Teachers face enormous challenges in their work:
- balancing the needs of äverage" students with those of students
who have learning difficulties, and those of gifted students;
- motivating uninterested and undisciplined students;
- enriching the classroom experience of students who enjoy
mathematics.
Teachers need to keep abreast of new approaches to learning, curriculum
reforms, and changes in technology. They also need to be able to explain
reforms and new methodologies to parents, and to do all this while
teaching all the other subjects.
The elementary school years are crucial in shaping students' perceptions
of, and attitudes towards, mathematics. Their effect can last a
lifetime. So the importance of the quality of mathematics teaching in
these early years cannot be underestimated.
How can we attract good mathematics undergraduates to careers in primary
education?
How can we prepare future elementary school teachers to deal with the
challenges they will face in teaching mathematics?
How can we support hem during their careers?
How can we create strong links between elementary teachers and other
math educators?
Our group will look into these and other questions. We will compare
elementary teacher education programs across Canada, both pre-service
and inservice. We will look into what models are in place, what works
and what can be improved.
