News from Mathematics Education
This post goes out to all of our 2015 graduates in Mathematics Education, Instructional Technology, and Science Education, as well as the many students in the College of Education whose lives we have touched through our numerous service courses. We are so proud of your accomplishments. Congratulations and best wishes in all of your future endeavors.
On April 29, 2015 the ECU Advising Collaborative presented Dr. Ron Preston the2014-2015 Faculty Advisor of the Year award.
An excerpt from his nomination stated, “Dr. Preston is not only a phenomenal instructor, he is also a phenomenal Faculty Advisor. He takes his role as an Advisor seriously and understands its pivotal role in students’ success. He has a caring, helpful attitude towards students, staff, and other faculty members. Dr. Preston is always willing to help the Advisors in the Academic Success Center, is prompt in responding to questions, and respects the advising profession. He is a joy to work with and truly deserving of this award.”
As Dr. Susan Ganter, Chair of the MSITE Department states, “I am so pleased that he is being recognized across the university as an AWESOME advocate for our students. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this award!!”
Great job, Ron!
On Thursday, April 23, 2015, the Gamma Student Chapter of NCCTM hosted members of the High Functioning Autism Program from CM Eppes Middle School. Macayla Cayton and Nicholas Kruchten, two seventh grade students participating in the HFA program at Eppes, presented information about autism and the challenges faced by individuals on the autism spectrum to a crowd of 70 attendees from a variety of program areas. Ms. Cole, Mrs. Brown, and Ms. Harrell, teachers in the HFA program, attended the presentation with Macayla and Nicholas.
After the presentation, attendees split into three smaller groups and had the opportunity to participate in five stations designed to help others experience how individuals on the autism spectrum process sensory input differently than others. These stations included Visual Perception, Visual/Coordination Perception, Auditory Processing, Fine Motor Skills Center, and Attention and Sensory. Attendees that were not participating in stations engaged in an informal question and answer session with a 6th grade science teacher from CM Eppes and a MATE Senior 2 intern from JH Rose High School. Each of these individuals teaches students that are part of the HFA programs at their respective schools. Both Macayla’s and Nicholas’ mothers fielded questions from the group, as well as Ms. Cole.
Everyone gathered together to end the meeting on this final thought from Macayla, “We are not autistic students, we are students with autism. Think about it. Thank you for coming tonight!”
Our sincere thanks goes out to the following individuals for making this meeting so successful:
HFA Students: Macayla Cayton, Nicholas Kruchten
HFA Staff: Anita Cole, Kathy Brown, Amanda Harrell
Regular Education Teachers: Jennifer Stalls, Aaron Rountree
ECU Faculty: Pat Peoples
On Sunday, April 19, 2015, mathematics (MATH) and mathematics education (MATE) students and faculty gathered at the Blount Sports Complex. The rain held off just long enough so that the temperate weather was perfect for a game of kickball. The undergraduate mathematics education students paired with Dr. Cayton and Dr. Ganter, while the math/math education graduate students sided with Dr. Adu-Gyamfi, Dr. Njinasoa Randriampiry, and Dr. Ali Al-sharadqah. After working up an appetite, attendees gathered in the shade to enjoy snacks and recap exciting moments from the game before the rain arrived.
This wonderful event marked the end of a phenomenal year of continued growth for the Gamma Chapter and continued a long-standing tradition of building community among students and faculty. We would like to thank everyone that attended and helped make the event a success. Enjoy your summer and look for more great events sponsored by the Gamma Student Chapter in Fall 2015!!
On April 24-25, seventeen elementary teachers in Eastern North Carolina celebrated completion of the LAUNCH into Mathematics Program, a mathematics-specific induction program that included over 60 hours of mathematics professional development and specialized mentoring across two years. The program is led by ECU faculty members Dr. Katie Schwartz and Dr. Anne Ticknor and funded by the Z Smith Reynolds Foundation.
