Mathematics Teacher Educator Podcast

Episode 40: Conversation with MTE editors: Vision, Submission Advice, Etc.

March 11th, 2022  |  Season 9  |  33 mins 20 secs

In this conversation Michael Steele and Kate Johnson share their vision as the new editor team for MTE. They share their vision and give advice for submissions.

Episode 39: Developing Skills for Exploring Children’s Thinking From Extensive One-on-One Work With Students

February 8th, 2022  |  Season 9  |  34 mins 7 secs

preservice teacher education; field experiences; exploring student thinking; practice-based teaching skill

In this article, we share results from a field experience model in which junior-year methods classes were held in an elementary school and preservice teachers (PSTs) worked with a single student (a “Math Buddy”) on mathematics for 30 minutes per day. We focus on the development of PSTs’ skills for exploring children’s thinking and the structures and tools that we used to support this development. Data sources include screencast recordings of interactions with Math Buddies and written reflections completed by PSTs. Although the responsiveness of interactions varied across individuals and interactions, in general, PSTs showed improvements in exploring children’s thinking. We share implications of these findings for similar field experience models and for practice-based approaches to teacher education generally.

Episode 37: Supporting Preservice Teachers’ Growth in Eliciting and Using Evidence of Student Thinking: Show-Me Narrative

February 8th, 2022  |  Season 9  |  35 mins 34 secs

Episode 36: Supporting Prospective Teachers in Problem Solving: Incorporating Mindset Messaging to Overcome Math Anxiety

February 8th, 2022  |  Season 9  |  29 mins 39 secs

mathematical mindset; math anxiety; elementary prospective teachers; growth mindset; problem solving

Prospective and practicing elementary teachers have historically demonstrated anxiety about mathematics, which can affect their mathematics teaching and their students’ math anxiety. Yet, developing productive dispositions prior to teacher preparation programs is rarely addressed in the research. We propose mindset messaging in mathematics courses as an intervention to influence prospective teachers’ (PSTs’) self-reported mathematical mindsets and math anxiety.

Survey results indicated shifts toward growth mindsets and decreases in math anxiety. Further analysis of PSTs’ written responses suggests that mindset messaging may support
PSTs in overcoming math anxiety, and that perseverance during problem solving is critical for PSTs’ mathematical improvement. Additionally, some PSTs connected course experiences to future mathematics teaching practices. Results propose MTEs might consider explicitly offering mindset messaging in mathematics courses.

Episode 38: Support and Enrichment Experiences in Mathematics (SEE Math): Using Case Studies to Improve Mathematics Teacher Education

February 8th, 2022  |  Season 9  |  31 mins 17 secs

mathematics teacher education; field experiences; community engagement

This article describes an innovation in an elementary mathematics education course called SEE Math (Support and Enrichment Experiences in Mathematics), which aims to support teacher candidates (TCs) as they learn to teach mathematics through problem solving while promoting equity during multiple experiences with a child. During this 8-week program, TCs craft and implement tasks that promote problem solving in the context of a case study of a child’s thinking while collecting and analyzing student data to support future instructional decisions. The program culminates in a mock parent– teacher conference. Data samples show how SEE Math offers TCs an opportunity to focus
on the nuances of children’s strengths rather than traditional measures of achievement
and skill.