scholarly journals Formatively assessing prospective teachers’ skills in leading mathematics discussions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan Shaughnessy ◽  
Nicole M. Garcia ◽  
Michaela Krug O’Neill ◽  
Sarah Kate Selling ◽  
Amber T. Willis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Elementary Teachers ◽  
Formative Assessment ◽  
Conceptual Understanding ◽  
Prospective Teachers ◽  
First Year ◽  
Teacher Education Programs ◽  
First Year Teachers ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
Prospective Elementary Teachers ◽  
Making Sense

AbstractMathematics discussions are important for helping students to develop conceptual understanding and to learn disciplinary norms and practices. In recent years, there has been increased attention to teaching prospective teachers to lead discussions with students. This paper examines the possibilities of designing a formative assessment that gathers information about prospective elementary teachers’ skills with leading problem-based mathematics discussions and makes sense of such information. A decomposition of the practice of leading discussions was developed and used to design the assessment. Nine first-year teachers who graduated from a range of different teacher education programs participated in the study. The findings reveal that our formative assessment works to gather information about teachers’ capabilities with leading discussions and that the associated tools support making sense of the information gathered. This suggests that such tools could be useful to support the formative assessment of the developing capabilities of prospective teachers.

scholarly journals Learning to Be Rural: Lessons about Being Rural in Teacher Education Programs

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Moffa ◽  
Erin McHenry-Sorber
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Preparation ◽  
Teacher Preparation Program ◽  
First Year ◽  
Teacher Education Programs ◽  
First Year Teachers ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
Program Of Study ◽  
Personal Experiences ◽  
Community Types ◽  
Rural Place

This qualitative study investigated the evolving perceptions of rurality of five Appalachian native, first-year teachers as influenced by their teacher preparation program. Findings suggested tensions between participants’ rural upbringings and programmatic and non-rural peer conceptions of rurality that surfaced during their program of study. Responses to these tensions included participants positioning themselves as “rural representatives” in their courses and, in some cases, the adoption of revised conceptions of rurality. Intra-Appalachian diversity, such as different childhood community types and childhood social class, influenced participants’ conceptualizations of rurality and their perceptions of its representation in their programs. The majority of participants perceived a trend toward generalized notions of rural place that were not necessarily representative of their personal experiences. Transitioning to first-year teachers, participants relied on their community-driven knowledge and teacher preparation to guide their practice in home or new rural, Appalachian communities

One Year on: First-Year Primary Teachers’ Perceptions of Preparedness to Manage Misbehaviour and Their Confidence in the Strategies They Use

2013 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue O'Neill ◽  
Jennifer Stephenson
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Primary Teachers ◽  
First Year ◽  
Teacher Education Programs ◽  
First Year Teachers ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
Behaviour Management ◽  
Classroom Behaviour ◽  
Problem Behaviours ◽  
One Year

This article reports the findings of a one-year follow-up study of Australian beginning primary teachers’ perceived preparedness to manage a variety of problematic student behaviours, and their confidence and use of behaviour management strategies based on their preservice coursework in classroom behaviour management. A total of 216 primary teachers in their first year of employment located across Australia responded to the online survey. Based on their coursework preparation in classroom behaviour management, the first-year teachers felt, at best, only somewhat prepared to manage disruption, noncompliance and disorganisation problems, and closer to not at all prepared to manage aggressive, antisocial, or destructive behaviours. Their perceptions of preparedness to manage all categories of problem behaviours had decreased significantly since course completion in the past year. First-year teachers were aware of a wide range of strategies for responding to problem behaviours, and felt somewhat confident in using most of the strategies. Their confidence in use had increased for most strategies, but only minimally, since completing their teacher education programs. Issues with current preservice coursework in classroom behaviour management in teacher education programs are discussed, and suggestions for addressing preparation and confidence issues are offered.

scholarly journals Profiles of Pre-service Teacher Education: An Investigation into the Nature of Selected Exemplary Programs in Jamaica and Michigan

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 139
Author(s):  
Heather Smith-Sherwood
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Prospective Teachers ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Teacher Education Programs ◽  
Continuous Assessment ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
Quality Teachers ◽  
Effect Change ◽  
Pre Service Teacher Education ◽  
Pre Service Teacher

