(PD Title No. MTH3511E)

Proportional Reasoning in Middle School Classrooms

Proficiency Level: Mastery

Subject(s):Mathematics

Grade(s): 6,7,8

Hours: 30.00

Description: In this course, participants will learn about different components and levels of proportional reasoning.  They will complete classroom tasks that illustrate ways to help their students develop stronger conceptual understanding about the components of proportional reasoning They will explore video and written examples of student work and will conduct a student interview in order to reflect on how students approach proportional reasoning and to learn how to identify evidence of proportional reasoning among students.  For the final project, participants will create a lesson that targets a component of proportional reasoning and that incorporates questioning techniques learned in the course.  They will provide a rationale for the lesson that relates to the material learned in the course and reflect on their own learning.

Pre-requisites: This course is designed for teachers, curriculum specialists, professional development specialists, or other school personnel. Participants are expected to have regular access to computers, and proficiency with email and current web-browsers.

Objectives: This course will enable participants to:
• Understand and identify different components of and levels of proportional reasoning;
• Broaden their repertoire of classroom tasks to use to develop students’ conceptual understanding of proportionality;
• Develop skills and tools for analyzing students’ thinking about proportionality;
• Apply those skills and tools to a lesson on proportional reasoning that is appropriate to middle school students.