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Mathematics Education Research Journal

, Volume 29, Issue 1, pp 45–72 | Cite as

Characterization of mathematics instructional practises for prospective elementary teachers with varying levels of self-efficacy in classroom management and mathematics teaching

  • Carrie W. Lee
  • Temple A. Walkowiak
  • John L. Nietfeld
Original Article

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between prospective teachers’ (PTs) instructional practises and their efficacy beliefs in classroom management and mathematics teaching. A sequential, explanatory mixed-methods design was employed. Results from efficacy surveys, implemented with 54 PTs were linked to a sample of teachers’ instructional practises during the qualitative phase. In this phase, video-recorded lessons were analysed based on tasks, representations, discourse, and classroom management. Findings indicate that PTs with higher levels of mathematics teaching efficacy taught lessons characterised by tasks of higher cognitive demand, extended student explanations, student-to-student discourse, and explicit connections between representations. Classroom management efficacy seems to bear influence on the utilised grouping structures. These findings support explicit attention to PTs’ mathematics teaching and classroom management efficacy throughout teacher preparation and a need for formative feedback to inform development of beliefs about teaching practises.

Keywords

Prospective teachers Elementary mathematics Classroom management efficacy Mathematics teaching efficacy Standards-based teaching practises 

Notes

Acknowledgements

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1118894.

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Copyright information

© Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, Inc. 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  • Carrie W. Lee
    • 1
  • Temple A. Walkowiak
    • 2
  • John L. Nietfeld
    • 2
  1. 1.East Carolina UniversityGreenvilleUSA
  2. 2.Department of Teacher Education and Learning SciencesNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighUSA

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