Dr. Jennifer Tobias
Professor
Mathematics
- About
- Education
- Awards & Honors
- Research
Current Courses
MAT 130.008 Dimensions Of Numerical Reasoning
MAT 408.001 The Teaching And Learning Of Rational Numbers
MAT 406.001 Advanced Topics In Assessment In Elementary & Jr High Math
MAT 406.002 Advanced Topics In Assessment In Elementary & Jr High Math
MAT 599.008 Dissertation
MAT 490.005 Research In Mathematics, Math Ed & Applied Mathematics
MAT 201.001 Teaching Mathematics In The Elementary School
Teaching Interests & Areas
Elementary Mathematics Education
Research Interests & Areas
Prospective teachers' understanding of rational number concepts and operations.
PhD Mathematics Education Track of the Ph.D. in Education
University of Central Florida
MS Applied Mathematics
University of Illinois
Ed.M. (Master of Education) Elementary Education
University of Illinois
BS Elementary Education
University of Illinois
Outstanding Paper
2024 PMENA conference
2024
Teachers' Choice Award Winner for Professional Development
Learning Magazine
2018
Early Career Award
Association of Mathematics Teacher Education
2017
Center for Mathematics, Science, and Technology (CeMaST) Fellow
CeMaST
2012
Outstanding University Teacher – Teaching Initiative Award
Illinois State University
2012
Associate Graduate Faculty Status
Illinois State University
2010
Graduate Faculty Status
Illinois State University
2010
Outstanding Dissertation
College of Education, University of Central Florida
2010
Service, Teaching, and Research for Early Career Mathematics Educators (STaR) Fellow
University of Missouri
2010
Book, Authored
Dixon, J., Nolan, E., Adams, T., Tobias, J., & Barmoha, G. Making Sense of Mathematics for Teaching Grade 3-5 (2016)
Book, Chapter
Barrett, J. E., Wickstrom, M. H., Tobias, J. M., Cullen, C. J., Cullen, A. L., & Baek, J. M., (2019), Chapter 3: Children’s Measurement Project. In P. Sztajn, P. H. Wilson (Eds.), Learning Trajectories for Teachers: Designing Effective Professional Development for Math Instruction. (pp. 48-74). New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
Tobias, J.M., Wessman-Enzinger, N., Olanoff, D. (2018). Prospective teachers’ attention to children’s thinking about integers, temperature, and distance. In L. Bofferding & N. Wessman-Enzinger (Eds.), Exploring the Integer Addition and Subtraction Landscape: Perspectives on Integer Thinking (pp. 213-230). Cham, Switzerland: Springer.
Feldman, Z., Thanheiser, E., Welder, R., Tobias, J.M., Hillen, A.F., & Olanoff, D. (2016). When is a mathematical task a good task? In L. C. Hart, Oesterle, S., Auslander, S.S., & Kajander, A. (Eds.), The Mathematics Education of Elementary Teachers: Issues and Strategies for Content Courses (pp. 9-24). Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
Tobias, J.M., Olanoff, D., Hillen, A.F., Welder, R.M., Feldman, Z., Thanheiser, E. (2014). Research-based modifications of elementary school tasks for use in teacher preparation. In K. Karp (Ed.), Annual Perspectives in Mathematics Education: Using Research to Improve Instruction (pp. 181-192). Reston, VA: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Dixon, J. K., Andreasen, J., Roy, G. J., Wheeldon, D., & Tobias, J. M. (2011). The role of manipulatives in motivating preservice teachers to develop a deep understanding of multiplying and dividing fractions. In D. J. Brahier & W. Speer (Eds.), Motivation and Disposition: Pathways to Learning Mathematics – 73rd Yearbook 2011 (pp. 279-289). Reston, VA: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics 2011 Yearbook.
Conference Proceeding
Corven, J., DiNapoli, J., Johnson, K., Long, V., Olanoff, D., & Tobias, J. (2023). Mathematics curriculum recommendations for elementary teacher preparation: Establishing a research base. In T. Lamberg & D. Moss (Eds)., Proceedings of the forty-fifth annual meeting of the North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education, Volume 2 (pp. 659–661). Reno, NV.
