In this article, we use a case study to provide suggestions and lessons for considering mathematical literacy instruction. Preservice teachers in the study were provided coursework and support in designing mathematical literacy instruction, and then they incorporated that instruction into a field-based practicum experience. We then studied their…

This study investigated the middle school preservice mathematics teachers' conceptualization of what it means for a problem to be mathematically rich and contextually realistic and how their conceptions evolved during a series of professional development activities. Fifteen middle school preservice mathematics teachers were involved in this…

In the mathematics education literature, subject matter knowledge is well recognized as the cornerstone of a mathematics teacher's knowledge base. Though the 'Mathematics Problem', the declining standards of students' mathematical abilities upon entering tertiary education, is well documented in many countries, its effect on preservice mathematics…

Despite compelling arguments for the importance of revisiting school mathematics in pre-service mathematics teacher education, there is little indication of how such revisiting might be done, particularly at secondary level. We argue that revisiting provides three key opportunities for learning: (1) additional time on the mathematics that…

Engaging with mathematical modeling can support learners to collaboratively explore mathematics in integrated ways as well as generate mathematical ideas and representations that may be useful in everyday life. Although several studies provide diverse insights into teaching and learning mathematical modeling, research has yet to be conducted on…

Although research and policy documents provide recommendations to inform secondary mathematics teacher preparation, no single study has addressed the "big ideas" of courses in multiple programs and how those big ideas may be interpreted through the lens of recent research and policy documents. To answer this need, we focused on big ideas…

For years, teacher education programs have focused considerable effort on teacher knowledge and how to develop the types of knowledge that matter in teacher education candidates. Meanwhile, candidate dispositions for teaching have received little attention, particularly in mathematics courses for candidates. As developers and practitioners of a…

Recommendations for preparing teachers of mathematics have been published by multiple professional organizations in the United States; however, there is limited research on whether student course perceptions affirm the instructor-identified alignment of mathematics content courses for prospective secondary mathematics teachers (PSMTs) to these…

The purpose of the current study was to explore pre-service middle school mathematics teachers' personal concept definitions of a trapezoid, parallelogram, rectangle, rhombus, square, and kite. The data were collected by a self-report instrument through which the pre-service teachers provided their answers in written form. The participants'…

This paper explores the nature of prospective teachers' noticing of students' understanding as they analyze and discuss middle school students' understandings of trapezoids in micro-case videos in the context of geometry. In this exploratory study, the data were obtained from eight prospective middle school mathematics teachers through individual…

The quality of mathematics assignments from teachers to students is one important element that determines whether learning is effective or not. To make quality math assignments requires knowledge from the teacher about content and students, who are subdomains of mathematical knowledge to teach. This knowledge needs to be developed in prospective…

Teacher education programs have a critical role in supporting prospective teachers' connections between theory and practice. In this study, we examined three prospective secondary mathematics teachers' discourses regarding collective argumentation during and after a unit of instruction addressing collective argumentation and ways they…

An important part of the mathematics syllabuses at the secondary school level in most countries is the concept of function. However, secondary school students often experience difficulties with this concept. These difficulties are well-known in the research literature. The study applies the mathematical knowledge for teaching (MKT) framework,…

Pre-service secondary mathematics teachers have a poor command of the exact language of mathematics as evidenced in assignments, micro-lessons and practicums. The unrelenting notorious annual South African National Senior Certificate outcomes in mathematics and the recognition by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) that the correct use of…

In some forms of practice-based teacher education, one important task for the teacher educator is to undertake in-the-moment coaching during rehearsals of practice. However, being such a coach is a new role for many teacher educators and requires a different skill set to other forms of teacher educator practice. In addition, there is little…