The Need for Math and Science Teachers in PGCPS
Prince George's County Public Schools needs math and science teachers who can use their content knowledge to impact student achievement.
Consider these facts:
- Math achievement in the U.S. is improving, but not enough: only about 1 in 4 elementary and middle school students is proficient in math. Only 1 in 6 is proficient at the high school level;
- More than half of all African American and Latino 4th graders in the U.S. perform below the basic level. By grade 12, more than half of Latino students and nearly 70% of African American students perform below basic;
- Nationally, 61% of all middle grades students are taught mathematics by teachers who did not themselves study enough mathematics to earn even a minor in math; (1)
- In 1970, the U.S. produced more than 50 percent of the world's science and engineering doctorates. If current trends continue, by 2010, the U.S. will produce only about 15 percent of the world's science and engineering PhDs. (2)
Fellows who teach math or science special education bring a strong academic background and/or career experience that allow them to become successful first-year teachers. Fellows deliver exciting, hands-on lessons that tie math or science theories and concepts to real-world applications and professions. Most importantly, Fellows ensure that their students acquire the skills necessary to succeed in school and in life.
Math Immersion Program
There is a particularly acute need in Prince George’s County Public Schools for qualified math teachers. To help address this need, PGCTF has created a Math Immersion program to help interested candidates who are selected—but who do not currently meet all of the requirements to teach math—gain the content necessary to teach math in PGCPS.
Eligibility for the Math Immersion program will be determined on a case-by-case basis. However, all candidates for this proposed initiative must have taken at least one calculus course through an accredited college/university and received a ‘B’ grade or better for their coursework.
Candidates who possess a math major or meet the necessary math credit requirement do not need to participate in the Math Immersion program in order to teach math.
The Math Immersion program will be offered only for candidates who are eligible to teach another subject area at the secondary level. Candidates accepted for the Math Immersion program will be asked to attend an additional two weeks of intensive math content training, which will also incorporate preparation for the required Praxis II Mathematics Content Knowledge examination. This training will be required in addition to the standard Training Institute and will take place in advance. The dates for this math content training will be determined soon.
If you are interested in the Math Immersion program, please email info@pgcteachingfellows.org with the subject line “Math Immersion.” Further information regarding the Math Immersion program will be provided to individuals who qualify.
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What Do Math Fellows and Science Fellows Teach?
Prince George's County Teaching Fellows teach math in either a general education or special education setting at the middle grades and high school levels in classes ranging from seventh through twelfth grade. In high school, Fellows might teach algebra I or II, geometry, or pre-calculus. In middle grades (7-8), most Fellows teach lessons grounded in number sense, pre-algebra and algebra, basic geometry, and statistics and probability.
Science, Special Education Fellows may teach biology, chemistry, and earth and space science in a special education setting at the high school level. In the middle grades (7-8), Science, Special Education Fellows teach broader general science concepts: a combination of life, physical, and earth sciences. PGCPS has a tremendous need for special education middle school science teachers. Fellows with a Science, Special Education position should be aware that although they may be working towards certification in a specific science content area (i.e., biology), they may be teaching at the middle school level where there is the greatest need.
Math and Science Fellows are especially important in PGCPS as Algebra and Biology are topics tested on the Maryland High School Assessment. The Maryland High School Assessments (HSA) are tests that measure school and individual student progress toward Maryland's High School Core Learning Goals. Passing the HSA became a graduation requirement beginning with the graduating class of 2009. Students take each test whenever they complete the course. For example, some students may take algebra in seventh grade while others may not take it until tenth grade.
For more information on teaching math or science in Maryland, or to view a complete list of the Maryland State Math and Science Standards, visit:
Training for Math and Science Fellows
Fellows who teach math or science bring a strong foundation in their subjects and the ability to impact the lives of the students they teach. By becoming math or science teachers, Fellows are able to translate their content knowledge into socially meaningful work.
Prince George's County Teaching Fellows will receive specialized training in how to teach math or science. These Content Seminars are led by excellent PGCPS teachers and focus on leveraging prior experiences to translate previous achievement into classroom success.
Training for science teachers includes topics such as the scientific process, collecting and displaying data, scientific communication, the changing earth, heredity, organisms and their environment, energy, force and motion, and matter. In addition, Fellows receive instruction in developing strategies for an inquiry-based science classroom, engaging in a meaningful dialogue about lesson design and delivery, instructional choices, and the philosophy of science education, and feel prepared to plan, design, deliver, and assess engaging lessons that maximize student achievement.
Training for math teachers includes topics such as problem solving, number concepts, computation, measurement, statistics and data analysis, geometry, probability, functions and algebra, and uses of math. In addition, Fellows receive instruction in improving content knowledge in mathematics, examine how students best learn mathematics and what instructional techniques are most effective to help them solve problems, identify essential skills critical to mathematics success in middle and high school, college and beyond, and learn to differentiate math instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners.
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