Supporting Math Foundational Skills in the Primary Grades

(Grades K-3) / Flex Course

PDI Course Number: 108T02 / UCSD Course Number: EDUC40223

Course Description

Do you find that your K-3 students often struggle with the most basic of mathematical principles? Do you want to find a way to better support those students as they learn to unlock the gift of mathematics? The intent of this course is to provide a toolbox of both information and activities that K-3 teachers can use to support students who struggle to understand and grasp both the meaning and the manipulation of basic math principles. Some of the topics include counting and cardinality, counting objects, rote counting, number sense of quantity, counting on and back, operations of addition and subtraction, composing and decomposing numbers, the application of mathematical foundational skills within the problem-solving process, and guiding students to use their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills to make real-world connections. Teachers will also learn how to determine student levels and how to choose and design assessments to best utilize the resources that are available within a typical math curriculum. As teachers work through this course, they will learn how to create meaningful and engaging activities in order to promote student ownership, and they will learn how to establish home connections so that those mathematical habits of mind can flourish. This course is worth 3 ⅓ semester units/5 quarter units (50 hours of training) from UC San Diego Extension. For detailed information on university credit, click here.

"The content and resources were thorough and helpful. I was able to use a lot immediately in my classroom." - Jessica Cullen

Required Resource Book

This course has a modestly-priced required resource book (available in both new and used versions) that can be purchased through Amazon using the following link. Note that you can begin and participate in your course before the book arrives.

Young Children's Mathematics by Thomas Carpenter, Megan Franke, Nicholas Johnson, Angela Chan Turrou, and Anita Wager

If you are registering for multiple courses, use the following link to access the book list for all PDI courses with direct purchase links through Amazon. PDI Course Resource Book List