Collaboration for Mathematical Preparation and Development at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee DeAnn Huinker, Mathematics Education Kevin McLeod, Mathematics University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Teachers for a New Era Mathematics Conference Michigan State University November 8-9, 2007 Collaboration of the UWM TNE group and the Milwaukee Mathematics Partnership on developing or revising content courses for pre-service teachers, courses for in-service teachers, and support structures for Mathematics Teacher Leaders Based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation Grant No. EHR

Milwaukee Mathematics Partnership (MMP)  NSF-funded Math and Science Partnership (MSP) grant  $20 million over 5 years  Currently in Year 5

MMP Core Partners  University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee (UWM)  Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS)  Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC)

Milwaukee Public Schools  93,000 students in 218 schools  Largest school district in Wisconsin  27th largest district in the nation  Nearly 6200 teachers  87% minority student population: 58% African American, 20% Hispanic, 13% White, 5% Asian, 1% Native American  75% receive free or reduced lunch  Student achievement is well below state averages; gaps persist for all subgroups (Source: MPS Report Card)

MMP Project Goals  Comprehensive mathematics framework  Distributed leadership  Teacher learning continuum  Student learning continuum

Goal 1: Comprehensive Mathematics Framework Implement and utilize the comprehensive mathematics framework to lead a collective vision of deep learning and quality teaching of mathematics across the Milwaukee Partnership

Goal 3: Teacher Learning Continuum Build and sustain the capacity of teachers, from initial preparation through induction and professional growth, to deeply understand mathematics and use that knowledge to improve student achievement

UW-Milwaukee Teacher Programs  Early Childhood (ECE, Birth-age 8)  Middle Childhood through Early Adolescence (MCEA, grades 1-8)  Early Adolescence through Adolescence (EAA, grades 6-12)

MCEA Program Structure Required of all MCEA students: 2 content area minors, 18 credits each Option A: Mathematics or Natural Sciences Option B: Social Studies or English/Language Arts or Bilingual/ESL/World Languages

Mathematics Design Teams  Implement recommendations of The Mathematical Education of Teachers.  Develop mathematical knowledge needed for teaching.  Mathematics content tied to classroom practice.

 Prospective teachers need mathematics courses that develop a deep understanding of the mathematics that they teach.  The mathematical education of teachers should be seen as a partnership between mathematics faculty and mathematics education faculty.  There needs to be more collaboration between mathematics faculty and school mathematics teachers. MET Report Recommendations

Teacher Education as Responsibility of the University and School District  Curriculum Design Teams  Mathematics Faculty  Mathematics Educators  Teachers-in-Residence  Create, revise, pilot, and monitor mathematics courses for teachers

Design Team Philosophy for Pre-service Courses  Mathematics faculty provide rigorous mathematics content.  Mathematics education faculty focus on mathematical knowledge for teaching.  Classroom teachers (Teacher-in- residence) make connections to classroom practice in urban settings.

Teachers-in-Residence  Experienced teachers from the Milwaukee Public Schools.  On special assignment at the university.  Link academic teacher preparation and urban classroom practice.  Align teacher preparation and K-12 reform initiatives.

Knowing mathematics for teaching includes knowing and being able to do the mathematics that we would want any competent adult to know. But knowing mathematics for teaching also requires more, and this “more” is not merely skill in teaching the material. Ball, D.L. (2003). What mathematical knowledge is needed for teaching mathematics? prepared for the Secretary’s Summit on Mathematics, U.S. Department of Education, February 6, 2003; Washington, D.C. Available at (p. 2)

MET Report Recommendations Prospective middle grades teachers of mathematics should be required to take at least 21 semester hours of mathematics, that includes at least 12 semester hours on fundamental ideas of school mathematics appropriate for middle grades teachers. CBMS. (2001). The Mathematical Education of Teachers.

MCEA (Grades 1-8) Sequence  Mathematical Explorations for Elementary Teachers, I & II (6 cr)  Mathematics or Science Minor (18 cr)  Praxis I (required for SOE admission)  Teaching of Mathematics: Elementary and Middle Grades (6 cr)  Praxis II (required for student teaching)  Portfolio (required for graduation)

Mathematics Focus Area Minor Courses for MCEA Majors  Problem Solving  Geometry  Discrete Probability and Statistics  Algebraic Structures  Calculus experience  Elective

Problem Solving & Critical Thinking  Reflect on Process of problem-solving  Emphasis: mathematical discourse and classroom as a learning community understanding and engaging with mathematics extensions of solved problems  Construct problem-solving strategies

Geometry  Geometry as a measuring tool  Spherical Geometry  Geometry as a logical system  Rigid Motions

Discrete Probability & Statistics  Experimental likelihoods  Simple probability models  Conditional probability  Expected value  Complex probability models

Algebraic Structures  Elementary logic  Set Theory  Functions  Operations  Algebraic Structures  Number Theory

School-based Learning Team Other Key Teachers Principal Literacy Coach Math Teacher Leader Math Teacher Leaders are “key” for focusing their Learning Teams and schools on mathematics.

Learning Team Other Key Teachers Principal Literacy Coach Math Teacher Leader District Mathematics Leadership IHE Faculty Mathematics & Math Education

Math Teacher Leader Seminars Monthly seminar strands:  Mathematics content knowledge.  Leadership and coaching skills.  District alignment—math framework, learning targets, state standards and test descriptors, common classroom assessments.

Math Teacher Leader  Maintains classroom responsibilities.  Focuses the school on mathematics through the Learning Team.  Brings best practices in math to school.  Supports school-based professional learning.  Links school to district leadership and IHE expertise.

Teaching requires justifying, explaining, analyzing errors, generalizing, and defining. It requires knowing ideas and procedures in detail, and knowing them well enough to represent and explain them skillfully in more than one way. This is mathematics. The failure to appreciate that this is substantial mathematical work does teachers – and the improvement of teaching – a disservice. Ball, D.L. (2003). What mathematical knowledge is needed for teaching mathematics? prepared for the Secretary’s Summit on Mathematics, U.S. Department of Education, February 6, 2003; Washington, D.C. Available at (p. 8)

Results for Changes in Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching (MKT): Geometry NPretest (SD)Posttest (SD)ChangeSig Preservice Teachers: Foundations (0.49)-0.08 (0.58) Preservice Teachers: Math Minor (0.61)0.24 (0.62) Math Teacher Leaders (0.78)0.34 (0.81) Instrument Source: The University of Michigan, Learning Mathematics for Teaching (LMT) Project.

MMP website DeAnn Huinker Kevin McLeod