Mathematics Education at WSU
Providing Professional Development and Leadership in Mathematics Education at WSU
The Department of Mathematics at WSU has an extensive commitment to mathematics education at all levels, from the preparation of future elementary teachers to that of post-secondary teachers in community colleges, four-year colleges, and research universities. For example, the department teaches over 1200 semester credit hours per year to elementary education majors, and approximately a third of the department's mathematics majors choose the secondary teaching option. The department also has a master's degree program in mathematics education, principally aimed to prepare students to teach at the community college level. The department faculty members involved in meeting this commitment to mathematics education are nationally recognized, serving as invited speakers at regional and national conferences, publishing scholarly work in professional journals, and attracting funding from state and national agencies. Several faculty members have been active in the Washington Teachers of Teachers of Mathematics, whose position papers are helping guide the Professional Educator Standards Board and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
The Mathematical Preparation of Prospective Elementary Teachers at WSU
The Department of Mathematics offers one of the strongest programs anywhere in the state-or indeed nationally-in the mathematics preparation of elementary teachers. All elementary education majors take a full academic year of coursework, with the first semester organized around problem solving, number systems, and algebraic reasoning, and the second semester covering probability, descriptive statistics, and geometry. Both courses are conducted in an activity-based mode of instruction in a well-equipped laboratory setting, thereby modeling how future teachers will teach elementary school children. In particular, the WSU courses support the national standards established by the National Council of Teachers of the Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRs) and create classrooms that will prepare students for success. The department also offers an optional third semester of mathematics expressly directed to the needs of the middle and upper elementary teacher.
Secondary Mathematics Program at WSU
Many innovations have been implemented in the past several years for this program. Three new courses have been designed: Mathematics for Elementary Teachers III (designed for middle school teachers); Intersections of Culture and Mathematics; and Mathematics for College and Secondary Teachers (a capstone course to tie college level mathematics to high school curriculum as well as to study connections between content areas within mathematics). The department takes a large portion of preservice secondary mathematic teachers to the Northwest Mathematics Conference each fall to learn about current trends in mathematics education.
NEW - Middle Level Math Endorsement Program
Washington State University's Middle Level Math Endorsement Program is designed for new (including teacher candidates) and experienced teachers who wish to add an additional endorsement or expertise in middle level mathematics to their secondary or elementary certification. All courses will be available in Pullman and also through AMS (a state-wide videoconferencing system with locations at the campuses in Pullman, Vancouver, Spokane, and Tri-Cities, as well as other sites). In addition, several endorsement courses will be offered in person at the various campus sites. To learn more about this exciting opportunity, visit the College of Education's Middle Level Math website.