Examined how preservice elementary teachers' (N=38) mathematical knowledge and mathematics anxiety affect their success in a mathematics methods course. Also examined the hypothesis that a mathematics methods course can reduce the mathematics anxiety of these teachers. One finding is that mathematics anxiety does not inhibit their learning of…

Discusses the use of assessment portfolios and the process of creating a portfolio from the perspective of a teacher educator using portfolios in a methods course and that of a preservice teacher enrolled in the course. (MKR)

These conference proceedings include three invited lectures, a panel discussion, three working group reports, two reports from topic groups and a participant list. The invited lectures include a discussion of the impact of calculators on the calculus curriculum (Herbert S. Wilf); a consideration of the role of misconceptions in learning…

The constructivist perspective, which holds that children's learning of subject matter is an interaction between what they are taught and what they bring to a learning situation, could be used to improve mathematics teacher education. (PK)

Describes the use of writing assignments for preservice teachers to help them reflect on the teaching and learning process in their internship classrooms. (MKR)

Shares an experience from a mathematics methods course for elementary teachers that used concrete materials to teach the concept of rounding in different bases. Discusses how this experience modeled recommendations by the NCTM "Professional Teaching Standards" in creating classroom climate and conducting discussion. (MDH)

Research has shown that elementary teachers are mathematics anxious, and that this anxiousness can be transmitted to their students. Therefore, many students are not afforded the opportunity to participate in a comfortable mathematics environment. Preservice elementary teachers (n=63) reported their pre- and posttest mathematics anxiety using the…

This paper describes a simulation activity, which was coupled with Confluent/Gestalt meta-processing, that was designed to address the affective component of a mathematics procedures class for preservice teachers. The activity consisted of an explanation and demonstration for teacher educators. It is argued that a reconstruction of disposition…

This paper reviews some of the basic issues and concerns which are reflected in the literature and which either directly or indirectly influenced the development of a syllabus for a mathematics methods course for preservice elementary teachers. These issues include: (1) What should be the content in mathematics for elementary school children? (2)…

In the summer of 1986 the Institute for Independent Education brought to Washington, D.C., 27 teachers who teach mathematics to children enrolled primarily in grades five to eight at independent neighborhood schools that serve mainly African-American children in inner-city neighborhoods. The program included a training course in mathematics…

This publication, designed to help teacher educators profit from the experience and wisdom of colleagues, brings together articles from "The Arithmetic Teacher" on preservice elementary school mathematics teacher education. This collection of articles has two specific purposes. One is to serve as a reminder of the broader issues and concerns that…

This book contains 15 chapters: (1) "Teaching Problem Solving"; (2) "Using Calculators and Computers in Elementary School Mathematics"; (3) "Organizing for Instruction"; (4) "Teaching Numeration of Whole Numbers"; (5) "Teaching Numeration of Common and Decimal Fractions"; (6) "Teaching Addition and Subtraction of Whole Numbers"; (7) "Teaching…

Discusses a course taken at the University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana) by undergraduates majoring in elementary education. The course attempts to combine theory and practice, emphasizing teaching methods which stress that learners make use of "mental representations" in assembling a working understanding of various components of their…

The "Preparing Elementary Teachers to Teach Mathematics (PETTM) Project" (1988-1991) was a cooperative university/school effort to improve the teaching of mathematics by elementary teachers with primary focus on improving the university training of preservice teachers (PSTs) in mathematics. The goals of the PETTM Project included: (1)…

The "Preparing Elementary Teachers to Teach Mathematics (PETTM) Project" (1988-1991) was a cooperative university/school effort to improve the teaching of mathematics by elementary teachers with its primary focus on improving the university training of preservice teachers (PSTs) in mathematics. This document, volume III of the project's 5-volume…