This qualitative multi-case study investigated thre exemplary pre-service teacher education programs in Jamaica and Michigan in order to provide an account of how they are structured in different contexts of tertiary institutions and, to identify how they ensure that their graduates are prepared to function effectively in today’s schools. Five categories of stakeholders across the three institutions were interviewed regarding their perception and expectations of pre-service teacher education in general as well as in the context of their program. The responses from these persons were described in narrative form, then analyzed and compared based on the similarities and differences that existed among them. The analysis led to the emergence of various themes across the three institutions, and these were used to draw conclusions relative to the structure of pre-service teacher education. The findings revealed eight distinguishing features of exemplary/effective pre-service teacher education programs whether university or college-based. (a) coherent program vision (b) cultural competence (c) collaborative partnership (d) contextualization (e) quality standards (f) well-planned and implemented field experiences (g) continuous assessment (h) experienced committed faculty and (i) a harmonious blend of theory and practice. To be effective, pre-service teacher education programs must prepare prospective teachers to adequately meet the challenges of teaching in today’s classrooms. To effect change, quality teachers are needed, and to produce quality teachers, quality preparation is a necessity. 

Lived Moments of Shift in Prospective Elementary Teachers' Mathematical Learning

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 436-463
Author(s):  
Keri D. Valentine ◽  
Johnna Bolyard
Keyword(s):  
Elementary Teachers ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Prospective Teachers ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Single Event ◽  
Prospective Elementary Teachers ◽  
Phenomenological Inquiry ◽  
Teachers Experiences ◽  
Past Experiences ◽  
Time Frames

Past experiences as mathematics learners play a critical role in the way mathematics teachers consider what it means to know, do, and teach mathematics. Thus, understanding past experiences and ways to work with them in teacher education is a critical concern. Using phenomenological inquiry, we investigated moments of shift that occur along one's mathematics journey. The study draws on 30 prospective teachers' experiences in the form of lived-experience writing and interview data. Findings show that prospective teachers' shifts manifest in relations with others, across different time frames, and through material relations with mathematics. Most salient was the tentative and mutable nature of shifts, showing that shift might be better viewed as a possibility rather than a single event.

Diverge Then Converge: A Strategy for Deepening Understanding Through Analyzing and Reconciling Contrasting Patterns of Reasoning

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 8-24
Author(s):  
Theresa J. Grant ◽  
Mariana Levin
Keyword(s):  
Elementary Teachers ◽  
Conceptual Understanding ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Conceptual Issue ◽  
Prospective Elementary Teachers ◽  
Written Responses ◽  
Teaching Content ◽  
Mathematical Discussions ◽  
Relevant Factors ◽  
Implementation Of The Strategy

One of the challenges of teaching content courses for prospective elementary teachers (PTs) is engaging PTs in deepening their conceptual understanding of mathematics they feel they already know (Thanheiser, Philipp, Fasteen, Strand, & Mills, 2013). We introduce the Diverge then Converge strategy for orchestrating mathematical discussions that we claim (1) engenders sustained engagement with a central conceptual issue and (2) supports a deeper understanding of the issue by engaging PTs in considering both correct and incorrect reasoning. We describe a recent implementation of the strategy and present an analysis of students’ written responses that are coordinated with the phases of the discussion. We close by considering conditions under which the strategy appears particularly relevant, factors that appear to influence its effectiveness, and questions for future research.

Supporting Teacher Learning: Shaping Prospective Teachers' Justifications for Computation: Challenges and Opportunities

2007 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 112-116
Author(s):  
Theresa J. Grant ◽  
Jane-Jane Lo ◽  
Judith Flowers
Keyword(s):  
Elementary Teachers ◽  
Prospective Teachers ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Sense Making ◽  
Major Focus ◽  
Prospective Elementary Teachers ◽  
Difficult Time ◽  
Whole Number ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Mathematical Justification

