What Are the Characteristics of an Effective Mathematics Teacher? The Development of Teacher Identity

• In Event: I Know I Can: Teacher Agency, Motivation, and Self-Efficacy

Abstract

This study explores professional identity development of elementary mathematics teacher candidates through the lens of their attitude toward mathematics, confidence for teaching mathematics and knowledge of mathematics. By ascribing characteristics to mathematics teachers at two points in time, teacher candidates revealed their vision for their anticipated identity as a teacher of mathematics. For elementary teacher candidates, relation to students provided initial motivation to become a teacher. Through exposure to elementary mathematics content and instructional strategies, mathematics content as well as pedagogy became more prominent. Strong correlations for candidates’ attitudes toward mathematics, confidence for teaching mathematics and mathematics knowledge with their projected identities as teachers is consistent with current perspectives on the dynamic role of prior experience on teacher identity development.

Author

• Gavrielle Levine, Long Island University