RUME 27
2025
Alexandria, Virginia
Enacting Care in a Community College Math Classroom: A Case Study
Page: 536
Too often college mathematics classes become a gatekeeper that pushes students off of STEM pathways. This study looks at an example of a community college mathematics instructor who appears to be successful in supporting students to stay on a STEM pathway through creation of a warm, caring classroom environment. Using the lenses of a caring relation and a teacher as a ‘warm demander’ this case study examines what pedagogical practices he used to create and sustain this environment. We illustrate in the findings how the instructor used his emotional intelligence and skill in relating to students to sustain a caring, warm classroom. He also incorporates metamessages and ‘off-topic’ talk in his classroom which demonstrate care to students. This case study serves as a beginning point in thinking about the social and emotional work of teaching and we end by proposing a model for caring instruction in community college mathematics classrooms.