Chapter 6: Cognitively Guided Instruction As A Means Of Preparing Elementary Teacher Candidates For Edtpa Mathematics Assessment Task 4

Our elementary teacher preparation programs are located in a state requiring successful completion of edTPA^® as a gatekeeper for teacher certification (American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education [AACTE],2016). That is, teacher candidates not achieving a passing score on edTPA are not granted teaching licensure, though they can receive a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education (Grades K–5) from our universities. For teacher preparation programs across the state, edTPA first became consequential for graduates in 2015–2016. Its recent implementation and high- stakes nature, along with uncertainty arospective teachers holds certain challenges, particularly the well-documented unproductive mathematical beliefs and attitudes of elementary teachers. For example, many hold procedural beliefs about mathematics, including that it is a collection of facts, rules, and skills that should be memorized with repeated practice (Hiebert, 2003; National Council of Teachers of Mathematics [NCbout both expectations for success and scoring processes, have contributed to a pervading sense of anxiety in our prospective teachers and program faculty.