Dr. Kristy Litster
Associate Professor of Education
- Ed.D. in Education (Curriculum and Instruction)
Utah State University (2019) - M.Ed. in Education
Southern Utah University (2010) - B.Ed. in Elementary Education
Brigham Young University (2003)
Teaching Fields: Elementary Mathematics Content, Elementary Mathematics Methods, Advanced Strategies for Teaching and Learning in Elementary Classrooms, Research in Education
Kristy Litster is a professor of elementary education with a concentration in elementary mathematics. She received her PhD from Utah State University in 2019. The bulk of her courses relate to teaching and learning in elementary classrooms, with a focus on mathematics teaching and learning. She also teaches research courses in multiple programs. Her research focuses on designed, implemented and enacted cognitive demand as well as strategies to support teaching and learning mathematics in physical and digital environments.
Recent Publications or Presentations:
Litster, K. (2025, August) Supporting Prospective Elementary Teachers’ Use of Mathematical Modeling through Real-World Societal Issues. International (ICTMA22) Conference. Linköping, Sweden.
Litster, K. (2025, April). Relationship between student collaboration practices and quality of enacted curriculum. American Education Research Association (AERA) Conference, Denver, Colorado. (GERA Best Paper Award)
Litster, K., Kang, B., Corven, J., Krejci, B., Kirschner, S., Bui, M., Swartz, M., Colen, J., & Falahola, B. (2024). Intentionality of diagnostic interview designs for math and pedagogical knowledge. In K.W. Kosko, J. Caniglia, S.A. Courtney, M. Zolfaghari, & G.A. Morris (Eds.) Proceedings of the forty-sixth annual meeting of the North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (pp. 548-553). Kent State University: Cleveland, OH.
Litster, K., Zambak, V. S., Watson, L. A., Woods, D. M., & King, M. (2023). Exploring the purposes of interdisciplinary connections in pre-service elementary teachers’ mathematics lessons. Kentucky Journal of Mathematics Teacher Educators, 1(2), 12-22.
Litster, K. (2023). Analyzing enacted curriculum: Seven lessons learned from collecting, coding and analyzing large sets of qualitative data. In D. R. Thompons, M. A. Huntly, & C. Suurtamm (Editors) Lessons Learned from Research on Mathematics Curriculum. Information Age Publishing.
Litster, K., MacDonald, M. & Lewis, H. (2023). Exploring small group discourse as a strategy to encourage growth mindset. Ohio Journal of Teacher Education 38(2), 26-41.
Litster, K., & Moyer-Packenham, P.S. (2020). How the balance of gaming and mathematics elements effects student learning in digital math games. Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching, 39(1), 33-48.