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Department of Teacher Education
Member, Texas Tech University System The Princeton Review - 373 Best Colleges, 2011 Edition

Enhancing Number Sense

This project is designed to foster 3rd-5th grade teachers’ understanding of number sense and then help them implement this knowledge in their classrooms through lesson study. The project is a partnership between Angelo State University and the San Angelo Independent School District.

The application deadline for the program has passed, but below is an outline of several aspects of the program.

Benefits to Participants

  • Deeper understanding of mathematical number sense to increase student achievement
  • Dell Latitude 360 laptop computer and carry case
  • Six hours of tuition-free graduate credit from the ASU Department of Teacher Education (no fees are required)
  • $300 stipend at the completion of each summer institute
  • $450 stipend at the completion of each academic year
  • $400 worth of manipulatives, supplies, resources and books to facilitate mathematics instruction
  • Free lunches during the summer and academic year sessions
  • Limited travel funds to project activities for out-of-town participants
  • Limited child care funds for the summer institute
  • Substitute teachers provided by the school district for the four all-day academic year sessions

Instructional Highlights

  • A focus on number sense to recognize applications to math instruction
  • Emphasis on using number sense knowledge in classroom instruction through lesson study
  • An analysis of lesson development through lesson study
  • A reflection on teaching practices and student achievement through lesson study
  • Technical use of math manipulatives to enhance understanding and instructional effectiveness
  • Exploration of concepts from an activity-based, problem-solving perspective
  • Work in groups as well as individual settings

Project Activities

The two-years of project activities provide 120 professional development hours and six graduate semester credit hours in education. They include:

  • Participation in the summer institute (nine days each in summer 2009 and summer 2010)
  • Participation in classroom implementation planning (two days during each summer institute)
  • Participation in the academic year sessions (four full days each in fall 2009 and fall 2010)
  • Participation in lesson study, a form of professional development, during the school year
  • Implementation of project objectives in the classroom
  • Sharing of teaching ideas and occurrences in the classroom
  • Analyzing samples of student work
  • Completion of other academic activities:
    • A daily journal during the summer institute
    • Daily assignments
    • Assessments
    • Online communication

Funding

The activities in this project are funded by a grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the U.S. Department of Education under the auspices of the Teacher Quality Grant Program located at the Charles A. Dana Center for Mathematics and Science Education at the University of Texas at Austin, and by resources provided by Angelo State University and the San Angelo Independent School District.

More Information

To learn more about the work included in this grant program, contact:

Donna Gee
Phone: (325) 942-2052, ext. 480
E-mail: donna.gee@angelo.edu