The Mathematics Education of Elementary Teachers

<p>This book is an edited volume addressing specific issues of significance for individuals<br />involved with the undergraduate mathematics content preparation of prospective<br />elementary teachers (PSTs). Teaching mathematics content courses to this group of<br />students presents unique challenges. While some PSTs enter their teacher preparation with weak mathematical skills<br />and knowledge many also hold negative attitudes anxiety and misguided beliefs about mathematics. This book is<br />designed to support instructors who teach these students in mathematics content for elementary teachers courses.<br />Elementary teachers need a richly developed understanding of the mathematics they are teaching in order to teach it<br />effectively. Providing them with the needed preparation is difficult but can be eased with a solid understanding of the<br />mathematical concerns and limitations PSTs bring to the learning of mathematics and a familiarity with the standards<br />and curricula topics PSTs will be expected to teach. Chapter One makes the argument that elementary mathematics is<br />not trivial. This is followed by an analysis of four central issues related to the mathematical preparation of elementary<br />teachers specifically: (1) selecting/creating/modifying and implementing<br />mathematical tasks (2) noticing/understanding children’s ways of thinking as a<br />foundation for learning mathematics (3) developing mathematical habits of mind<br />in PSTs and (4) understanding the role affect plays in the mathematical learning of<br />PSTs. The final chapter presents three international examples of programs that<br />currently consider these factors in the implementation of their courses.</p>