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“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. Challenges.
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“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
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.
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.
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)
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
