What is Scaffolded Reflection

Efforts to promote reform-based mathematics instruction in schools are pervasive, yet many teachers continue to use more traditional, procedural methods. In this chapter, the authors suggest that to achieve sustained adoption of reform-based instruction in mathematics, it is essential for professional development programs to draw teachers' attention to sources of mathematics teaching efficacy afforded by reform-based teaching, such as enhanced student thinking. Educator preparation programs are ideal settings in which to begin this process, and the authors describe how scaffolded reflection activities within a mathematics methods course were used to focus preservice teachers' attention on sources of mathematics teaching efficacy that are congruent with reform-based mathematics instruction. The authors suggest that engendering such a shift in the sources for mathematics teaching efficacy may lead to more widespread and sustained use of reform-based teaching methods by preservice teachers in their future practice.