Program Requirements — Master of Arts in Math and Science for Elementary School Teachers

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This is a unique program designed for elementary school teachers who wish to strengthen their content knowledge in math and science. The program has two emphases. The first is mathematics and science content which focus on deepening the participants' understanding of math and science concepts and the connections between them. The content courses are designed to increase the participants' comfort with various subjects in mathematics and science, thereby enhancing their teaching with additional depth and breadth of content. The second emphasis is teacher leadership in which teachers are trained to become leaders and advocates for math and science education in their own school and district. The courses in the program present the content and pedagogy in a parallel manner and connect the two throughout the program.

General program goals are to:

Establish teacher leaders in mathematics and science in the elementary schools in order to be able to lead the effort to improve teaching and learning of mathematics and science in the teacher's own school and district.
Deepen teachers' understanding of mathematics and science content knowledge by focusing on concepts and connections among the various areas of mathematics and science so that it is understood as a coherent whole at levels K-16.
Encourage candidates to become more reflective by using action research to assess and improve their own teaching.
Improve mathematics and science teaching skills of participants so their students understand, apply and retain science and mathematics knowledge over time by having the candidates:
- Focus on reading, presenting, clarifying, and writing concepts in a simple and precise language, and reiterating mathematics and science terms.
- Focus on the skills of "explaining mathematics and science" by emphasizing the logical reasoning and concepts that lead to certain procedures to solve problems and answer questions.
- Present mathematics and science topics in context and link them to each other and to other courses.
- Present examples from real world issues, and foster connections between teachers and professionals in the disciplines of mathematics and science.
- Use technology, manipulatives and graphs appropriately and effectively.
- Use strategies that increase teacher, and consequently, student comfort in problem solving and inquiry-based learning.
- Review and implement the latest research in mathematics and science education.
- Plan and deliver effective instruction consistent with current theory, research and best practices in mathematics and science education

Program requirements are organized into two parts:

Part A. Teacher Leader Endorsement Requirements — 18 semester hours
TLDR5100 Teacher Leader Roles and Attributes (3)
TLDR5200 Curriculum Development and Assessment in Mathematics and Science (3)
TLDR5300 Instructional and Group Facilitation for Teacher Leaders (3)
TLDR5400 Mathematics and Science Classroom Dynamics (3)
TLDR6000 Action Research for Teacher Leaders in Mathematics and Science (3)
TLDR6200 Internship in Teacher Leadership (3)

Part B. Mathematics and Science Pedagogy Requirements — 18 semester hours
NSM5000 The Language of Mathematics (3)
NSM5100 Physical Science Foundations (3)
NSM5200 Earth and Space Science (3)
NSM5300 Life Science I (3)
NSM6000 Algebraic Thinking for the Sciences (3)
NSM6300 Life Science II (3)

Part A. Teacher Leader Endorsement Requirements — 18 semester hours
Each graduate student in the program is expected to complete the following teacher leader courses and experiences during the time of their enrollment. Internships for teacher leaders (TLDR6100) may be completed during any semester of the second or third year.

TLDR5100 Teacher Leader Roles and Attributes 3 semester hours
This is the first course in the teacher leader strand of courses. The goal of this experience is to increase participants' understanding of teacher leader roles in schools through a study of teacher leader attributes and behaviors. Students will create a personalized learning plan that demonstrates their understanding of teacher leadership attributes and behaviors and provides evidence of their own professional growth in order to be able to act as role models for others. Such evidence might take the form of participant created lessons, activities, assessment tasks, presentations, journal articles, and/or action research into teacher leadership issues.
No prerequisites.

TLDR5200 Curriculum Development and Assessment in Mathematics and Science 3 semester hours
The course will focus on curriculum goals and implementation, a mix of theoretical research-based foundations and classroom reform-based perspectives on assessment and evaluation in schools. Recent developments in mathematics and science curriculum, learning research, and alternate modes of presentation will be discussed.
Prerequisite: TLDR5100.

TLDR5300 Instructional and Group Facilitation for Teacher Leaders 3 semester hours
This course is designed to develop the andragogy and group facilitation skills of the participants. Coaching, mentoring, observation, and successful remediation will be explored. Formulation of groups, facilitation of meetings and management of human capital to establish, monitor and achieve goals will be addressed. An emphasis will be placed on successful professional development leadership strategies.
No prerequisites.

