Primary mathematics teacher education: Teaching at the heart of learning

Abstract

In this presentation we use the theme of teaching at the heart of learning to illustrate the opportunities for pre-service teacher learning. The presentation reports on the outcomes of classroom based inquiry in primary level mathematics education. The research involved pre-service primary teachers and teacher educators collaborating with classroom teachers and primary principals in two incubator schools in Limerick city. We found that engaging pre-service teachers in the design, implementation and evaluation of mathematics study lessons provides a vehicle for better understanding of the complexity of mathematics teaching at the primary level. The process highlights the need for strong subject matter knowledge, understandings of developmental and learning trajectories, the developmental nature of mathematics learning, appropriate pedagogical strategies and representations, insights into pupil responses and misconceptions, and the organization of classroom structures to support learning. Pre-service teachers reported that engaging in the process of looking at teaching had a more profound impact on their learning than their previous experiences of traditional mathematics teacher education modules