Welcome
Welcome to Math 131: Mathematics for Elementary Education I at Tacoma Community College! This text is designed to support you—future elementary school teachers—as you build both confidence and understanding in the mathematics you will one day teach to your own students.
What to Expect
Many students come into this course with mixed experiences in mathematics. You may feel comfortable with some topics but uncertain about others, or you may have learned how to carry out certain procedures (like adding fractions or calculating percentages) without feeling fully confident about why those procedures work. This course is designed to help you make that important shift from knowing how to understanding why. Developing this deeper understanding is essential for becoming an effective mathematics teacher, since your future students will look to you not only for correct answers, but also for clear explanations and meaningful learning experiences.
This book provides resources to strengthen your foundation in the “how,” so that you can more fully engage with the “why” during class discussions, activities, and assignments. It contains:
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Notes that explain mathematical ideas in clear and accessible language.
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Practice problems with immediate feedback to check your understanding.
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Short videos that demonstrate strategies for solving problems.
Text Topics (at a glance)
The topics in this book align with our course and with the mathematical content you will eventually be teaching in elementary classrooms. They include:
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Numbers
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Addition and Subtraction
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Multiplication
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Division
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Proportional Reasoning
Throughout Math 131, you will not only practice these skills, but also reflect on how and why they work. This combination of procedural fluency and conceptual understanding will prepare you to guide your future students with confidence and clarity.
Adaptions
This text was adapted from materials created by Iain Pardoe’s text Mathematics for Elementary Teachers and from Mathematics for Elementary and Middle School Teachers with Activities (Beckmann, 2022). I am deeply grateful for these resources, and for the opportunity to shape them into a version that supports your learning here at Tacoma Community College.
Go Forth!
I invite you to use these materials actively—work through the problems, watch the videos, ask questions, and support one another. By doing so, you are not just preparing to pass this course—you are preparing to teach the next generation of learners to see mathematics as logical, meaningful, and even fun! Please contact Natalie Hobson (nhobson@tacomacc.edu) if you see any errors in the text.
A Note from the Instructor: My Commitment to Accessibility and Inclusive Learning
As the author and instructor of this course, I am deeply committed to creating an open and accessible learning space where every future teacher can engage meaningfully with mathematics. This text is designed with the belief that mathematics is for everyone—and that each learner brings valuable experiences, perspectives, and ways of thinking to the study of math.
In developing this OER, I have worked to remove barriers to learning by ensuring materials are freely available, clearly organized, and compatible with assistive technologies. I strive to use language that is inclusive, examples that reflect diverse learners and real-world contexts, and visuals that support multiple ways of understanding.
Accessibility is not a one-time task, but an ongoing process. If you encounter anything in this text that creates a barrier to your learning—whether visual, technical, or conceptual—please reach out. Your feedback helps make this resource stronger and more equitable for all future teachers and their future students.
Together, we can make mathematics education more open, inclusive, and empowering for everyone.
-Dr. Natalie Hobson
