Promoting Mathematical Confidence among Latina Pre-Service Teachers By: California State University at Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
This CAP team focused on Latinas who are preparing to be mathematics teachers. Their goals were to empower Latinas to promote mathematics learning and confidence among their future elementary students, address the obstacles that Latinas may experience in learning and teaching mathematics, and create a web-based community resource that identifies possible solutions for addressing math anxiety among pre-service Latina educators. They held team meetings with Latina students, conducted video interviews with the students, created an interactive website with resources and interview clips, and presented their findings at campus forums to education faculty and students about overcoming obstacles for Latinas in mathematics.
In their final report, the CAP team said "based on the feedback received from the student leadership team, they have increased their confidence and ability to teach mathematics. The team members participated in small group collaborative sessions and addressed issues including: confidence building strategies, reflective practices, mathematical thinking in low anxiety settings. They discovered similiarities in background, educational experiences, family dynamics, labels that others had placed on their abilities as women, Latinas, and students. Expectations were low for them because they were EL learners...."
They found that to overcome obstacles, as teachers they need to "understand the community and respect the needs of the students and families. Teachers need to make the connection between what students learn in the classroom about mathematics and how that content connects to the students' lives. Teachers need to get to know the students in their classes."
View the website they created, which includes video interviews with the CAP team members.
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