This study describes changes in secondary mathematics teachers’ mathematical knowledge for teaching function through their engagement in a mathematics methods course teaching experiment. The participants in the course showed growth in their ability to define function, to provide examples of functions and link them to the definition, in the connections they could make between function representations, and to consider the role of definition in mathematics and the K-12 classroom. The course focused on function which supports work in the classroom; by focusing on one topic, teachers experience the sequencing of tasks and topics in ways that build a conceptual understanding, much in the way that they might design a curricular sequence in their own classroom.Furthermore, the course activities provided teachers with opportunities to refine and elaborate those initial understandings.

The study examined how a group of pre-service English language teachers perceived immigrant children from Mainland China in terms of learning attitudes, academic performance and classroom behaviour. The findings confirm the prevalence of the ‘deficit model’ in these pre-service teachers’ perceptions of immigrant children, which might negatively impact their professional practice. The participants widely perceived these children as deficit and consider them a serious professional challenge.

The article explores the question of placing student teachers for their field experience in schools for a diversity of social and educational conditions in South Africa. It outlines the criteria that a sample of teacher educators uses for placing student teachers in ‘suitable’ schools, and relates these criteria to placements in challenging social and educational contexts.Different conceptual models for understanding the link between Teaching Practice placements and a social justice approach to teacher education have been outlined, and a position advanced for understanding and developing the elements of the different models within their particular historical context. These conceptual models are helpful but not sufficient to capture the aspirations, pressures and dilemmas involved in preparing teachers for a range of schooling contexts.

This research examined how 240 teachers in 15 classrooms described their experiences of their learning to compose with digital video (DV). The findings described composition connections they made between print and video, successes and frustrations they experienced in learning DV, additional technical instruction they wanted, and the curricular relevance they perceived with DV in the classroom.

This study investigated the knowledge and experiences of practicing teacher educators and learn from them regarding what they believe they needed to know to do their work well. The authors use Cochran-Smith and Lytle’s theorizing about “relationships of knowledge and practice” to understand knowledge essential to teacher educating. The findings reveal that practicing teacher educators often feel unprepared to assume their role. The implication is that much work is needed in the academy to help both experienced and novice teacher educators become conscious of their own biases and subjectivities, develop skills and sensitivities that can support social justice teaching and researching, and build confidence as advocates for all learners and communities.