Pedagogical content knowledge in prospective elementary teachers’ descriptions of teaching and learning of fractions

Abstract

This study investigates the pedagogical content knowledge identified in six prospective elementary teachers’ written teacher practicum reports. Focusing on the three categories of pedagogical content knowledge included in the Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching framework, the study analyzes the prospective teachers’ descriptions and combines their knowledge of fraction content with knowing about students, teaching, and curriculum. The results indicate that prospective teachers describe teaching and learning of fractions mainly on a general pedagogical level. Moreover, they do not differentiate characteristics for elementary students’ fraction difficulties and misunderstandings as well as fraction core contents in the curriculum. The findings are discussed in relation to the Swedish teacher education context in which the study was conducted. Implications for teacher education are also discussed.