“How You Like Me Now?”: Exploring Teacher Perceptions of Urban Middle Schoolers’ Mathematical Abilities and Identities

Abstract

HEAT, an instructional program emphasizing a nontraditional hands-on approach to algebraic instruction for urban, predominantly African American middle schoolers, provides a space to explore teachers’ beliefs about urban students’ mathematical abilities and motivation and addresses how teacher perceptions can intersect with instruction, learning, and the construction of students’ mathematical identities. Using a multiple case study design, we analyzed six urban middle school mathematics teachers’ written reflections and interview responses. Findings suggest that teachers’ instructional behaviors, along with their perceptions and expectations of urban, African American middle schoolers’ mathematical abilities and motivation, interact with students’ beliefs and work habits in ways that can promote and support students’ positive mathematical identity construction. Thus, HEAT personified thriving learning subcultures and supportive mathematical communities of practice that are far too atypical in urban middle schools.

Attending to what prospective teachers notice about students' intersecting identities

“…That way I can see how he decided to solve the problem and it allows the students to see another way.” The PTs' pedagogical decision to have Black Eric[a] share their way of thinking positions them as the expert. Flint et al (2019) found when teachers provided opportunities for Black students to share their thinking in small groups and become experts, it increased the students learning of mathematics, motivation, and participation in the mathematics classroom.…”