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 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
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?