Decades of scholarly work continue to document the marginalization of children from nondominant backgrounds in mathematics classrooms. Learning to equitably teach children from linguistically, ethnically, racially, and culturally diverse backgrounds remains a priority. This dissertation approaches this broader problem in society by understanding…

The use of student-centered practices is influenced by several factors (Peterson et al., 1989). Specifically self-efficacy has been shown to influence teachers' self-reported teaching practices (Hadley & Dorward, 2011; Peterson et al., 1989; Skaalvik & Skaalvik, 2007). The purpose of this study was to determine possible relationships among…

This research examined the relationship between secondary special education teachers' mathematics teaching efficacy and the number of years of teaching experience, years of co-teaching experience, and number of math content coursework taken at the undergraduate level. Students with special needs continue to score significantly lower than their…

Even though students in the United States have varying access to an equitable education, education is commonly regarded as the greatest equalizer. The achievement gap impacts students such as African Americans, Hispanics, and other minorities. Addressing the achievement gap in mathematics and other content areas has grown more crucial as the…

This study addressed the challenge of connecting elementary teacher candidates' course work and fieldwork in order to foster a cohesive experience in learning to teach mathematics. In this study, a Mediated Field Experience was designed for five elementary teacher candidates in their internship setting. The study utilized qualitative methods to…

Within teacher education, work on mathematics teaching often occurs separately from work on issues of race and racism. Typically, mathematics content and methods courses tackle subject matter-specific concepts and teaching practices, while the history and current dynamics of racial inequity in education, if addressed at all, tend to be the domain…

The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to examine teachers' and students' perceptions of the impact of a semi-departmentalized classroom structure on mathematics teaching and learning in upper elementary grades. Participants were purposefully selected from teachers and students at the selected school, each completing at least…

This study investigated the use of the interactive white board (IWB) and the impact the technology had on mathematics teaching practices for algebra teachers. The study used the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) model as the conceptual framework for the investigation, collection, and analysis of data. Teachers were interviewed to…

This mini-ethnographic study explored virtual elementary student teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on mathematics instruction. It was framed using Ecological Systems Theory and Critical Pedagogy. Data were collected from interviews, focus groups, observations, and site documents. Thematic analysis methods were used to analyze the…

Literature shows that the Nature of Mathematics Knowledge (NOMK) dates back to the era of Plato and Aristotle (Dossey, 1992). It suggests that mathematics teachers' beliefs, views, conceptions, and preferences about NOM influence the way in which they teach mathematics. It is important to understand how these conceptions are formed, which may…

Elementary teachers are generalists, usually with a reading background. As such, a number of teachers have low self-efficacy about teaching mathematics for conceptual understanding. Researchers suggest that some major categories associated with this problem are not enough adequate professional development (PD) addressing conceptual understanding…

In response to a shift to high-stakes assessments, teachers are changing their instruction and approaches away from research-based formal training on best practices teaching in response to the stress and pressure this shift has created (Avalos et al., 2020; Gonzalez et al., 2017; Musoleno & White, 2010). More research is needed on teachers who…

This study explored the relationship between math anxiety and perceived self-efficacy for teaching mathematics in preschool teachers. Perceptions of and attributions for the teachers' perceived math anxiety and perceived self-efficacy for teaching mathematics were also explored. The study employed a mixed-method design consisting of both…

The disparity in academic achievement in mathematics between White and non-White students has been documented across the country and discussed in depth in academic research. Ladson-Billings (2006) cited the "education debt" that the nation has allowed to grow as a source for this disparity. Anderson (2017) and Battey and Levey (2016)…

Teaching practices in early childhood through post-secondary learning settings continue to reproduce inequities in mathematics education despite recognition of math's utility and its necessity for competitiveness in the global economy. For reform efforts to be successful, teachers must change the way mathematics is presented in classrooms where…