PRIME Professional Development Opportunities
Spring 2009

Registration Information: To register for these classes, please contact Dixie Stephens at RCAS Staff Development Office, 394-4067

Title: EDU 692: DYNAMIC CLASSROOM ASSESSMENT: SECONDARY
Instructors:  Joel Albright and Sally Heberlein
Target Group: secondary mathematics teachers & special education staff
Available Credit: 2 BHSU graduate credits/2 SD Recertification credits/30 C.E. credits/Audit
Dates: Jan. 12, 26, Feb. 2, 9, 23, Mar. 2, 9, 23, 30, Apr. 6, 27, 2009
Time: 4:15pm – 7:15pm except Jan. 12: 5:00pm – 7:00pm, Jan 26 & Apr. 27: 4:30pm – 6:30pm
Location: Central High School, Room D200
Materials Fee: $64.00. The book: Dynamic Classroom Assessment Secondary Training, Core Participants’ Guide is the required text and is to be purchased the first day of class through the instructor.
Description: Dynamic Assessment in the Secondary Mathematics Classroom is designed to enrich teacher knowledge of how to link students’ mathematical understanding to instructional decisions. Teachers enrolled in this course will learn how to gather information about students’ mathematical thinking, make inferences about what students know and can do mathematically, and then make instructional decisions that are better aligned with students’ mathematical understanding.
Priority will be given to math teachers. This course cannot be substituted for a required class for a Math Specialist endorsement.

Title: ED 601: FOUNDATIONS AND ISSUES OF MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
Instructor: Jami Stone
Target Group: K-12 mathematics teachers & special education staff
Available Credit: Available Credit: 2 BHSU graduate credits/2 SD Recertification credits/30 C.E. credits/Audit
Dates: Jan. 14, 26, Feb. 2, 9, 23, Mar. 2, 16, 23, 30, Apr. 6, 2009
Time: 4:30pm – 7:30pm
Location: Valley View Elementary, Mathematics Office
Description: This course provides an introduction to K-12 mathematics content and process standards, makes the case for using an inquiry-oriented approach in classrooms, and looks at current research. Participants will gain an understanding of the components needed to create a learning environment that encourages and supports all children in building understandings, making connections, reasoning, and solving problems as described in Principles and Standards for School Mathematics, published by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Priority will be given to teachers in the K-12 Math Specialist program since ED 601 is a required course. All other applicants will be placed on a waiting list and will be admitted as space allows.

Title: ED 651: UNDERSTANDING STUDENT THINKING IN ALGEBRA
Instructor: Deann Kertzman
Target Group: K-12 math teachers & special education staff
Available Credit: 2 BHSU graduate credits/2 SD Recertification credits/30 C.E. credits/Audit
Dates: Jan. 20, 27, Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24, Mar. 10, 17, 24, 31, 2009
Time: 4:30pm – 7:30pm
Location: Valley View Elementary, Mathematics Office
Optional Materials Fee: Thinking Mathematically by Carpenter, Franke, and Levi (approx. $23.00) Textbooks may be borrowed from the instructor or purchased independently.
Description: This course will help participants build a foundation of algebra in elementary grades. Participants will examine algebraic thinking with an emphasis on how arithmetic and algebra are taught and learned. Conceptions and misconceptions that elementary students bring to mathematics will be analyzed. Strategies for promoting algebraic thinking will be practiced. Participants will also examine topics related to equality, rational thinking, conjectures, variables, patterns and functions.