We congratulate the LAUNCH program participants for their hard work and commitment to excellence in mathematics teaching:
Alyssa Champine, Pitt County Schools
Kimberly Coltrain, Craven County Schools
Rebecca Freeman, Cumberland County Schools
Jana Hill, Lenoir County Schools
Katie Jackson, Cumberland County Schools
Stephanie Layton, Granville County Schools
Jamine McNeill, Cumberland County Schools
Stephanie Miller, Cumberland County Schools
Joanna Murphy, Onslow County Schools
Elizabeth Nikorak, Carteret County Schools
Melissa Ohls, Cumberland County Schools
Leslie Peele, Edenton-Chowan Schools
Lauren Rhue, Granville County Schools
Elizabeth Rowland, Wake County Schools
Teresa Rubio, Cumberland County Schools
Jessica Skulsky, Harnett County Schools
Mary Beth Tripp, Pitt County Schools
On Tuesday, March 3, 2015, Dr. Katie Schwartz shared how teachers can help students with solving problems with the Gamma Student Chapter, Mathematics Education Club. There were 18 students and 5 MATE faculty at the meeting. Dr. Schwartz shared with prospective teachers on how we should approach teaching students to solve problems. Students were engaged as they tried to solve problems themselves. It was enjoyable to work with each other to come up with solutions to the mathematical problems.
ECU was well-represented at the NCCTM Eastern Region Conference in Kenansville on Saturday, February 14, 2014. Love was certainly in the air as president-elect, Dr. Ron Preston delivered the keynote address. It continued as Eastern Region President, Dr. Katie Schwartz led the event – both in terms of putting the conference together and facilitating on Saturday. Christie Wuebbles (alum) made many of the facility arrangements with James Sprunt Community College, where the conference was held. Many of MSITE’s grad students presented, most under the direction of Dr. Maureen Grady as part of their assessment work in MATE 6200:
James Grossman
Edie Smith
Sarah Patterson
Kristina Simpson
Kristina Godbolt
Victoria Jeffries
Robin Clapper
Robin Foster
Drs. Adu-Gyamfi, Grady, Preston, Schwartz, Sinicrope, and Thompson were in attendance along with MATE graduate students Gina Albright and Brooke Hill.
Mathematics Education faculty presented their second annual Mathematics Education Market Place for BS Mathematics Education senior I interns. The Market Place provides an avenue for faculty to send the senior I interns off to their full-time, senior II internship with resources for teaching. This year’s event featured 20 bundles of resources, one for each student. Given that the bundles were not equal in terms of their composition, students first circulated through the room to examine the treasures before names were drawn randomly from a container. First student chosen then quickly selected her/his bundle, followed by the second student drawn, and on to the 20th student. After the 20 selections were made, there were some additional resources provided for students in reverse order of the initial drawing. Resources for the students included some items that were a part of every bundle (stapler, tape dispenser, scissors, pens, markers, protractors) and then unique items such as books, journals, mathematical games, mathematical tools and manipulatives, calculators, software, etc. Although a number of teachers and mathematics education faculty donated items for the Market Place, special thanks goes to Dr. Maureen Grady for organizing the event and Dr. Rose Sinicrope for generously providing funds for many of the office supplies.
The North Carolina Council Teachers of Mathematics held their state conference Oct 30-31, 2014 in Greensboro, NC. A delegation of 21 Senior 1, secondary mathematics education students were among those representing ECU as attendees at this event. Upon their return from the conference, these students created posters highlighting several interesting or useful ideas gleaned from the sessions and workshops. On Tuesday, Nov 11, 2014, these students hosted a special Gamma Student Chapter event to share their posters with other mathematics education students and faculty. Over 50 mathematics education students and faculty attended the event. The Senior 1 students talked to visitors about their posters and experiences at the conference. The active engagement between presenters and attendees provided participants with a greater appreciation of the exciting happenings in North Carolina mathematics education.
Dr. Rose Sincrope was presented the W. W. Rankin Memorial Award for Excellence in Mathematics Education, the highest honor that NCCTM can bestow upon a member during the 44th Annual North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCCTM) Conference held in Greensboro, NC on 30-31 October 2014. As noted by Dr. Lee V. Stiff, “Dr. Sinicrope has provided exceptional leadership to NCCTM over many years, having served as a member of its Special Awards Committee, Trust Fund Committee, and Program Committee for numerous Annual Conferences, as well as a Regional President, member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Board, and a Vice-President for Colleges at the regional and state levels of NCCTM.”
Dr. Sincrope has also been a leader in Mathematics Education at ECU, winning two Excellence in Teaching Awards and publishing in many mathematics education journals such as, the Arithmetic Teacher, the Mathematics Teacher, and School Science and Mathematics. She is a student advocate and a passionate mathematics educator.
