Preservice Teachers Explore Cuisenaire Rods (Math Manipulative)

My research demonstrates a commitment to social justice, equity, and diversity, which grew out of my experiences as a classroom teacher in a diverse, urban environment. I noticed that teaching students to understand the relations among fractions, decimals, and percentages led to greater outcomes for my students, an idea that was supported by my later research (Schiller, 2020; Schiller & Siegler, 2023; Schiller et al., in press). I’ll never forget what one student’s dad told me, “I would have been more successful in life if I had you as a teacher.” Indeed, I see providing access to integrated number sense as an issue of equity. Research has shown that rational number understanding increases opportunity for success in algebra, and by extension, improves life outcomes. Moreover, a large representative sample of blue and white-collar workers reported using rational numbers daily. Thus, providing basic math literacy is a broader impact of my research and training students to be excellent teachers is a critical first step.