T406 – Teaching and Learning in Diverse and Inclusive Settings: Mathematics
This course examines the content and methods of teaching mathematics to young children from diverse family, linguistic and cultural backgrounds in kindergarten through grade three. The course prepares teacher candidates to use their knowledge of mathematics to develop children’s ability to approach and solve problems in the various areas of mathematical thinking including number concept, geometry, probability, and measurement. Simultaneously the course furthers the language as well as the conceptual understanding skills of all children, including English language learners and individuals with special needs. Teacher candidates design and present lesson plans, develop curriculum plans, and use formal and informal strategies to assess children’s thinking processes as well as their skills and knowledge. The pedagogical approaches studied respect mistakes and misunderstandings as learning opportunities for everyone.