T_L 444 01

For information about your professor for this course, Dr. Sonja Brandt, view the Faculty tab inside our Blackboard course. All students will complete a short introductory Flipgrid video to introduce themselves!

Course Objectives

The purpose of this course is to prepare you to teach mathematics to students who struggle with  the subject.   

After successfully completing this course, you should be able to:

• Conduct a variety of assessments, and analyze and utilize the data obtained to  better evaluate where students are with regard to their mathematical understanding.  (InTASC 6) 

• Create and implement lesson plans for diverse students that are designed around  the principals of effective mathematics instruction. (ESPB 11010.6, 11010.7; InTASC  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8) 

• Be knowledgeable about and confident in your ability to use and teach with the  mathematical resources – literature, manipulatives, technologies, and other materials – available. (ESPB 11010.6; CAEP 1.1; INTASC 4, 5, 7)

• Know how to help students connect mathematical ideas to real life through the use of  authentic mathematics problem solving experiences and authentic assessment.  (ESPB 11010.2, 11010.4; CAEP 1.1; INTASC 5, 6, 7, 8)

Department of Teaching, Leadership, & Professional Practice Conceptual Framework

All of our programs in the College of Education are grounded on constructivist principles and are accredited by the appropriate agencies (NCATE, ESPB, and the Higher Learning Commission) and are designed to support the development of educators around the three themes that comprise the conceptual framework of our college:

1. Teachers as Learners
2. Teachers as Articulate Visionaries
3. Teachers as Active Agents of Learning

Required Text:

• Gurganus, Susan Perry. (2017). Math Instruction for Students with Learning Problems. New York, NY: Routledge. (2nd Edition) 

Recommended Text: 

• Sammons, Laney. (2019). Guided Math: A Framework for Mathematics Instruction. Huntington Beach, CA: Shell Education. (2nd Edition)

Recommended Resources:

• A list of recommended math manipulatives (hands-on, printable, and virtual) is available within our Blackboard course. These manipulatives are highly recommended as you read and learn about various math content in our course, as you view and take part in the weekly recorded lesson videos from your instructor, and as you plan lessons for students in classrooms.

• Additional readings and resources shown on the course schedule will be made available electronically in Blackboard.

Access and Log in Information

This course was developed and will be facilitated utilizing Blackboard. To get started with the course, please go to: http://blackboard.UND.edu and log in with your NDUS.Identifier, Username and Password. If you do not know your NDUS Identifier or have forgotten your password, please visit Your NDUS Account page on the UIT website.

The course content is organized into sixteen weeks. Each week contains a to do list with reading and assignments as well as a variety of links to articles, instructional video, and other instructional resources selected to enhance the learning experience and support the various topics. Discussions, blogs, wikis, surveys, quizzes, assignments, and a final presentation will be used to assess your comprehension and application of those materials over the course of this class.  

Course Overview

To get the most from your experience, it is recommended that you consider the following: 

• Review the syllabus and course schedule posted in Blackboard 

• Use the FAQ Discussion Board found under Resources to ask questions  

• Participate fully and in a timely manner to get the benefit of learning from your peers and the facilitators 

What Should You Do First?

The Blackboard site for this course will be open to you one week prior to the start of the semester with the syllabus, an introductory message/video, and other introductory materials available for your review. Prior to the start of the first week of the course, please review the course syllabus and schedule and view the introductory video for further details on how to navigate the course Blackboard site. 

How Students Should Proceed Each Week for Class Activities:

On the left side course menu in Blackboard there is a “Weekly Assignments” tab. By clicking on this tab, you will find all weekly content folders containing the required readings, videos, and assignments/activities for the week. An overview of each week can be found in Blackboard under the Schedule tab. Each weekly folder will be opened up on Tuesday by 9:00am CST for the coming week, and (unless otherwise specified), all assignments will be due by 11:59pm CST of the following Monday (ex. Week 1 materials are open by Tuesday at 9:00am CST and all Week 1 materials will be due by the end of Week 1 on Tuesday by 11:59pm CST).

You can find an overview of the Major Assignments for this course under that Blackboard tab, under the TL486 Field Experience tab, as well as information on the TL486 Field Experience course.

Under the Resources tab you will find the FAQ Discussion Board where students can post questions about the course; you are encouraged to respond and help your classmates by answering questions if and when you are able.

Resources

Many services are available to UND students such as writing assistance from the UND Writing Center, free online tutoring from Smarthinking, and more. Visit the Student Resources page for more information. Students also have access to the UND Student Resource Site via Blackboard. It is recommended that you become familiar with the tools and tutorials within the site to better equip you in navigating the course.

Course Requirements/Expectations

1. Please review the syllabus and course schedule posted in Blackboard and continue to monitor these for any changes during the 6-week session. 

2. Please access and follow all weekly instructions and complete all assignments as indicated in the Weekly assignments folders. 

3. Please complete and submit assignments by the date noted in Blackboard and on the course schedule – typically by the following Monday by 11:59pm CST unless otherwise specified. We will use Central Standard Time (CST) for due dates and times.

