MED 308  

Assignment #4

  1. Read the chapter on the van Hiele levels.  Attend to the Properties of the Model and Phases of Learning sections in addition to the actual levels of development.  You will need to be able to discuss and write about the levels, the properties, and the phases of learning, so read these carefully.  For the sections providing specific activities associated with levels 0,1, and 2, prepare some drawings/sketches and/or notes for 3 of the activities ­– one for  each of those levels.  The intent here is for you to engage at a level above simply reading about the activities and be able to discuss various aspects of the tasks.  You are encouraged to do more than 3 of course! 
  1. Read the articles on the Math A exam and the changes that occurred after June 2003.  Then go to the website regentsprep.org and click on Math A, then Old Exams.  In the right column you will find a variety of information links for NYS mathematics teachers.  Download and read the following:

a.      under Scoring Guide: the Information Booklet

b.     under Instructional Guidelines: the Instructional Recommendations for High School Mathematics Instruction

c.      under Math A and Math B Specifications: the document of the same name

The scoring guide contains many sample student responses along with how they were scored using the associated rubric.  Read these well.  These highlight many of the criteria used to assess Math A responses and you need to be clear as to what you want to emphasize to the students at Lafayette in their responses.  Likewise, the instructional recommendations contain many important suggestions for preparing students to be successful on the Math A exam, so attend to these as well.  The specifications simply let you know how the items on the exam are distributed across the key ideas and similarly, how the varying levels of complexity are proportioned.  

  1. Read over the handout on scoring guidelines for graphing calculator use on the Math A exam.  Since we will be emphasizing their use, it is imperative that we instruct the students accordingly.  Thus, you may give less attention to the Math B problems, but know the Math A calculator standards and sample problems thoroughly.
  1. Log onto the NCTM website (www.nctm.org) as a member (click on Access Member Resources).  Under the heading NCTM Standards (scroll down) you will see Curriculum and Evaluation Standards. This is the original 1989 Standards document that the newer Principles and Standards for School Mathematics (2000) are an update of.  Click on more.  Read the preface and the introduction (at the top). In the introduction, attend to the reasons for reform and who the target audience is, and give particular attention to the discussion of the many issues related to the teaching and learning of mathematics.  Construct a list of characteristics that describe the teaching and learning environment as described in the reading.