Connecting Mathematics and Literature: An Analysis of Pre-Service Elementary School Teachers' Changing Beliefs and Knowledge

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics calls for students to see relationships and connections with mathematics (2000). This study examined the influences on eight pre-service elementary school teachers' beliefs and knowledge of teaching mathematics through literature. The semester long project involved both the language arts and elementary mathematics methods courses, and involved the designing and implementation of mathematics lessons based around a young adult novel. Through qualitative analyses, the study reveals a significant shift in their beliefs, interest, and identification of benefits of teaching mathematics through literature and making connections across the curriculum. Teacher education programs can benefit from replications of this study.