3 semester credits

Effective elementary mathematics instruction requires a deep understanding of numbers and operations, the real-world situations in which these arise, and how children learn these ideas. In this course, teachers refine their knowledge of the structure of the base-ten number system and how it is used in addition and subtraction. They examine various methods of multi-digit calculations, including methods commonly created by students and variations of standard algorithms. Teachers extend their own conceptual understanding by modeling mathematics visually and explaining relationships between visual representations and mathematical notation. Teachers also learn how to develop appropriate interventions by diagnosing common student misconceptions.