Questioning Our Credibility: An Exploration of the Professional Identity Development of Mathematics Teacher Educators

Preparing future mathematics teacher educators (MTEs) with knowledge that are needed to effectively support pre-service teachers (PSTs) is very important. However, little attention was paid to MTEs’ knowledge development, which is multifaceted and complex. This study investigates successes, challenges, and tensions that four international graduate MTEs and one mathematics teacher educator (TE) experienced in developing their identity as math teacher educators. In total, 20 h of interactive interviews were analyzed by using qualitative methods. Emerging themes include how MTEs establish a sense of credibility and how they feel they are navigating multiple identities. Among the graduate MTEs, credibility was described as having the following: (a) knowledge of and experience teaching in the US education system; (b) experience in teaching using a problem-solving approach; (c) the ability to enact theory in practice. While navigating multiple identities, graduate MTEs recognize their ethnic identities are central and influence their perceptions of self as MTEs, and how they think they are perceived by others. The results highlight the importance of understanding MTEs tensions and challenges and provide “in-the-moment” support along the journey of becoming teacher educators.

Simulation of Teacher Interventions in a Training Course of Mathematics Teacher Educators

This work aimed to characterize simulated teacher interventions to manage a didactic configuration in which students solve problem situations using an ICT resource. We also aimed to identify patterns of interaction between the teacher and the students that make it possible to characterize styles of interaction and assess both their interactional and their ecological suitability. To do this, we used the tools of the Onto-semiotic Approach to Mathematical Cognition and Instruction to analyze the level of reflection of 102 educators of preservice teachers of mathematics, about hypothetical problem resolutions of their students and the types of interactions simulated by them to manage the students’ learning. The educators were participants of a Teacher Training of the Teacher Specialization in Education and ICT in Argentina. The results show that there are three levels of reflection and four types of interaction (maieutic, falsificationist, dogmatic and paternalistic). We did not find a high interactional suitability in their proposals of dialogues, and participants do not consider aspects of the ecological suitability, such as the adaptation to the official curriculum. We conclude that the type of interventions that teacher educators propose is closely related to their level of reflection about the reasons why their students respond to problems in one manner or another.

Assessing van Hiele’s geometric thinking levels among elementary pre-service mathematics teachers

Teachers’ geometric thinking is crucial to teaching efficacy in geometry since teacher knowledge or thinking serves as a basis for the quality of instruction provided for students’ learning. Teachers’ thinking about geometry has attracted much attention among mathematics education researchers. This study therefore aimed at assessing elementary pre-service teachers’ geometric thinking within the first three levels of van Hiele’s model. The study was guided by three objectives. The objectives were to (1) assess the distribution of van Hiele’s geometric thinking among the study participants, (2) determine if the participating pre-service teachers’ geometric thinking is significant for teaching geometry, and (3) find out if any difference in geometric thinking of the pre-service teachers existed with regard to gender. The study used the descriptive survey design. The study participants were prospective mathematics teachers drawn from four Colleges of Education in the Bono Region and Ashanti Region of Ghana. The Colleges were randomly selected for the study. The study participants comprised 217 pre-service teachers. The van Hiele’s test instrument was adapted and pilot tested to assess the internal consistency of the items in the various levels. The calculated reliability coefficient of the instrument ranged from 0.71 to 0.74. The instrument was administered to the study participants on the scheduled date. Data generated from the participants were analysed based on the study objectives. Findings from the analyses show that pre-service teachers have limited geometric thinking within the first three levels. However, their geometric thinking of the levels assessed was found to be significant which could have some impact on teaching geometry. Findings also reveal gender differences in pre-service mathematics geometric thinking. It is recommended that conscious effort must be made by mathematics teacher educators in the Colleges of Education to deepen the pre-service mathematics teachers’ geometric thinking.