4. Participate fully in all online discussions and other activities in a timely manner to get the benefit of learning from your classmates. Also, as you establish or continue your field experience relationship with your field experience student and their family/teacher, know that you are representing UND and yourself as a current (and future) teacher. You are expected to attend your scheduled field experience sessions with your field experience student, work with the family and/or teacher of this student to schedule each session and communicate clearly, professionally, and in a timely manner.

Policies for Students in Educator Preparation Programs

Dispositions: The Council of Accreditation for Educator Preparation (CAEP) requires the university to monitor the academic progress and dispositions of every student enrolled in a program leading to an education license or credential. Dispositions refer to a student’s actions and behaviors in terms of professionalism, ethics and human relations. Should a concern arise about a student’s progress or dispositions, faculty, instructors and/or cooperating teachers may request a one-on-one meeting with the teacher candidate or advanced student to discuss areas of strength or concerns. Written documentation of this conference may be included in the student’s permanent file. Specific procedures are delineated on the form, Professional Dispositions for UND Teacher Education.

Announcements: 

Announcements will be posted on the main Blackboard page (and subsequently emailed directly to you) on a regular basis. Be sure to check the class announcements regularly as they will contain important information about class assignments and other class matters. 

Email: 

You are encouraged to post your questions about the course in the FAQs Discussion Board Forum in the Blackboard site (found under Resources). This is an open forum in which you and your classmates are encouraged to answer each other’s questions. But, if you need to contact me directly, check the Faculty tab in Blackboard or the syllabus for my contact information.  I will respond back to you within 48 hours during the week and may not respond on the weekend until the next business day. If you have not heard back from me within 48 hours, please email again.  

Discussion Forums, Blogs, & Wikis: 

These tools are an excellent way for you to engage with the course material and with your peers.  Each week will have at least one of these tools for you to participate in. You are expected to read all assigned discussion boards, blog posts, and/or wiki pages and provide thoughtful contributions. 

Netiquette:  

When participating in an online class it is important to interact with your peers in an appropriate manner. Always use professional language (no netspeak) in your postings and emails, just as you would in a school setting or other professional position. Our online posts are our main interactions and discussions as a community of teachers and learners. Please be respectful of your classmates at all times even if you disagree with their ideas. Consider the perspectives of others, participate on time and completely, and make sure your tone is considerate and collegial when engaging with others. In addition, almost all assignments depend on the contributions of each of you. Your reflections, ideas, and suggestions are required for us to engage with and learn reading content. Your learning and understanding will be enhanced by reading and responding to others’ work. As with any class, please complete assignments fully and on time and promptly communicate if you have questions or if any issues should arise. We are here to support each other’s teaching and learning for the benefit of you and your future students, so be willing to take risks and put yourself out there among your classmates! We are here to learn from and alongside one another! 

Resources:

Many services are available to online students such as writing assistance from the UND Writing Center (virtual appointments), free online tutoring from Smarthinking, and more. Visit the Student Resources page for more information. Students also have access to the UND Student Resource Site via Blackboard. It is recommended that you become familiar with the tools and tutorials within the site to better equip you in navigating the course.

Assignment Policy:

Assignments are expected to be submitted either in class or on Blackboard as specified on their designated due dates. If you feel you require an extension on an assignment, please email me in advance in order to discuss options. Late assignments without such a request will result in a reduction in points.

If you feel you need to revise and resubmit an assignment in order to improve your own learning and success, please email me to discuss. Such instances will be considered individually as they arise. 

Class Participation:

Students are required to login regularly to the online class site. Students are also required to participate in all class assignments and activities such as discussion board, blogs, and wikis, and sharing lesson planning ideas and materials.

Incompletes:

It is expected that students will complete all requirements for a course during the time frame of the course. For reasons beyond a student’s control, and upon request by the student or on behalf of the student, an incomplete grade may be assigned by the instructor when there is reasonable certainty the student will successfully complete the course without retaking it. The mark “I,” Incomplete, will be assigned only to the student who has been in attendance and has done satisfactory work up to a time within four weeks of the close of the semester, including the examination period, and whose work is incomplete for reasons satisfactory to his or her instructor. More information regarding UND’s Incomplete policy can be found on The Grading System webpage.

Course Requirements:  

In this course, students are expected to:  

• Complete all readings and coursework in a reflective and critical manner  

• Demonstrate professional-level skills in thinking and communication  

• Be considerate of others’ thoughts and opinions  

Assignments that are not well-written or well-thought out or those that are incomplete will be returned to the student for revision. Unless otherwise directed, format assignments using 12 pt. font and 1-inch margins and follow APA style. All assignments must be posted in Blackboard unless otherwise directed. E-mailed assignments will not be accepted without prior permission from the instructor. 

Central Standard Time is used for class due dates and times. 

Effort/Course Rigor:  

Plan to spend sufficient time on the course. You are expected to put in the same amount of time into online courses as you would if you were enrolled in a face-to-face course on campus. For example, if a two-credit course were meeting on-campus it would meet for two hours a week for sixteen weeks. In addition to this meeting time, you would be expected to spend, at minimum, an additional hour for each hour of class time on assignments, which includes readings, watching weekly videos, completing assignments, sharing in discussion boards, creating lesson plans, etc.