Sparking the Flame: Cultivating Joy in Mathematics for Preservice and Early Career Teachers

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 7:45 am - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Teacher Experiences in the Mathematics Classroom: From Intentions to Interpretations

Abstract

Preparing preservice (PST) and early-career (EC) teachers to cultivate joy is more critical than ever as it empowers them to challenge restrictive norms and create more humane learning environments. While some argue that these teachers are already overwhelmed, they overlook that teaching was never neutral. Our design-based research project examined one cycle of our intervention and found while teacher cultivated joy in powerful ways to challenge oppressive systems, they often struggled to resist larger hegemonic pressures, such as standardized testing as positive student performance usually provide strong sense of personal and professional gratification. This continuous learning from our DBR cycle will enable us to better support educators in cultivating justice and joy.

Authors

• Gregory Benoit, Boston University

• Aaron Brakoniecki, Boston University

• Eric Cordero-Siy, Boston University