From Dissertation to Publication in Mathematics Teacher Educator

In this editorial, we provide suggestions for authors who are preparing a manuscript for the Mathematics Teacher Educator journal that is based on a dissertation. We recommend that authors begin by examining their findings and identifying a focus that addresses a shared problem of practice for mathematics teacher educators. Authors should become familiar with the journal by reading editorials and related articles published in the journal. Finally, the Writing Tool can serve as a guide for preparing an outline for the manuscript, which can be shared with the editors and colleagues for feedback.

Comparing the Mathematical Practices Pre-Service Teachers and Mathematics Teacher Educators Identified as Relevant to Problems and Tasks

In the U.S., state adopted or developed college- and career-ready mathematics standards, including the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, not only impact districts, students, and their teachers, but also university teacher preparation programs. In order to attain and sustain Common Core’s vision of developing mathematically competent citizens, teacher preparation programs must support pre-service teachers’ development of practical conceptions of the Standards for Mathematical Practice. In this article, we examine the mathematical practices middle grades pre-service teachers (grades 4-9 licensure) and mathematics teacher educators identified as playing a role in attempts to make sense of and work toward solutions to mathematics problems. In addition, we compare the mathematical practices indicated both within and across pre-service teachers and mathematics teacher educators. Results identify pre-service teachers’ potential difficulties operationalizing six specific mathematical habits of mind. Finally, we describe how such comparisons can guide the design of future teacher education and professional learning by describing a process for identifying problems and tasks with the greatest potential to support pre-service teachers’ development of practical conceptions of mathematics or other content-specific habits of mind.

Mathematical Specialized Knowledge of a Mathematics Teacher Educator for Teaching Divisibility

The knowledge of Mathematics teachers has been a very prominent focus of attention in the last decades. However, it leaves aside one of the dimensions involved in the development of this type of knowledge, specifically the knowledge of Mathematics teacher educators. In this paper, we discuss a mathematics teacher educator’s knowledge in the context of classes on Euclid’s division algorithm theorem in a Number Theory course for prospective secondary teachers. Some indicators of this specialized knowledge of mathematics teacher educators are presented and discussed.

Critical Social Pedagogy in Mathematics Teacher Education

There is no how-to recipe for implementing pedagogical approaches, as each school, learner and teacher has a unique perception of the nature of critical mathematics education. It is therefore the duty of educators and school administrators to cultivate critical teaching and learning experiences that can connect the standardised school curriculum to the reality of learners’ everyday lives. As such, this study investigated the pedagogical approaches which mathematics teacher educators employed in the development of democratic citizens in South African universities. Underpinned by the constructivist paradigm, the study employed a qualitative research approach and a case study design. Data were generated from a total of six mathematics teacher educators and 75 second- to fourth-year student teachers majoring in mathematics education across three different universities. The findings from the study revealed that there are contradictions between pedagogical philosophies and the mathematics teacher educators’ ideal image of their practice in the classroom. The nature of mathematics teaching, and the fear that learners come to class with different knowledges from their personal experience and have disparate opinions, hinder critical and social engagement within mathematics education classrooms. Based on the findings, it is recommended that mathematics teacher educators employ a problem-posing pedagogical approach which allows for the appropriation of knowledge in the form of self-reflection, a synergy of care, and self-determination which seeks to foster democratic values and critical consciousness in the development of democratic citizens.

Exploring Power and Oppression: An Examination of Mathematics Teacher Educators’ Professional Growth

The preparation of mathematics teacher educators (MTEs) varies widely, with little guidance regarding the essential skills and knowledge necessary to tackle the field’s looming challenges. Equitable access to, and engagement with, mathematics has surfaced as an elusive goal of mathematics education organizations. MTEs, therefore, ought to identify and engage with resources that help them comprehend and confront systemic oppression and inequities. We present the process and reflections from an examination of MTEs’ professional growth through engagement in a collaborative interrogation of critical texts outside of mathematics education. Participation in this series of structured readings and dialogue led MTEs to develop a deeper understanding of the historical movements and events that created today’s local and global status quos. Furthermore, MTEs could more readily make connections between macrocontexts of colonialism, violence, and oppression, and the micromanifestations of power and marginalization within mathematics education. Implications for future development of MTEs are discussed.