When given the opportunity to play with mathematical materials and ideas, children demonstrate their mathematical understanding in innovative ways.
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Imagine It! Choose Your Own Pattern Block Adventure
Anita A. Wager, Brittany Caldwell, and Jamie Vescio
Exploring Prospective Teachers’ Development of the Cartesian Form of Complex Numbers
Gülseren Karagöz Akar, Merve Saraç, and Mervenur Belin
In this study, we investigated prospective secondary mathematics teachers’ development of a meaning for the Cartesian form of complex numbers by examining the roots of quadratic equations through quantitative reasoning. Data included transcripts of the two sessions of classroom teaching experiments prospective teachers participated in, written artifacts from these teaching sessions, and their answers to pre-and-post written assessment questions. Results point toward prospective teachers’ improved meanings regarding the definition of complex numbers and the algebraic and geometrical meanings of the Cartesian form of complex numbers. Implications for mathematics teacher education include providing specific tasks and strategies for strengthening the knowledge of prospective and in-service teachers.
Developing Equity Literacy and Critical Statistical Literacy in Secondary Mathematics Preservice Teachers
Stephanie Casey and Andrew Ross
There is a lack of teacher education materials that develop equity literacy in content courses for preservice secondary mathematics teachers. In response, we created teacher education curriculum materials for introductory statistics that include an integrated focus on developing equity literacy and critical statistical literacy.
In this article, we provide an overview of our materials’ design along with a detailed look at one activity regarding racial demographics and tracking in high school STEM courses. We present evidence regarding the positive impact of these materials on the teacher candidates’ competency, value, and likelihood of applying their equity literacy and critical statistical literacy. Implications for mathematics teacher educators working to develop equity literacy together with content knowledge are discussed.
Beyond the Sign Rules
Jessica Pierson Bishop, Lisa L. Lamb, Ian Whitacre, Randolph A. Philipp, and Bonnie P. Schappelle
Are your students negative about integers? Help them experience positivity and joy doing integer arithmetic!
Challenging Students to Experience Mathematics as Mathematicians
Jenna R. O’Dell, Cynthia W. Langrall, and Amanda L. Cullen
An unsolved problem gets elementary and middle school students thinking and doing mathematics like mathematicians.
Empowering Latinx Families to Help Children with Mathematics
Sabrina De Los Santos Rodríguez, Audrey Martínez-Gudapakkam, and Judy Storeygard
An innovative program addresses the digital divide with short, engaging videos modeling mathematic activities sent to families through a free mobile app.
Puddle Play!
Deanna Pecaski McLennan
Guiding Questions for Selecting Mathematical Examples
Rachel B. Snider
Examples are an essential part of mathematics teaching and learning, used on a daily basis to teach and practice content. Yet, selecting good examples for teaching is complex and challenging. This article presents ideas to consider when selecting examples, drawn from a research study with algebra 2 teachers.
Positioning During Group Work on a Novel Task in Algebra II
Anna F. DeJarnette and Gloriana González
Given the prominence of group work in mathematics education policy and curricular materials, it is important to understand how students make sense of mathematics during group work. We applied techniques from Systemic Functional Linguistics to examine how students positioned themselves during group work on a novel task in Algebra II classes. We examined the patterns of positioning that students demonstrated during group work and how students' positioning moves related to the ways they established the resources, operations, and product of a task. Students who frequently repositioned themselves created opportunities for mathematical reasoning by attending to the resources and operations necessary for completing the task. The findings of this study suggest how students' positioning and mathematical reasoning are intertwined and jointly support collaborative learning through work on novel tasks.
Benefits for Women and Men of Inquiry-Based Learning in College Mathematics: A Multi-Institution Study
Sandra L. Laursen, Marja-Liisa Hassi, Marina Kogan, and Timothy J. Weston
Slow faculty uptake of research-based, student-centered teaching and learning approaches limits the advancement of U.S. undergraduate mathematics education. A study of inquiry-based learning (IBL) as implemented in over 100 course sections at 4 universities provides an example of such multicourse, multi-institution uptake. The study suggests the real-world promise of broad uptake of student-centered teaching methods that improve learning outcomes and, ultimately, student retention in college mathematics.