This article discusses the challenges and opportunities that arose in attempting to support prospective elementary teachers in developing mathematical justifications in the context of wholenumber computation. Justification for whole-number computation is important for three reasons. First, this is the introductory topic in the first of three mathematics courses for prospective elementary teachers. Second, the number and operations strand is a major focus in elementary school. Third, in our experience as teacher educators, prospective elementary teachers have a difficult time considering how and why to teach whole-number computation in a conceptual manner. If prospective teachers' reasoning and justifications can be shaped in this area of mathematics, sense making and mathematical justification in other areas of mathematics can be shaped as well (Simon and Blume 1996).

scholarly journals Analyzing a Piece of Teaching Through the Lens of The ABCs of How We Learn: 26 Scientifically Proven Approaches, How They Work and When To Use Them

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly Alexander ◽  
Paul Vermette
Keyword(s):  
Middle School ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Science Classroom ◽  
Teacher Educator ◽  
School Science ◽  
Middle School Science ◽  
First Year ◽  
Teacher Education Programs ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
Learning Factors

For the continuing development of quality instructional practices, educators must have access to the findings of research and be in a position to explore applications of those findings. We think we may have found such a resource: A 2016 book titled The ABCs of How We Learn: 26 Scientifically proven approaches, how they work, and when to use them by Schwartz, Tsang, and Blair is a concise, insightful, and applicable set of 26 short articles that explain key learning factors, provide examples, and identify the supporting scholarship. In this article, a first-year middle school science teacher and a veteran teacher educator offer teacher educators and professional developers an overview of the 26 factors as they work in a middle school science classroom and an example of how to effectively utilize this text in teacher education programs via vignette creations and analyses.

scholarly journals Role of Teacher Education in Preparing Teachers for Teaching in Religious Schools of Balochistan

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-83
Author(s):  
Abdul Nasir Kiazai ◽  
Zarina Waheed ◽  
Saba Rehman
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Prospective Teachers ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Teacher Education Programs ◽  
Religious Schools ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Group Interviews

A large number of children in Balochistan attend religious schools (Madrasas) that have been criticized for spreading extremist views in the society. Teacher education institutions play a vital role in bringing cultural and religious harmony by producing prospective teachers who are able to cultivate tolerance, acceptance, patriotism, ethnic, religious respect and counter extremism, sectarian, and discrimination prospective. This qualitative exploratory study explores whether the prospective teachers in Balochistan are trained enough to teach in religious schools. The data were collected through in-depth interviews and focused group discussions. All teacher educators and prospective teachers from the universities that remained part of Pre-STEP or Teacher Education Project (TEP) assisted by USAID constituted the population of the study. Sample was selected through purposive sampling from two universities situated in Quetta. 10 teacher educators (5+5) and 10 prospective teachers (5+5) were selected as sample for interviews while two groups of prospective teachers (5 participants in each) were selected from the both case universities for focus group interviews. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis. The findings indicated that the prospective teachers and teacher educators considered the recent teacher education programs in Balochistan not enough to train teachers to teach in religious schools. Keywords: Prospective Teachers; Religious Schools; Teacher Education Programs; Balochistan

scholarly journals ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS: PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS’ PERSPECTIVE

2013 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saima Bibi ◽  
Muhammad Saeed
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Prospective Teachers ◽  
Teacher Education Programs ◽  
Assessment Procedure ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Teacher Training Programs ◽  
The University

Quality enhancement of teacher education programs has been a debatable issue all over the world. The present study was aimed to assess the quality of teacher education programs being offered in a public sector university in Pakistan. Three programs were randomly selected and prospective teachers studying in the final semester were selected as sample of the study. Prospective teachers studying in last semester of teacher training programs were the respondents. Questionnaire, containing 55 statements divided into six factors, was used as data collection tool. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics showed that the respondents were more satisfied about the selection criteria, effectiveness of teaching strategies used by teachers, behavior modification practices, appropriateness of courses, timely feedback, and teachers’ content knowledge but they were less satisfied with the statements related to availability of multimedia in the classes, sharing of faculty offices, no distortion of external factors, space to conduct activities, cleanliness and neatness of classrooms, and environment helpful for learning. The results of inferential statistics revealed significant difference in mean score of respondents from different programs on the factors of admission criteria, use of technology, assessment procedure, and quality of paper development and marking. It is recommended in the light of results that the university should allocate special budget to improve the quality of infrastructure. Furthermore, availability of technology and its proper use should be ensured by the university administratio

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