Connecting Abstract Algebra To Secondary Mathematics For Secondary Mathematics Teachers

Secondary mathematics teachers are frequently required to take a large number of mathematics courses – including advanced mathematics courses such as abstract algebra – as part of their initial teacher preparation program and/or their continuing professional development. The content areas of advanced and secondary mathematics are closely connected. Yet, despite this connection many secondary teachers insist that such advanced mathematics is unrelated to their future professional work in the classroom. This edited volume elaborates on some of the connections between abstract algebra and secondary mathematics, including why and in what ways they may be important for secondary teachers. Notably, the volume disseminates research findings about how secondary teachers engage with, and make sense of, abstract algebra ideas, both in general and in relation to their own teaching, as well as offers itself as a place to share practical ideas and resources for secondary mathematics teacher preparation and professional development. Contributors to the book are scholars who have both experience in the mathematical preparation of secondary teachers, especially in relation to abstract algebra, as well as those who have engaged in related educational research. The volume addresses some of the persistent issues in secondary mathematics teacher education in connection to advanced mathematics courses, as well as situates and conceptualizes different ways in which abstract algebra might be influential for teachers of algebra. Connecting Abstract Algebra to Secondary Mathematics, for Secondary Mathematics Teachers is a productive resource for mathematics teacher educators who teach capstone courses or content-focused methods courses, as well as for abstract algebra instructors interested in making connections to secondary mathematics.

This traditional treatment of abstract algebra is designed for the particular needs of the mathematics teacher. Readers must have access to a Computer Algebra System (C. A. S.) such as Maple, or at minimum a calculator such as the TI 89 with C. A. S. capabilities. Includes "To the Teacher" sections that Draw connections from the number theory or abstract algebra under consideration to secondary mathematics. Provides historical context with "From the Past" sections in each chapter. Features "Worksheets" that outline the framework of a topic in most chapters. A useful reference for mathematics teachers who need to brush up on their abstract algebra skills. An Introduction to Abstract Algebra with Notes to the Future Teacher, 1/E Olympia Nicodemi Melissa A Sutherland Gary W Towsley

Getting certified to teach high school mathematics typically requires completing a course in real analysis. Yet most teachers point out real analysis content bears little resemblance to secondary mathematics and report it does not influence their teaching in any significant way. This textbook is our attempt to change the narrative. It is our belief that analysis can be a meaningful part of a teacher's mathematical education and preparation for teaching. This book is a companion text. It is intended to be a supplemental resource, used in conjunction with a more traditional real analysis book. The textbook is based on our efforts to identify ways that studying real analysis can provide future teachers with genuine opportunities to think about teaching secondary mathematics. It focuses on how mathematical ideas are connected to the practice of teaching secondary mathematics–and not just the content of secondary mathematics itself. Discussions around pedagogy are premised on the belief that the way mathematicians do mathematics can be useful for how we think about teaching mathematics. The book uses particular situations in teaching to make explicit ways that the content of real analysis might be important for teaching secondary mathematics, and how mathematical practices prevalent in the study of real analysis can be incorporated as practices for teaching. This textbook will be of particular interest to mathematics instructors–and mathematics teacher educators–thinking about how the mathematics of real analysis might be applicable to secondary teaching, as well as to any prospective (or current) teacher who has wondered about what the purpose of taking such courses could be.

This primer is designed to provide an adequate introduction to the essentials of abstract algebra and to some related number theory. A problem solving approach has been taken -- there are over 150 problems -- so be prepared for minimal text material to read. Very little background in abstract algebra is needed for a course based on this primer. The content and methodology has been implemented successfully for well over a decade with in-service secondary teachers seeking licensure or an MA degree in teaching mathematics. The oft-quoted maxim, "You learn mathematics by doing mathematics" is embraced.

This new volume of The Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (AMTE) Professional Book Series is a critical and timely resource that paves the way and guides the future of mathematics teacher education. The collection of work in this AMTE Handbook of Mathematics Teacher Education reflects on research and what we know about how best to prepare and support both mathematics teachers and mathematics teacher educators and presents what is happening in the field. Examples included in the 22 chapters highlight how we are preparing teachers across multiple contexts (e.g., within district, in content courses for the major) and grade ranges (K-20+) and all chapters highlight relevant connections to the AMTE Standards for Preparing Teachers of Mathematics. Most importantly, this volume explores what we do not yet fully understand and where we are going. In essence, it considers how we can move the field forward. The 95 contributing authors range from graduate students to those who have served as leaders in the field in multiple ways for many years. Authors include K-12 teachers, school administrators, district leaders, graduate students, higher education faculty, and professional development facilitators.

This book argues that mathematical challenge can be found at any level and at every age and constitutes an essential characteristic of any mathematics classroom aimed at developing the students’ mathematical knowledge and skills. Since each mathematics classroom is heterogeneous with respect to students’ mathematical potential, quality mathematical instruction results from matching the level of mathematical challenge to different students’ potential. Thus, effective integration of mathematical challenge in the instructional process is strongly connected to the equity principle of mathematics education. In the three sections in this volume readers can find diverse views on mathematical challenges in curriculum and instructional design, kinds and variation of mathematically challenging tasks and collections of mathematical problems. Evidence-based analysis is interwoven with theoretical positions expressed by the authors of the chapters. Cognitive, social and affective characteristics of challenging mathematical activities are observed and analyzed. The volume opens new avenues of research in mathematics education, and pose multiple questions about mathematical instruction rich in mathematical challenge for all. The authors invite readers to explore and enjoy mathematical challenges at different levels.

A perennial discussion about teacher development is the optimal content background for teachers. In recent years, that discussion has taken center stage in the work of mathematics education researchers, mathematicians, mathematics professional developers, and mathematics education policymakers. Much of the existing and prior work in this area has been directed toward mathematical knowledge for teaching at the elementary level. The work described in this volume takes a sometimes-neglected approach, focusing on the dynamic nature of mathematical understanding rather than on a stable description of mathematical knowledge, and on mathematics for secondary teaching rather than mathematics for teaching at the elementary level. The work reported in Mathematical Understanding for Secondary Teaching: A Framework and Classroom-Based Situations is a practice-based response to the question of what mathematical understandings secondary teachers could productively use in their teaching. For each of more than 50 events, our team of almost 50 mathematics educators who were experienced mathematics teachers developed descriptions of the mathematics that teachers could use—each of those descriptions (consisting of the event and the mathematics related to the event) is what we call a Situation. We developed our Framework for Mathematical Understanding for Secondary Teaching (MUST) based on an analysis of our entire set of Situations. We call the work practice-based because the MUST framework is based on actual events that we witnessed in our observations of secondary mathematics practice. Groups of mathematics teachers can use this volume to enhance their own understandings of secondary mathematics. School leaders and professional developers in secondary mathematics will find our MUST Framework and Situations useful as they work with teachers in enhancing and deepening their understanding of secondary mathematics. Mathematics teacher educators and mathematicians who teach mathematics to prospective and in-service secondary teachers will be able to couch their mathematical discussions in the Situations—examples that arise from secondary mathematics classrooms. They will be able to use this volume as they design courses and programs that enhance mathematics from the perspectives identified in the MUST framework. Policymakers and researchers can use our MUST framework as they consider the mathematics background needed by teachers.