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
Designing for Sensemaking of Research: The Mathematics District Leader Research Group
F. Paul Wonsavage
In this article, I share a design-based research intervention meant to help mathematics district leaders build their capacity to engage with research quality. I present my design (i.e., principles, key features, and intervention structure) and elaborate on how the features of the design allowed for mathematics district leaders’ sensemaking of educational research quality, especially regarding the process for collecting data and research implications. I conclude with recommendations for mathematics teacher educators on how they might adapt my design to their contexts.
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.
Using a Practical Measure to Support Inquiry Into Professional Development Facilitation
Hannah Nieman, Kara Jackson, Michael Jarry-Shore, Hilda Borko, Elham Kazemi, Starlie Chinen, Anita Lenges, Zuhal Yilmaz, and Cara Haines
Despite the complexity of facilitating professional development (PD) and growing attention to supporting facilitators, few tools exist for facilitators to engage in ongoing inquiry into their practice. In this article, we offer a practical measure, the Collaborative Professional Development Survey (CPDS), designed to provide facilitators with information about teachers’ perceptions of aspects of the PD learning environment that research indicates matter for teachers’ opportunities to learn. We illustrate how facilitators used the CPDS to support their collective inquiry into facilitation. We also illustrate the social processes that appeared to enable facilitators’ productive use of the CPDS, including a routine to analyze the resulting data, and the orientations that underpinned their analysis. We discuss implications for facilitators’ use of the CPDS.
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.