In this episode, we explore a recent article, titled “Engaging in Equity-Oriented Mathematics Teaching Together: A Tool to Support Mentor and Teacher Candidate Learning”, from Volume 14, Issue 2 of the Mathematics Teacher Educator journal. In this discussion we will focus on the problem addressed in the article, the work behind it, and what it means for practice. This discussion includeds article authors, Taylor Stafford, Heather Fink, and Melinda Knapp . The article was also authored by Ruth Heaton and Torrey Kulow.

Stafford, T. E., Fink, H., Knapp, M., Heaton, R., & Kulow, T. (2026). Engaging in Equity-Oriented Mathematics Teaching Together: A Tool to Support Mentor and Teacher Candidate Learning. Mathematics Teacher Educator, 14(2), 121-134. Retrieved Apr 6, 2026, from https://doi-org.umiss.idm.oclc.org/10.5951/MTE.2025-0024

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Mathematics Teacher Educator Writing Tool

The Mathematics Teacher Educator podcast is supported by Amidon Planet.

Special Guests: Heather Fink, Melinda Knapp, and Taylor Stafford.

This article details the development of design principles to support teachers in planning for a Community-Based Mathematical Modeling task with a focus on social justice in the elementary grades. By reflecting on the dilemmas we encountered in the design and enactment of the tasks, we developed five design principles that allowed us to address issues of social justice as well as attend to powerful mathematical ideas to bring awareness and take action around a local problem. Through our article, we hope to share with mathematics teacher educators
design principles to help plan for tasks with pre- and in-service teachers that prioritize connecting mathematics to social issues and empower both teachers and students to take action to make a positive impact in the community.

Special Guests: Holly Nicole Tate and Jennifer Suh.

The authors began this work with the understandings that (a) there is no “neutral” when it comes to the teaching of mathematics, and (b) mathematics teacher educators need to do something to help produce teachers of mathematics that develop students’ relationships with mathematics and push against the inequities that exist both within and outside of the classrooms in which they will teach. In response, the authors created, deployed, and studied a learning module in an attempt to enact antiracist mathematics teacher education. The learning module activities, the findings about the learning from the prospective teachers who engaged in the module, and messages for mathematics teacher educators who want to engage in this work are shared.

Special Guests: Anne Marie Marshall, Joel Amidon, and Rebecca E. Smith.