Overview
Do you struggle with finding meaningful ways to teach math to your students? This course is designed to empower you as a current and future mathematics educator to effectively teach your students and to implement new practices into your classroom. The course focuses on implementing best practices in the mathematics classroom. It also guides educators in how to utilize visuals and manipulatives in the classroom.
In this course, educators will learn how to scaffold their teaching to support students with varying ability levels and to address learning gaps in math. One of the main objectives of this course is to illustrate how educators can begin implementing various teaching strategies to meet the needs of students and to build their confidence. Lastly, the course will look at how to create a discovery learning environment and to get away from only using direct instruction.
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Implement best practices related to teaching mathematics
- Utilize visuals and manipulatives in the classroom
- Scaffold their teaching to support students with varying ability levels and to address learning gaps
- Implement various strategies to meet the needs of students and build their confidence
- Create a discovery learning environment
This course is part of a teaching series intended for high school educators. The other courses available in this series are:
1. English Methods
2. The Fundamentals of Lesson Planning
This teaching series is made possible through a generous grant from The Minchin Family Foundation.
About the Course Author
Professor Chelsie Balli serves as the director of the quantitative reasoning program at Biola University. This role enhances the department’s contribution to the University’s core curriculum and requires a unique blend of mathematics and administrative expertise. Professor Balli believes that the integration of faith and learning is a key element of the educational theory and practice of a Christian University which includes equipping students for all aspects of life after college. She has also studied how confidence and understanding in mathematics are related to a person’s confidence and success in other areas of life, and she strives to equip her students with that very confidence. Professor Balli comes to Biola after nearly seven years of progressive leadership responsibility in Mathnasium Company Centers, an organization consisting of 1,000 stores worldwide enhancing the understanding of mathematics in children matched with her graduate education in curriculum and instruction.
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About Biola University's School of Education
The School of Education exists to train those who desire to make an impact as educators in classrooms, administration buildings, homeschools, the mission field and beyond. Our wide selection of rigorous, biblically centered academic offerings — ranging from undergraduate and graduate programs to teaching credentials and certificates, as well as K–12 as well as homeschool education through our Eight-Week Clinic Courses for grades 1 through 6 — makes the School of Education the premier institution for advancing your knowledge in the field of education.
Whether you’re an aspiring teacher, an experienced educator or current teacher looking to advance in your career, our unique blend of academic excellence and thoughtful mentorship will be sure to guide you to your goals. Throughout your studies, you’ll benefit from engaging with our fully doctored, full-time faculty and different learning opportunities available to you through our strong relationships in the field, making your journey at the School of Education one full of meaning, growth and impact.
Course FAQ
Each lesson is designed to take approximately 2-4 hours, depending on how deeply you engage the assignments. Since this is a self-paced course, the time it will take you to complete it will depend on the speed with which you want to progress through the course.
No. The course contains everything you need to successfully complete it. There are resources recommended at the end of each lesson that you’re free to download if you wish to pursue further study on the course topics.
Since this course is designed as a completely self-paced experience, you will not have any interaction with the professor during the course.
Do you struggle with finding meaningful ways to teach math to your students? This course is designed to empower you as a current and future mathematics educator to effectively teach your students and to implement new practices into your classroom. The course focuses on implementing best practices in the mathematics classroom. It also guides educators in how to utilize visuals and manipulatives in the classroom.
In this course, educators will learn how to scaffold their teaching to support students with varying ability levels and to address learning gaps in math. One of the main objectives of this course is to illustrate how educators can begin implementing various teaching strategies to meet the needs of students and to build their confidence. Lastly, the course will look at how to create a discovery learning environment and to get away from only using direct instruction.
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Implement best practices related to teaching mathematics
- Utilize visuals and manipulatives in the classroom
- Scaffold their teaching to support students with varying ability levels and to address learning gaps
- Implement various strategies to meet the needs of students and build their confidence
- Create a discovery learning environment
This course is part of a teaching series intended for high school educators. The other courses available in this series are:
1. English Methods
2. The Fundamentals of Lesson Planning
This teaching series is made possible through a generous grant from The Minchin Family Foundation.
