1. Mathematics Specialist Specialization Proposal
Teacher Standards and Practices Commission
July 19, 2012

2. What do Mathematics Specialists do?
They work in different settings and are asked to do a variety of tasks:
Coach/mentor other teachers, including preservice teachers, with their mathematics instructional practice
Serve as a teacher leader/coordinator
Teach multiple classes of elementary students (e.g., one teacher teaching math to all the 4th graders)
Teach special groups of students (remedial, enrichment, pull-out or in-class)
Plan and provide professional learning opportunities for teachers

3. Specialization versus Endorsement
This is a specialization because
it is NOT required to practice, and
it does NOT require an exit exam.

5. Standards for Elementary Mathematics Specialists A Reference for Teacher Credentialing and Degree Programs

7. Areas of Knowledge/Expertise for Mathematics Specialists
Content Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics
Pedagogical Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics
Leadership Knowledge and Skills

8. MS Program Guidelines Teacher licensure
Prerequisites:
Teacher licensure
At least three years of successful experience in teaching mathematics
Components:
24 quarter hours (16 semester hours) spanning all of the program components outlined in the standards.
Includes supervised mathematics specialist practicum – working with a range of students and teachers.

9. Sample Mathematics Course Descriptions
Sample Elementary Mathematics Content Course Description: The course is designed to develop an understanding of pre-number concepts, whole numbers, ratios, and fractions, decimals, and percents; and integers and operations on these sets of numbers. Sample Elementary Mathematics Specialist Course Description: This course will focus on the content and complexities of teaching and assessing number and operations in an elementary school setting.  Candidates will develop an expertise related to number and operation that will support teachers and enhance student learning.  Candidates will also examine the learning trajectories as children develop number concepts and skills.  Course content will include multiple representations, computational strategies, relationships, and meanings related to number and operation. Emphasis will be given to how children think and learn about these concepts and how they fit into the elementary school curriculum.
To illustrate the distinction between the endorsement and the specialization

10. Sample Program for Mathematics Specialist
CI 532 Building a System of Tens and Making Meaning for Operations (3 credits)
CI 534 Reasoning Algebraically about Operations (3 credits)
CI 535 Patterns, Functions, and Change (3 credits)
CI 537 Examining Features of Shapes (3 credits)
CI 539 Working with Data (3 credits)
CI 547 Advanced Mathematics Methods (3 credits)
CI 546 Leadership and Coaching in Mathematics (3 credits)
CI 509 Elementary Mathematics Specialist Clinical Experience (3 credits)

11. Assessing Proficiency for Mathematics Specialists
Collection of Evidence compiled throughout program…
Content Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics
Examples – clinical interviews of students to understand learning trajectories in geometry, analyze students’ written work for misconceptions/errors
Pedagogical Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics
Examples – Problem Based Lesson Implementation and Analysis, Task/Curriculum Analysis Project
Leadership Knowledge and Skills
Examples – MS practicum assessment, professional development plan, analysis of videotape collaborative lesson planning cycle