TLDR5400 Mathematics and Science Classroom Dynamics 3 semester hours
In this course, students, who are already in-service teachers, will explore the dynamic context and needs of the mathematics and science classrooms. This course focuses on managing the active mathematics and science classroom engaged in inquiry-based learning. Safety issues, learning engagement, special learning needs (e.g. ELL, special education, gifted, other health and cognitive impairments), and the community and family issues that impact the classroom will be addressed. Connections between classroom management, the environment, curriculum choices, and teaching methods will be examined. Teachers will investigate the processes of creating dynamic classroom learning environments where mathematics and science students are motivated, supported, engaged and responsible learners, and discover best practices through the use of motivation, organization, communication, and instructional strategies.
No prerequisites.

TLDR6000 Action Research for Teacher Leaders in Mathematics and Science 3 semester hours
Action Research is a disciplined process of inquiry conducted by and for those taking action. The primary reason for engaging in action research is to assist the teacher leader in improving and /or refining his or her actions. This course launches individual or group investigation of research questions with application to the student's classroom through the process of action research. The course initiates a professional conversation among the candidates about the major issues in teaching mathematics and science. The questions that emerge become the focus for independent inquiry to develop topics for further investigation in this course and throughout the following courses in the program.
Prerequisite: TLDR5100.

TLDR6200 Internship in Teacher Leadership 3 semester hours
Each candidate is expected to take part in a flexible field experience at one of the partner's sites (East Aurora school district, West Aurora school district, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, Packer Engineering, Robert Crown Health Education Center, Aurora Science and Technology Museum, or other affiliate). The goal is to give each participant an opportunity to either work with a leader on a project or play a teacher leader role during this experience. The participants will be given the flexibility to choose an experience that is most beneficial to them as long as it is approved by the program director. It is expected that the connections will be developed with professionals in the field of mathematics and science.
Prerequisite: TLDR5100.

Part B. Mathematics and Science Content and Pedagogy Requirements — 18 semester hours

NSM5000 The Language of Mathematics 3 semester hours
This course is designed to reintroduce the elementary teacher to the problem-solving aspect of mathematics and to assist the student in gaining confidence with mathematical thinking. The elementary teacher will gain a solid foundation in applying, analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating mathematical arguments. Special emphasis will be given to: reasoning, number contemplation, patterns, proving ideas, disproving ideas, evaluating arguments, infinity, geometry, fractals, and probability.
No prerequisites.

NSM5100 Physical Science Foundations 3 semester hours
This course provides the student with an understanding of the foundations of scientific theory and practice. It is based in the physical sciences of chemistry and physics and will deepen the content knowledge of elementary educators in these areas. Topics include science as a way of knowing, laws of motion, kinetic energy, statics, equilibrium and multiplying forces, states of matter, momentum, gravity, waves, harmonics, thermodynamics, magnetism, electricity, time, relativity, chemical reactions, recognition of elements, molecules, nature of matter, chemical bonds, and an introduction to chemical equations.
Prerequisite: TLDR6000.

NSM5200 Earth and Space Science 3 semester hours
This course is designed to develop students' understanding of the methodologies and approaches to teaching and integrating mathematics in addition to earth and space science at the elementary level. The purpose is to explore, create, and utilize a variety of earth and space science topics, making connections with mathematics that are appropriate to and motivating for the elementary school child. Labs will be included to provide concrete experiences with the topics of this course.
Prerequisite: TLDR6000.

NSM5300 Life Science I 3 semester hours
This course introduces topics in the biological sciences with mathematical connections. It enables students to increase their proficiency in teaching elementary math and science by deepening their understanding of biological content. Students will study historical foundations of scientific theory and inquiry. Additional topics will include: cell theory, evolution, genetics, growth and development, the fossil record, and the development of complex plant life. Field experiences will be incorporated whenever feasible.
Prerequisite: TLDR6000.

NSM6000 Algebraic Thinking for the Sciences 3 semester hours
This course will focus on the investigative nature of the student exploring, discovering, and performing numerical and variable relationships within an algebraic framework as it applies to the sciences. The topics include fractions, percents, decimals, variables, algebraic expressions, graphing, interpreting graphs, measurement, areas, volumes, rates, geometry, probability and statistics. The study of logical patterns found in many different forms, symbolism involving equations and variables, variables and their meanings and placement in generalized formulae, equations and inequalities used to express relationships within the algebraic sense will be the foundations of the course.
Prerequisite: NSM5000.

NSM6300 Life Science II 3 semester hours
This course covers additional topics in the biological sciences with mathematical connections. Life Science II surveys the animal kingdom, including anatomy and physiology, nutrition, water and electrolyte balance with focus upon behavior, populations, ecology and biodiversity as well as human impact on the environment. Field experiences will be incorporated whenever feasible.
Prerequisite: NSM5300.