“Taught in the Middle” Meeting the State's Growing Need for Grades 6-8 Math Teachers

1. “Taught in the Middle”Meeting the State's Growing Need for Grades 6-8 Math Teachers Carol Fry Bohlin ~ carolb@csufresno.edu California State University, Fresno CMC-South Conference • 7 November 2009

2. Challenges... • There’s an increasing need for credentialed middle school math teachers due to retirements, an increase in student population, and the requirement that teachers be NCLB-compliant, not just hold a Supplementary Authorization in mathematics. • California doesn’t currently have a Middle School credential, which would likely be an attractive option to many students. • The Liberal Studies Major at Fresno State includes a 12-unit concentration area in upper-division coursework. Math is popular and the courses are excellent, but a Subject Matter Authorization in Mathematics requires considerably more units of math coursework (32 total). • Most Multiple Subject teachers who are teaching mathematics hold little more than a Supplementary Authorization (if that); to become NCLB-compliant, they are drawn to the CSET option. • Fortunately, MSTI can help provide quality workshops and coursework to help teachers obtain a NCLB-compliant Single-Subject Credential in Foundational-Level Mathematics.

3. A Team Effort to Meet the Challenge! • Mathematicians co-developed and co-taught mathematicially-rigorous 45-hour workshops for Mathematics CSET Subtest I and II preparation. • Math educators and talented secondary math teachers co-developed and co-taught a new Middle School Math Methods course this summer.

4. Schedule ~ Target Audience • Academic Year • CSET Subtest I and II Workshops (Subtest III planned for Spring) • Target Audience: Multiple Subject candidates (all receive invitations and information via email to attend) plus area teachers (SJVMP and CVSP + district and county office emails) • Free or very inexpensive ($25) • Middle School Mathematics Teaching Methods (CI 161)-Stateside • Target Audience: Multiple Subject Candidates and Liberal Studies/Blended Program majors • No extra charge for fulltime students; Open University available • Summer • CSET Subtest I and II Workshops • Target: Multiple Subject candidates and (especially) teachers • Free or inexpensive (30 teachers in each section) • Middle School Mathematics Teaching Methods • Target: Multiple Subject-credentialed teachers • Free or inexpensive (60 teachers enrolled this past summer)

5. Perks... • Excellent courses and workshops with outstanding mathematics teachers • Math/Science CSET and credential application fees paid • Regular email communication about upcoming events • Access to free MSTI-sponsored Science CSET Subtest workshops in case they wish to add on a Foundational-Level General Science credential • Invitations to join SJVMP- and CVSP-sponsored activities (e.g., Tech Day: GeoGebra, graphing calculators, robotics,...) • Free subscription to COMET (California Online Mathematics Education Times) • ...and for the math professors, an opportunity to work with classroom teachers, to plan and teach with their math colleagues, and to develop potentially publishable materials

6. Visit our Web site:csufresno.edu/teachmathscience