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2013 Conference Proceedings - University of Nevada, Las Vegas

2013 Conference Proceedings - University of Nevada, Las Vegas

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etween mathematicians and mathematics educators with close connections to classroompractice. The MET document further suggests that pr<strong>of</strong>essional development should be aimedat: deepening the understanding <strong>of</strong> the fundamental mathematics beyond what is usually reachedwith an integration <strong>of</strong> content knowledge, cognitive science, and teaching experience; to developeffective “habits <strong>of</strong> mind” for thinking mathematically; to develop realistic strategies for in-depthimplementation <strong>of</strong> the NCTM Process Standards; to analyze teaching practices in light <strong>of</strong> deepcontent and mathematical pedagogical knowledge; to reflect upon personal beliefs aboutmathematics content and pedagogy over time; to develop a high level <strong>of</strong> confidence and apositive disposition for mathematics in order to provide appropriate instruction for all childrenand gain parental support and understanding (CBMS, 2001). In order for the practice <strong>of</strong>secondary teachers to change with the recommendations in the MET document teachers mustthemselves engage in looking at the mathematics they are teaching from different points <strong>of</strong> view.They need to develop a more comprehensive understanding <strong>of</strong> the connections <strong>of</strong> themathematical ideas being taught and develop a collaborative network <strong>of</strong> support for their workon the content and on implementing various changes within their classrooms. Improvingachievement in mathematics education involves many components. Current research focuses onstrengthening content knowledge <strong>of</strong> teachers that will enable them to understand mathematicalconnections among ideas and the sequence <strong>of</strong> ideas that make sense both mathematically anddevelopmentally (Ferrini-Mundy, & Schmidt, 2007, Ball, Thames, & Phelps, 2008).This paper reports the results <strong>of</strong> a study <strong>of</strong> the effects <strong>of</strong> a pr<strong>of</strong>essional developmentpartnership with an entire mathematics department and 4 intervention specialists in an urbanschool district in NE Ohio, three mathematics educators and three mathematicians from a localuniversity. The goals <strong>of</strong> the pr<strong>of</strong>essional development were to: 1) Deepen teacher mathematicalcontent knowledge and knowledge for teaching; 2) Create and maintain a pr<strong>of</strong>essional learningcommunity; 3) Transform teachers’ ways <strong>of</strong> thinking to incorporate dispositions that holdstudents accountable for engaging in the common core standards for mathematical practice; and4) Project sustainability through the creation <strong>of</strong> a community <strong>of</strong> vested partners, where partnersinterpret, enact, and sustain the Common Core Standards vision <strong>of</strong> developing mathematicallycompetent students. Ultimately, the aim was to improve the teaching and learning <strong>of</strong>mathematics at the high school level.<strong>Proceedings</strong> <strong>of</strong> the 40 th Annual Meeting <strong>of</strong> the Research Council on Mathematics Learning <strong>2013</strong> 117

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