About the Course Author
Professor Chelsie Balli serves as the director of the quantitative reasoning program at Biola University. This role enhances the department’s contribution to the University’s core curriculum and requires a unique blend of mathematics and administrative expertise. Professor Balli believes that the integration of faith and learning is a key element of the educational theory and practice of a Christian University which includes equipping students for all aspects of life after college. She has also studied how confidence and understanding in mathematics are related to a person’s confidence and success in other areas of life, and she strives to equip her students with that very confidence. Professor Balli comes to Biola after nearly seven years of progressive leadership responsibility in Mathnasium Company Centers, an organization consisting of 1,000 stores worldwide enhancing the understanding of mathematics in children matched with her graduate education in curriculum and instruction.
____________________________________________________________________________
About Biola University's School of Education
The School of Education exists to train those who desire to make an impact as educators in classrooms, administration buildings, homeschools, the mission field and beyond. Our wide selection of rigorous, biblically centered academic offerings — ranging from undergraduate and graduate programs to teaching credentials and certificates, as well as K–12 as well as homeschool education through our Eight-Week Clinic Courses for grades 1 through 6 — makes the School of Education the premier institution for advancing your knowledge in the field of education.
Whether you’re an aspiring teacher, an experienced educator or current teacher looking to advance in your career, our unique blend of academic excellence and thoughtful mentorship will be sure to guide you to your goals. Throughout your studies, you’ll benefit from engaging with our fully doctored, full-time faculty and different learning opportunities available to you through our strong relationships in the field, making your journey at the School of Education one full of meaning, growth and impact.
Syllabus
| Goals of Mathematics Instruction Lesson 1 |
|---|
| What are the main goals that we hope to... Overview |
|---|
| Foundations of Mathematics Instruction Video |
| Developing Quantitative Reasoning Skills Video |
| Engaging Students in the Math Classroom Video |
| Reflection Questions Reflection |
| Classroom Demonstration: Goals of Mathematics Instruction Video |
| Post-Video Questions Reflection |
| A Study of Intrinsic Motivation in the Classroom Reading |
| Planning Instruction Lesson 2 |
|---|
| In this lesson, we will focus on how to prepare... Overview |
|---|
| Planning for Instruction Video |
| Lesson Components and Structure Video |
| Effective Strategies Video |
| Reflection Activity Reflection |
| Example: Teaching with Percents Video |
| Classroom Demonstration: Planning Instruction Video |
| Post-Video Questions Reflection |
| Planning Instruction Reading |
| Sample Lesson Plans in Mathematics Reading |
| Creating a Lesson Plan Resource |
| Effective teachers aim to meet the needs of... Overview |
|---|
| Know Your Students Video |
| Scaffolding, Chunking, and Interleaving Video |
| Meeting the Needs of All Students Video |
| Reflection Questions Reflection |
| Classroom Demonstration: Meeting the Needs of All Students Video |
| Post-Video Questions Reflection |
| Strategies to Improve Students' Learning Reading |
| The Effective Mathematics Classroom Reading |
| Interleaving and Spaced Practice in Pedagogy Reading |
| Teaching Algebra and Geometry Lesson 4 |
|---|
| Algebra and Geometry content is central in... Overview |
|---|
| Algebra and Geometry Strategies Video |
| Ratios and Proportional Relationships Video |
| Reflection Question Reflection |
| Classroom Demonstration: Teaching Algebra and Geometry Video |
| Post-Video Questions Reflection |
| Paying Attention to Proportional Reasoning Reading |
| Grade 6 Ratios & Proportional Relationship Reading |
| Creating a Mini Lesson Plan Resource |
| We will now cover the importance of Data... Overview |
|---|
| Data Analysis Video |
| Statistical Thinking Video |
| Class Demonstration: Teaching Data Analysis and Statistics Video |
| Post-Video Questions Reflection |
| Preparing to Teach Data Analysis and Probability Reading |
| Assessment Lesson 6 |
|---|
| Effective education includes a thorough... Overview |
|---|
| All About Assessment Video |
| Reflection Questions Reflection |
| Classroom Demonstration: Modeling Assessment Video |
| Post-Video Questions Reflection |
| All About Assessment PDF Readings Reading |
| Assessment Project Resource |
| Course Evaluation Resource |
Course FAQ
Each lesson is designed to take approximately 2-4 hours, depending on how deeply you engage the assignments. Since this is a self-paced course, the time it will take you to complete it will depend on the speed with which you want to progress through the course.
No. The course contains everything you need to successfully complete it. There are resources recommended at the end of each lesson that you’re free to download if you wish to pursue further study on the course topics.
Since this course is designed as a completely self-paced experience, you will not have any interaction with the professor during the course.