CAPTURING UNIQUE TEACHING EXPERIENCES OF FIRST-YEAR SECONDARY MATHEMATICS TEACHERS TRANSITIONING FROM VIRTUAL TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION

Abstract

This article reports on the findings of a study on the unique journey of pre-service teachers in a Teacher Preparation Program in 2020-2021 who then went on to their first-year teaching in person in 2021-2022. Secondary mathematics pre-service teachers who completed their clinical practice in a virtual learning environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic were followed throughout their first year of teaching in 2021-2022. Through interviews during their first-year teaching, these teachers’ voices detail their journey from pre-service teacher to novice teacher in different modalities. The results of the analysis of the interview data hold many lessons for teacher educators that enhance our understanding of teacher preparation and inform topics for supporting new teachers during clinical practice and coursework during a Teacher Preparation Program.