‘This original book shows the crucial importance of personal philosophies of mathematics. Using current research it guides us to reflect on our attitudes and beliefs. Essential reading for anybody interested in mathematics and its teaching.’ Paul Ernest, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics Education, University of Exeter Teaching mathematics can be challenging, and returning to a mathematics classroom yourself may not inspire you with confidence. This book can help you to become an assured teacher who can give young learners the high quality mathematics education that they deserve, by exploring the philosophy that lies behind good mathematics teaching and its application in the classroom. Throughout the book you are encouraged to put your own thoughts on mathematics learning and teaching under the microscope and examine your perceptions and understanding in order to develop as a critically reflective teacher, aware of potential challenges and what underpins effective mathematics teaching in primary schools. Coverage includes: · developing your own philosophy towards mathematics teaching · understanding links between confidence and learning · the importance of subject knowledge · common beliefs and attitudes among mathematics learners · how to develop your relationship with the subject. This is essential reading for all students studying primary mathematics on initial teacher education courses, including undergraduate (BEd, BA with QTS), postgraduate (PGCE, School Direct, SCITT, Teach First) and NQTs. Elizabeth Jackson has over thirty years’ experience of mathematics education through primary and secondary school teaching, lecturing in initial teacher education and supervising mathematics Master’s dissertations, as well as conducting research into mathematics and writing.

How can KS1/2 teachers improve their mathematics teaching? This book helps readers to become better, more confident teachers of mathematics by enabling them to focus critically on what they know and what they do in the classroom. Building on their close observation of primary mathematics classrooms, the authors provide those starting out in the teaching profession with a four-stage framework which acts as a tool of support for developing their teaching: - making sense of foundation knowledge - focusing on what teachers know about mathematics - transforming knowledge - representing mathematics to learners through examples, analogies, illustrations and demonstrations - connection - helping learners to make sense of mathematics through understanding how ideas and concepts are linked to each other - contingency - what to do when the unexpected happens Each chapter includes practical activities, lesson descriptions and extracts of classroom transcripts to help teachers reflect on effective practice.

This book contains extracts from journals and books on key issues surrounding primary mathematics teaching, all of which have been included to prompt reflection on how children learn mathematical concepts and how teachers teach. The extracts lead trainees on from the skills and knowledge of teaching into territories where their beliefs and approaches are challenged.

Artzt, Armour-Thomas and Curcio supply detailed observation instruments that preservice teachers can use when observing other teachers. They also offer reflective activities that provide a structure through which beginning teachers can think about their teaching in an insightful, thorough and productive manner.

This annual volume focuses on a single theme in mathematics education. The objective is to encourage teachers and researchers to advance reflection among students and teachers in mathematics classrooms. Published jointly with the Association of Mathematics Educators in Singapore.

Trainee teachers are expected to demonstrate reflective practice in many ways throughout their course. Unlike other texts, this book takes a focused look at what primary trainees need to know and offers specific and details guidance on how to be meaningfully reflective in learning and teaching. Examining reflection as a tool for both teachers and children, this text considers how teachers can encourage the children they teach to be reflective in their own learning and how this can improve learning and teaching. Chapters on lesson study and reflective journals offer practical guidance, and a chapter on using children′s voice as a tool for reflection explores this popular topical theme. Case studies and activities are included to help the reader relate theory to practice and all chapters are linked to the 2012 Teachers′ Standards. About the Transforming Primary QTS series This series reflects the new creative way schools are begining to teach, taking a fresh approach to supporting trainees as they work towards primary QTS. Titles provide fully up to date resources focused on teaching a more integrated and inclusive curriculum, and texts draw out meaningful and explicit cross curricular links.