Members of the Department of Mathematical Sciences are working with facultyand staff from the College of Education to help middle school mathematics teachers improve their knowledge and understanding of the mathematics they teach in a state funded program called Mathematically Connected Communities.During the summer of 2005, we offered academies in Las Cruces, Carlsbad and El Rito, New Mexico. The Las Cruces academy ran from June 6 to June 24 and attracted 39 educators from around the state. The other two academies were held between July 11 and July 29; 19 teachers attended the Carlsbad academy and 23 attended the institute in El Rito. The academies are designed for middle school teachers who are interested in enhancing their own conceptual understanding of the mathematics they teach. Focusing on problem solving using the content of geometry and data analysis and probability related to the New Mexico standards and benchmarks, teachers "unpack" the mathematics of conceptually-based mathematics lessons that start at the middle grade level and extend into high school and college level mathematics.Participants discuss their mathematical thinking through writing and classroom discussion. Teachers engage in developing standards-based lessons that address misconceptions that are common among middle grade students and support understanding and multiple ways of thinking about mathematics.
One of the unique and exciting aspects of these academies is the tight integration of the content and the pedagogy. The pedagogy sessions are based on mathematical problems and the mathematical content is designed around the mathematics standards. All of this material has been developed through collaboration involving mathematicians and education specialists. Interested teachers can earn undergraduate or graduate credit in mathematics and graduate credit in education.
For more information, visit the Mathematically Connected Communities website http://mc2.nmsu.edu/
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