts. This is the reason why many of the professional development I am interested in revolves around communication and English Language Learners. I hear many times from students and educators alike that math seems to be a foreign language. In many cases, it can seem like a foreign language. A language that is only spoken in a mathematics classroom. For this reason, many students struggle with developing a clear understanding of the mathematical concepts and language taught in a math class with the little exposure they receive in class.

       In addition to the struggles some students may experience in comprehending the mathematical concepts in class, there is usually not much support for students at home. This can lead to an extremely frustrating experience for the student as well as their family. For this reason, it is highly imperative that class time is used efficiently to maximize student learning. Students will benefit from a class that fosters a meaningful learning environment that engages them and meets their needs as learners.