The following research report documents a professional development that focused on promoting understanding of algebraic learning progressions across vertical teams of elementary and secondary teachers. Analyzing quantitative data from the pre and post MKT assessment and qualitative data from lesson reflections and final course reflections,…

Empirical evidence from the National Education Inspectorate suggested that teachers at the primary school in this study in an island country in the Caribbean have inadequate science content knowledge. Students' average performance on the science Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) has been below 40% for the last 5 years. The purpose of this bounded…

The process of planning mathematics lessons is complex and presents challenges for teachers, specifically in their Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching (MKT). In this paper, I describe findings from case study research in which a Year 1 teaching team engaged in professional reading and used a specific planning proforma to enhance their MKT.…

This study addresses the impact of teacher preparation programs on novice teachers' perceived readiness for the classroom. An explanatory sequential mixed-method, three-phase design was used involving two collections of quantitative data and a focus group convened to explore themes that emerged from quantitative data. Data collected suggest…

This paper reports a study into the development of staff understanding of assessment and assessment practice. Eight teachers from two universities constructed an initial concept map about assessment that was discussed in a one-to-one semi-structured interview. A year later, a new map was created and the interview focused on change in thinking and…

Experiential learning requires teacher educators to equip trainee teachers with opportunities for effective preparedness in teaching and professional subjects, co-curricular activities and in micro-teaching vital for professional development. The experiential learning opportunities, conditional knowledge, preparedness and performance during…

A key assumption underpinning formative assessment strategies is that individual pupils must be fully involved in the process. While such engagement and attention on the individual is important, studies suggest that teachers do not always readily engage with formative assessment as a reciprocal process which involves pupils. Additionally, a focus…

Normative-theoretical discourse in pedagogy calls for transformation in educational approaches towards multilingualism. The key question in multilingual education remains: Can language ideologies be transformed? The present paper investigates how the field of language awareness can contribute to this process and what practical changes and…

Teacher knowledge in early literacy instruction has been questioned in the field for over 20 years. A theoretical framework outlined by Chall, coupled with the findings of the National Reading Panel, provides a strong foundation for the disciplinary knowledge required to teach children to read. The "Basic Language Constructs Survey," a…

Using Shulman's theory of teacher knowledge as the theoretical framework and a phenomenological research design, this qualitative study used Seidman's three-interview protocol to understand how 11 kindergarten teachers perceived the CCSS affected their use of developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) and their instructional discretion. This…

Many current and prospective pre-K teachers face significant barriers to obtaining bachelor's degrees; current members of the workforce, in particular, may find it exceedingly difficult to find the time and money to attend college courses and complete traditional preparation programs, given the low wages that come with most jobs in early…

This study investigated the role of content knowledge in conversations of kindergarten teachers during collaborative curriculum design of learning material for technology-enhanced learning. Two teams of teachers received support from an early literacy expert during these design activities. Resulting conversations were analyzed on technological…

In the past decade, there has been important progress in the development and validation of video-based instruments that enable the systematic assessment of teaching competence with large samples of teachers, across multiple settings and populations, and by researchers other than the developers. This commentary focuses on the methodological…

This study aims to explore the role of lesson analysis in the development of mathematical knowledge for teaching. For this purpose, a graduate course based on lesson analysis was designed for novice mathematics teachers. Throughout the course the teachers watched videos of group-mates and discussed the issues they identified in terms of…

Knowledge concerning continuously improving branches of science such as biotechnology in particular is difficult to be understood properly by students, or they learn it incorrectly. One of the most important reasons for this is that students cannot associate in their mind the relevant concepts. The aim of this research is to determine prospective…