Interdisciplinary 376:  Advanced Topics in Elementary Mathematics Education
Fall 2025
Introduction
Professor:        Jeff Johannes                                    Section 1  MW 3:30 - 5:10p South 233 
Office:            South 326A                    
Telephone:      245-5403
Office Hours Open Classroom Time with Jeff:  Monday 2:30 - 3:20p (South 328), Tuesday 10:30 - 11:20a (Fraser 116), Wednesday 2:30 - 3:20p (South 328), Thursday 11:30a - 12:30p (South 328) and 8-9p (South 336). 
Email Address: Johannes@Geneseo.edu
Web-page:        http://www.geneseo.edu/~johannes

Course Materials

    Readings and other resources will be linked here or at the course-page (linked at the top here). 

Purposes

    This course, which is intended for the elementary mathematics concentrator, is an opportunity to focus deeply on elementary mathematics content, pedagogy, and a view across grade-levels and across disciplines in the elementary curriculum.  It will be a wonderful opportunity for us to focus deeply on mathematics in the elementary curriculum.

Course Outcomes

    1    Develop advanced knowledge and an understanding of the relevance and application of mathematics topics to the school mathematics curriculum. 
    2    Integrate mathematical problem solving and applications into a variety of teaching situations. 
    3    Use technology to support the teaching and learning process in the elementary mathematics program. 
    4    Demonstrate an understanding of and ability to use the New York State Learning Standards and Resource Guides for Mathematics, Science and Technology, as well as other guiding documents (e.g., National Science Education Standards—NSES and the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics [NCTM] Standards) for teaching.
    5    Explore the interconnectedness between mathematics and other disciplines.
    6    Plan, implement and evaluate school-wide mathematics programs at the early childhood and childhood levels. 
    7    Develop techniques to support the instruction, remediation, and enlightenment of early childhood and childhood students within both the classroom and home environments. 
    8    Evaluate existing materials for use in formal and informal assessment systems. 
    9    Develop assessments suitable for evaluating the acquisition of skills using inquiry-based process objectives.

Grading

    Your grade in this course will be based on four large components:  participation and preparation in our daily activities (3/10), two mid-semester projects (1/5 each), and a final professional development project (3/10). 

Participation and Preparation   

    You are preparing to enter a profession where good attendance is crucial and expected.  It is important that you make every attempt to attend class, since active involvement is an integral part of this course.  If you are prepared, present and involved in class you will receive one participation point that day.  If you also participate to the class as a whole (answer a question, present a solution, ask an insightful question or offer important relevant commentary) you will receive two participation points for that day.  If you are not involved or not prepared, you will receive no points for that day.  Working each day and never speaking in class will earn 80%.  Speaking every day on which there is an opportunity to speak will earn 105%.  Scores between will be scaled linearly.  If the entire class participates regularly, I will cease to record participation.  There are six of you.  Be prepared and interact every day.   If you cannot be present due to some unavoidable situation, send me something in writing, or even better in video, to represent your interaction for that day. 

Projects

    You will complete two projects during the semester, and one final project.  For the first project you have two options.  Three students will complete each option.  First selections will be honoured.  If all three of one type are used up, the remaining students will do the other type.  For the final project, you will be running a 30-minute professional development session for your classmates (and me). 

First Project

Option 1:  Online Platform Lesson Design

Design and deliver a digitally interactive lesson using a platform commonly used in elementary mathematics instruction.

Option 2:  Vertical Topic Study

Explore how a core math concept develops and is scaffolded across the K–6 continuum, highlighting developmental shifts and pedagogical implications.


Second Project

Option 1:  Interdisciplinary Lesson Design

Design a lesson or unit that connects math meaningfully to another core subject (science, ELA, social studies, or the arts).

Option 2:  Student Data Analysis and Intervention Plan

Use real or simulated student data to identify instructional needs and plan cohesive math support across grade levels.


Final Project

Peer Professional Development

Create a professional development session on a key math topic or strategy, aimed at your future teacher colleagues.



Opening Meeting

    Students will earn one extra point on the first project by visiting office hours during the first two weeks of classes, i.e. no later than 9 September.

Plagiarism

    In a class for dedicated and exemplary teachers, it should go without saying that the work you present as your own needs to be your own, not someone else's, or an artificial compilation of others' work.  Claiming others' work as your own will result in reporting to the college and the school of education for a violation of academic integrity.  Grade consequences may be as serious as immediately failing the entire course.  Let's not deal with that.  Please. 

Key Assignments

    For any who know what key assignments are (you're a step ahead of me), there are none in this class.


Feedback

    Occasionally you will be given anonymous feedback forms.  Please use them to share any thoughts or concerns for how the course is running.  Remember, the sooner you tell me your concerns, the more I can do about them.  I have also created a web-site which accepts anonymous comments.  If we have not yet discussed this in class, please encourage me to create a class code.  This site may also be accessed via our course page on a link entitled anonymous feedback.  Of course, you are always welcome to approach me outside of class to discuss these issues as well. 

Accessibility Accommodations

    SUNY Geneseo is dedicated to providing an equitable and inclusive educational experience for all students. The Office of Accessibility (OAS) will coordinate reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities to ensure equal access to academic programs, activities, and services at Geneseo.  Students with approved accommodations may submit a semester request to renew their academic accommodations.  More information on the process for requesting academic accommodations is on the OAS website.  If you have questions, please contact the OAS by email, phone, or in-person:  Office of Accessibility Services
, Erwin Hall 22
, 585-245-5112, 
access@geneseo.edu.

Religious Holidays

    It is my policy to give students who miss class because of observance of religious holidays the opportunity to make up missed work.  You are responsible for notifying me no later than 10 September of plans to observe the holiday. 

Schedule (subject to change)

Date              Topic                                                           
August 25     Introduction, rational problems, just so stories
        27         Come prepared to present one of the Illustrations,  Read and be prepared to discuss:  WhyMath, Specialists, What We Know
 
September 3  Dennis Showers.  Reading:  Problem Solving, Six Tips

        8          misused mathematics examples.  reading for the first project topics:  online, vertical, and for final project.
        10        First Project topics due.  Come prepared to present a missing illustration.   Some reading about calculators and tech, AI (in two parts), and how to balance


        15        Katie Wryk
        17        Final PD project topic due.  Division day one.  Whole number and history and a pope.                             
 
        22             
        24        Mandi Smalley                   
 
        29        First Project Presentations
October 1    reading for the second project topics:  interdisciplinary, data analysis

        6          Second Project Topic due
        8          Scott Schaefer       
                
        15        Reminder here to talk about history of math.ed (Chapter 4), and then Alcuin's problems
 
        20        Laura Cafarella
        22                                                            

        27        
        29        Second Project Presentations       

November 3  Sasha Guido
        5          
        7           AMTNYS in Rochester

        10        
        12                                                                                                                                   
    
        17         Betsy Peterson
        19        

        24         Maria LaRotonda

December 1   
        3            

       8          

Thursday, December 11 PD festival 3:30 - 6:50p