We present findings from a study about obstacles that Black students who succeeded in developmental mathematics in community college reported having endured in those mathematics classrooms. To understand the types of obstacles that can arise for students in these classrooms, we analyze data using two frameworks: mathematics identity and dimensions of mathematics classrooms. Study participants faced obstacles in three categories: (a) impressions of faculty’s instructional practices for problem solving; (b) negative race-related perceptions they believed classmates had about them; and (c) perceptions about instructors’ expectations. These findings contribute to literature on Black students’ progress in mathematics by identifying obstacles experienced by students who achieve in these courses and can also inform professional development learning for mathematics faculty.
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Maxine T. Roberts and Daniel J. Almeida
Toni L. Amarel and Megan H. Wickstrom
What tales would your students tell about their mathematical experiences? In this article, we describe a task, The Math Metaphor, and how it was utilized in a high school classroom as a window to explore students’ experiences with mathematics.
Dana L. Grosser-Clarkson and Joanna S. Hung
This Perspectives on Practice manuscript focuses on an innovation associated with “Engaging Teachers in the Powerful Combination of Mathematical Modeling and Social Justice: The Flint Water Task” from Volume 7, Issue 2 of MTE. The Flint Water Task has shown great promise in achieving the dual goals of exploring mathematical modeling while building awareness of social justice issues. This Perspectives on Practice article focuses on two adaptations of the task—gallery walks and What I Know, What I Wonder, What I Learned (KWL) charts—that we have found to enhance these learning opportunities. We found that the inclusion of a gallery walk supported our students in the development of their mathematical modeling skills by enhancing both the mathematical analyses of the models and the unpacking of assumptions. The KWL chart helps students document their increase in knowledge of the social justice issues surrounding the water crisis. Using the mathematical modeling cycle to explore social justice issues allows instructors to bring humanity into the mathematics classroom.
Kathryn Early, K. Elizabeth Hammonds, Brea Ratliff, Mariya Rosenhammer, and W. Gary Martin
A high-leverage strategy first discussed more than 50 years ago, wait time has many benefits for both teachers and students yet is not used to its full potential. See how it can enhance your students’ mathematical discourse.
Ashley Schmidt, Treshonda Rutledge, Tandrea Fulton, and Sarah B. Bush
Do you use mathematical discussions to increase engagement in your classroom? In this Front and Center article, authors provide a discourse tool that can be used to reveal potential biases found in the implementation of the Five Practices.
Shelly M. Jones
Ear to the Ground features voices from serveral corners of the mathematics education world.
Sara Gartland, Shellee Wong, and Laurie Silverstein
Co-teachers in a ninth-grade algebra 1 class offered instruction that integrates mathematical learning with social and emotional learning during hybrid (online and face-to-face) class meetings, promoting healing and positive identity development among students.
Kathryn Lavin Brave and Jillian Miller
Two teachers describe how to use Fermi Questions to illuminate the connections between the Standards for Mathematical Practice and the social and emotional learning competencies.
Sarah Quebec Fuentes
Learn about strategies and tools to examine and improve your practice with respect to fostering equitable small-group, student-to-student discourse.
Amanda M. Dominguez, Marina Feldman, Dan Battey, Christelle Palpacuer Lee, and Jessica Hunsdon
Rethink family mathematics nights by drawing on an asset-based perspective in a virtual environment, centering multilingualism and community mathematics knowledge.
