About

Elham Kazemi is a professor in the Elementary Teacher Education Program (ELTEP) at the University of Washington's College of Education, holding the Geda and Phil Condit Professorship of Mathematics Education. Her research focuses on how strong professional learning communities develop in schools serving students from racially, linguistically, and culturally diverse communities. Central to her work is understanding the complex work of eliciting and responding to children’s mathematical thinking, building joyful classroom communities where children feel known and seen, and designing professional learning experiences that enable teachers to learn with and from their students. Kazemi collaborates with teachers, school leaders, and researchers to recognize and address inequities perpetuated by school policies and classroom interactions. Her research includes close study of classroom discourse, children’s mathematical identities, pedagogies of teacher education, and leadership practices. She draws on equity and justice-oriented research related to children’s mathematical thinking, classroom practice, and organizational learning. Her work involves developing and studying professional development models, such as Learning Labs and school-wide professional learning initiatives, aimed at fostering ambitious teaching practices and equitable learning environments. Kazemi’s contributions extend to redesigning mathematics teacher preparation and development through collaborative, practice-based approaches, emphasizing the importance of collective capacity building and leadership in improving mathematics instruction for diverse student populations.

Research topics

• Sociology
• Pedagogy
• Political Science
• Computer Science
• Mathematics education
• Psychology
• Public relations
• Social Science
• Knowledge management
• Linguistics
• Epistemology

Selected publications

• Introduction

  2025-10-03

  book-chapter1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Targeted Discussion: Troubleshoot and Revise

  2025-10-03

  book-chapter1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Targeted Discussion: Why? Let's Justify

  2025-10-03

  book-chapter1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Targeted Discussion: Compare and Connect

  2025-10-03

  book-chapter1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Targeted Discussion: Define and Clarify

  2025-10-03

  book-chapter1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Intentional Talk and Listening

  2025-10-03

  book1st authorCorresponding

  Math teachers know the first step to meaningful mathematics discussions is to ask students to share how they solved a problem and make their thinking visible; however, knowing where to go next can be a daunting task. In Intentional Talk and Listening: How to Structure and Lead Productive Mathematical Discussions, Elham Kazemi and Allison Hintz provide teachers with a practical framework for planning and facilitating purposeful math talks that move group discussions to the next level while achieving mathematical and social goals. Each chapter focuses on a different type of conversation, including: ●      Open Strategy Sharing ●      Compare and Connect ●      Why? Let’s Justify ●      What’s Strategic and Why? ●      Define and Clarify ●      Troubleshoot and Revise In this second edition of the book, Kazemi and Hintz provide new vignettes and classroom examples. They explore the role of children’s and communities’ funds of knowledge in mathematics problem solving and focus on supporting students’ active participation as listeners and speakers. Written from the stance that all students are sense makers with valuable ideas, Intentional Talk and Listening supports teachers’ decision making as they facilitate conversations that help students make meaning of, and find joy in, math.

  PublisherDOI

• Conclusion: Reflecting and Learning

  2025-10-03

  book-chapter1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Examining a Professional Learning Routine to Support Educators to Learn Teaching with and from Students

  Cognition and Instruction · 2025-06-05 · 1 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Molecular and cellular aspects of medical parasitology: Insights into pathogenesis and host interactions

  Cellular Molecular and Biomedical Reports · 2025-09-05 · 2 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Medical parasitology is a complex and interdisciplinary field that encompasses the study of parasites and their interactions with hosts at both molecular and cellular levels. This article provides an overview of key aspects of parasitic biology, including the genetic diversity and antigenic variation observed in major human pathogens such as Plasmodium falciparum (the causative agent of malaria) and Trypanosoma brucei (responsible for African sleeping sickness). These parasites employ sophisticated mechanisms-like surface antigen switching and immune evasion-to persist within their hosts. The review also discusses immune suppression and tissue invasion strategies used by various protozoa and helminths. The role of innate and adaptive immunity in combating these infections is examined, emphasizing the contributions of macrophages, dendritic cells, T cells, and B cells. Recent advancements in diagnostic techniques, particularly molecular methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and next-generation sequencing (NGS), have significantly enhanced the accuracy and speed of parasitic disease diagnosis. Furthermore, the integration of molecular biology with traditional parasitology is crucial for developing effective therapeutic interventions and preventive strategies. By elucidating the complex interactions between parasites and host immune responses, this review underscores the need for continued research in this field to address the global challenges posed by parasitic diseases and improve public health outcomes.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Open Strategy Sharing

  2025-10-03

  book-chapter1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Elizabeth Dutro

  California University of Pennsylvania

  60 shared

• Lynsey Gibbons

  University of Delaware

  57 shared

• Sarah Schneider Kavanagh

  54 shared

• Allison Hall

  50 shared

• Mon‐Lin Monica Ko

  University of Colorado Boulder

  50 shared

• Latrice Marianno

  University of Illinois Chicago

  49 shared

• Mee Na Feng

  University of Illinois Chicago

  49 shared

• Alison Castro Superfine

  University of Illinois Chicago

  49 shared

Labs

• Elham Kazemi LabPI