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An Exploratory Mixed Methods Study Of Prospective Middle Grades Teachers' Mathematical Connections While Completing Investigative Tasks In Geometry, Jennifer Ann Eli

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

With the implementation of No Child Left Behind legislation and a push for reform curricula, prospective teachers must be prepared to facilitate learning at a conceptual level. To address these concerns, an exploratory mixed methods investigation of twenty-eight prospective middle grades teachers’ mathematics knowledge for teaching geometry and mathematical connection-making was conducted at a large public southeastern university. Participants completed a diagnostic assessment in mathematics with a focus on geometry and measurement (CRMSTD, 2007), a mathematical connections evaluation, and a card sort activity. Mixed methods data analysis revealed prospective middle grades teachers’ mathematics knowledge for teaching geometry was underdeveloped and …