College of Education
Catherine Kelly
Associate Professor
Department Chair of Curriculum and Instruction
College of Education
1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
(719) 262-4339
Catherine A. Kelly is a faculty member in the College of Education at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs in Mathematics Education. She is actively involved in the Mathematics and Teacher Education communities at local, state, and national levels. Dr. Kelly is also a Site Professor in a Professional Development School each academic year. Her work with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Colorado Council of Teachers of Mathematics includes the Learning, Teaching, Curriculum, and Assessment Committee and Editorship of The Colorado Mathematics Teacher. Her research focuses on analysis and implementation of reform-based mathematics, inquiry-based methods, and teacher beliefs about mathematics.
As a mathematics methods professor in preservice teacher preparation, her role is one of interdisciplinary integration and diversity. The overriding theme in The University of Colorado's Teacher Education Program, "The Reflective Educator: Answering the Call, Honoring the Commitment", exemplifies this perception. Instilling enthusiasm and love for teaching in novice teachers is actualized for her as Professional Development School Site Professor, methods professor, and ongoing researcher, within and among public schools, teacher candidates, and inservice teachers.
The expansive role of Professional Development School Site Professor not only offers Dr. Kelly multiple opportunities to interact with students, but also to remain current in teaching pedogogy. As Site Professor, she is an active leader and participant in guiding both novice and inservice teacher knowledge as well as elementary student knowledge. The same remains true as she teaches and collaborate with graduate students in the UCCS Curriculum and Instruction Masters Degree. Through active involvement in the development and implementation of many final research projects, She is able to guide students in preparing their research for presentation and/or publication.
Involvement at the local, state, and national levels in Mathematics Education continues to both broaden and solidify Dr. Kelly's breadth of knowledge. She is actively involved as journal editor for The Colorado Mathematics Teacher, appointed to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics committee on Learning, Teaching, Curriculum, and Assessment, appointed to the School Science and Mathematics Association's committee on Policy and, appointed to the Association of Teacher Educator's Research Committee.
Education
Ph.D.
University of Denver, Denver, CO - 1991
M.S.
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT - 1973
B.S.
South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD - 1971
Teaching
In mathematics instruction, the nature of the disciplines encourages a teaching philosophy rich in the use of manipulatives and hands-on, laboratory-based approaches since most of the teaching and learning is delivered in an inquiry-based, discovery approach emphasizing a standards-driven problem-solving model. Thus, many class sessions include a combination of innovative, interactive, hands-on, student and teacher led activities with lecture infused as appropriate. Parallel to this are assignments and projects that require students to take theoretical practices and apply them in real-life settings and situations as well as to apply and conduct active research. Implementing both research and mathematical inquiry pushes students to think both deeply and broadly as well as to see problem solving as a means to reach a real and effective outcome.
Scholarship
The synergy of education today seems to be spawned by creative, innovative, integrative curriculum development, pedagogy, and research. Implementing solid, research-based curricular change is at the heart of Dr. Kelly's charter as a professor of elementary mathematics education.
Key areas of scholarship include the study and research of curriculum modification and revision and pedagogy, analysis and implementation of reform-based mathematics, inquiry-based methods, and teacher beliefs about mathematics.
- Rains, J.R., Kelly, C.A., and Durham, R. L. (2008)
The evolution of the importance of multi-sensory teaching techniques in elementary mathematics: Theory and practice
Journal of Theory and Practice in Education, 4 (2), 239 - 252
PDF Link - Frederick, L. R., and Kelly, C.A. (2007)
A survey of the effects of a mathematics coaching model on mathematics achievement and teacher behaviors in diverse elementary classrooms
Teachers as Leaders, 7, 14 - 20
PDF Link - Kelly, C. A. (2006)
A Conversation with John Van de Walle.
The Colorado Mathematics Teacher, 39(2), 7-12.
PDF Link - Kelly, C. A. (2006)
Using manipulatives in mathematical problem solving: A performance-based analysis
TMME, 3(2), 184-193
PDF Link - Kelly, C. A. (2001)
Creating advocates: Building preservice teachers' confidence using an integrated, spiral-based, inquiry approach in mathematics and science methods instruction.
PDF Link - Kelly, C. A. (2002).
Creating equitable classroom climates: An investigation of classroom strategies in mathematics and science instruction for developing preservice teachers' use of democratic social values.
Child Study Journal, 32(1), 39-51
PDF Link - Kelly, C. A. (2002).
The diminishing apple: Student use an apple to explore the distribution of the earth's natural resources.
Science and Children, 39(5), 26-30.
PDF Link - Kelly, C. A. (2000).
Reaching to the Standards.
Science and Children, January, 30-32.
PDF Link - Kelly, C. A. (1999).
Gender and inquiry: An investigation into identifying and defining the role of inquiry in higher-order thinking.
European Journal of Teacher Education, 22(1), 101-114.
PDF Link
Service
University
- Innovations Committe,
College of Education - Assessment Committe,
College of Education - Library
Community
- Helps Gazette reporters on Kindergarten preparation
- Colorado Mathematics Leaders Network Group
State / National
- Board Member,
Colorado Council of Teachers of Mathematics - Editor, Colorado Mathematics Teacher Journal,
Colorado Council of Teachers of Mathematics - Member, Emerging Issues Committee,
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics - Member, Policy Committee,
School Science and Mathematics Association - Chair, Distinguished Dissertation Award,
Association of Teacher Educators - Member, Research Committee,
Association of Teacher Educator