Math4020 Practicum

For this assignment, you are to spend three hours observing a math lesson in
a K-6 elementary classroom and three hours teaching a math lesson to a small
group of two or more children (not tutoring and not
simply reviewing a worksheet the teacher gave you). The math lessons will
probably be split into 2 or 3 sessions. The lessons should be relevant to
this course. That is, the topic you choose for your lesson must be
related to statistics, probability or geometry (there will be an
automatic 15 percentage points deducted from your practicum grade if this is
not adhered to). At the end of the semester, you are required to submit a
typewritten practicum report (4-6 pages) analyzing your teaching experience.
The intent of the practicum is:

To provide a connection between the theory and the practice of
teaching mathematics.
to give you some practical experience in an elementary
mathematics classroom.
To encourage reflection in teaching mathematics.

These practicums are possible only through the cooperation of the
in-service teachers. There is a form attached to this description that
you can take with you to the school. The form describes the Math4010/4020
sequence, the purpose of the practicum, and asks for the signatures of the
teacher and principal granting permission for you to visit the classroom.
This form also gives the name and phone number of the course instructor so
that the school can contact us in case problems arise.

Your practicum report should include the following:

Your goals for your lesson.
A brief outline of the lesson plan.
The number of students at the observation and then at the lesson,
as well as their grade level.
A description of the mathematical discussion and learning that took
place during the lesson along with the pupils' dialogue and
questions/responses to the mathematical discussion.
An analysis of the student response including a discussion of
what worked and what didn't work mathematically in the lesson and
how the lesson might be improved.

(Note: The last two items should take up about 80-85% of your report.)

Grading of your practicum report will be based on the depth of the
analysis of your lesson presentation. Refer to your syllabus for
the practicum due date. (For every day that your practicum report is late,
you will be deducted 20 points! Remember that writing the practicum report
is required to pass this course.)

Note: Please remember to take detailed notes during your observation and
immediately following your teaching since it's likely that enough time will
pass between the observation date, your teaching, and the writing of your
report that you may forget the details unless they are recorded in writing.