Section outline


  • Welcome to [INSTRUCTOR - PUT YOUR COURSE TITLE HERE]
     
    Course Introduction [INSTRUCTOR - EDIT THIS SECTION AS NEEDED]


    Welcome to Mathematics for Elementary Teachers, a course designed to build your confidence and deepen your understanding of essential mathematical concepts that you will one day teach. This course emphasizes number relations and operations, helping you explore how mathematical principles work conceptually, not just procedurally. You’ll investigate different counting and numbering systems, build fluency in basic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division), and develop flexible problem-solving strategies. The goal is not only to solve problems but to understand the why behind the methods—an approach critical for effective mathematics instruction in elementary classrooms.

    Throughout the course, you’ll work with several number systems including whole numbers, integers, and fractions. You’ll strengthen your number sense by estimating and verifying solutions across multiple representations, while also exploring the connections between natural numbers, whole numbers, integers, and rational numbers. This conceptual grounding supports your ability to teach math as a coherent and connected discipline. You’ll use a variety of strategies and tools—both traditional and technological—to solve problems and support diverse learners.

    This course is aligned primarily with Louisiana Student Standards for Mathematics and secondly with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards. As a future educator, you’ll learn to connect course content directly to these frameworks while practicing clear and accurate mathematical communication—both written and verbal. By the end of the course, you’ll be able to explain mathematical ideas effectively, align lessons with standards, and apply problem-solving strategies with confidence, preparing you to become a skilled and reflective mathematics teacher.

    Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

    • Demonstrate conceptual understanding of important mathematical principles such as number relations and number operations and use this understanding to solve related problems.
    • Demonstrate a deep understanding of mathematics connecting course content to state and national standards.
    • Formulate appropriate problem-solving strategies for a variety of problems.
    • Demonstrate using digital tools to create accurate mathematical representations and explain the underlying concepts and problem-solving processes.
    Structure of the Course
    There are ten modules for this course.
    Each module contains the following:
    • Reading and practice skills from the OER textbook entitled Math for Elementary Teachers.
    • Assignments reinforcing the OER textbook to be completed in the MyOpenMath online program.
    • A student forum to complete and respond to other submissions from fellow classmates.
    Navigating the Course
    Adopting institution should provide learners information on how to navigate the course. Consider adding an introductory navigation video. Text description could include, for example:

    This course is set up in Modules covering various topics which may be accessed from the course navigation menu on the left or by scrolling below. Modules may be collapsed in the menu and it the body of the course to minimize scrolling. Each module includes the relevant OER Textbook reading and practice skills followed by assessments which include assignments in MyOpenMath and discussion forums for each module. 
     
    Please move through the items below and continue through the Learner Support and Getting Started modules before moving on to Module 1. 

    IMPORTANT! - Be sure to check for announcements and due dates to stay on track.
     

    This course and its contents are remixed and developed by the authors:

    • Elizabeth Miller
    • Dr. Heather Gamel 
    • Dr. Jane Chunjing Ji
    • Dr. Julie Sullivan 
    • Tara LaFrance
    • Bill French, MLIS

    It is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International by LOUIS: The Louisiana Library Network, except where otherwise noted.   CC BY-NC 4.0

    The original text remixed by the above authors is attributed to Julie Harland.
     
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