Corven, J., DiNapoli, J., Johnson, K., Long, V., Olanoff, D., Tobias, J., An, T., Clark, D., Velasco, R., Litster, K., & Kang, B. (2023). Working group on mathematics curriculum recommendations for elementary teacher preparation: Second report. In T. Lamberg & D. Moss (Eds)., Proceedings of the forty-fifth annual meeting of the North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education, Volume 2 (pp. 649–658). Reno, NV.
Tobias, J., Olanoff, D., & Lo, J. A Research Synthesis of Preservice Teachers' Knowledge of Multiplying and Dividing Fractions. Proceedings of the 34th annual meeting of the North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (2012): 668-673.
Tobias, J. Preservice teachers’ conceptualization of fraction multiplication. Swars, S. L., Stinson, D. W., & Lemons-Smith, S. (EDs), Proceedings of the 31st annual meeting of the North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (2009): 1276-1283.
Bajwa, N. P., Tobias, J. M., Olanoff, D., & Welder, R. M. (2021, June). Developing Prospective Teachers’ Representational Fluency of Whole Number Multiplication Using Array Representations. Presented online at the 42nd Annual Conference of the North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education. Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico.
Instructor's Manual
Dixon, J., Nolan, E., Adams, T., Tobias, J., & Barmoha, G. Making sense of mathematics for teaching grades 3-5: The TQE Process (2016)
Journal Article
MacDonald, B., Kroesch, A., Bajwa, N., Barrett, J., Hunt, J., & Tobias, J. Whole Number and Fraction Reorganization of Knowledge: A Case of Dalton and Angela, Two Third Grade Children with Intensive Supports in Mathematics. The Journal of Mathematical Behavior 77 (2025): 101212.
Tobias, J., & Bajwa, N. Using Benchmarks to Support Fraction Addition. Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching PreK-12 117.7 (2024): 495-501.
Bajwa, N., Tobias, J.M. (2020). Atypical Arrays to Stimulate Multiplicative Thinking. Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching Pre-K-12, 11, 931 – 935.
Clarkson, K., & Tobias, J. Exploring Relationships between 0.999… and 1. Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching PK-12 113.8 (2020): 658-662.
Tobias, J. The Evolution of Classroom Structure. Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching PK-12 113.2 (2020): 170-171.
Presentations
Navigating policy recommendations and their alignment for mathematics content courses for elementary teacher preparation. Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators. (2025)
A study of competencies and preparations needed for mathematics education doctorates. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. (2024)
Arrays as Quick Images to Elicit Early Multiplicative Ideas. International Congress on Mathematical Education. (2024)
Building elementary students’ multiplicative reasoning through arrays. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. (2024)
Modifying tasks to deepen prospective elementary teachers’ understanding of three levels of units with fractions. Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators. (2024)
Primary Students’ Use of Counting Strategies in Supporting Their Understanding of Arrays. International Congress on Mathematical Education. (2024)
Reflecting on prospective teachers’ responses to understand task effectiveness and inform task modifications. Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators. (2024)
Reflecting on and evaluating tasks: What happens when learning goals are not met?. North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education. (2023)
Developing Prospective Teachers’ Representational Fluency of Whole Number Multiplication Using Array Representations. North. North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education Annual Conference. (2021)
Using Arrays to Develop Students’ Strategies for Whole Number Multiplication. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. NCTM. (2021)
Grants & Contracts
The Utilizing Number to Initative Fravtion Inquiry (UNIFI) for Students with Learning Disabilities. Illinois State University. Illinois State University. (2023)
Prospective Elementary Teachers’ Understanding of Whole Number Multiplication Using the Array Model. Illinois State University. Illinois State University. (2020)
Prospective Elementary Teachers’ Understanding of Fraction Concepts and Operations. Illinois State University. Illinois State University. (2013)
Mathematical Concept Development through Measurement for teachers of Grades 1 through 5. Illinois Mathematics and Science Partnerships Program. (2012)
Formative Assessment Improving Teachers' Instructional Practices. Illinois State Board of Education. State. (2011)