Teacher Experiences and Opportunities in Mathematics Education
Mathematics Listening Tour – Brief Report
In the Fall of 2023 we conducted a listening tour across the state of Florida in an effort to understand the current state of mathematics education. This brief reports on what we learned from and about teachers and their experiences in the classroom.
Key Finding: Teachers Desire More Support for Mathematics Instruction
Read the full brief report on our key findings and their implications on teacher experiences and opportunities in mathematics education.
Read our Landscape Analysis on mathematics education in the State of Florida.
Teachers frequently report engaging with students directly as part of their mathematics teaching practices.
When asked about the ideal math teaching and learning environment during 18 focus group interviews with 62 K-12 teachers, they described a vision of mathematics classrooms as enjoyable, collaborative spaces for student sensemaking and understanding of important and relevant mathematics.
The top 5 teacher requests point to an apparent lack of teacher support in mathematics education across Florida.
Pain points include monetary challenges, like lack of proper pay or funding for quality materials; lack of time, which is taken up by testing or by lack of contracted planning time; and professional needs, like needing more staff and professional learning opportunities.
Recommendation: Offer Math-Specific Professional Learning
- Invest in models of mathematics professional learning that align with the needs of teachers
- Make such opportunities readily available in formats that keep teachers and support staff in the classrooms without infringing on their planning time
- Provide provide financial incentives for completion
Recommendation: Provide Access to High Quality Instructional Materials
- Identify and invest in high quality mathematics instructional materials
- Let teachers focus on lesson planning rather than instructional material research
Recommendation: Protect Planning and Math Instructional Time
- Prioritize math education in Florida
- Ensure teachers have dedicated time for mathematics planning and instruction
Recommendation: Position Teachers as Professionals
- Trust teacher professional judgement and respect them as professionals
- Incorporate teachers into the decision-making process of education policy
- Encourage policy makers to visit a variety of classrooms to learn the day-to-day experience of teachers