Re: Elementary school teachers
Vern Kays (vkays@RICHLAND.CC.IL.US)
Tue, 4 Feb 1997 21:12:51 -0600
Although I have not taught the course I meet prospective elementary teachers
in my mathematics for the liberal arts major, of the 7 I have worked with 4
disliked mathematics intensely and 3 did not like mathematics. I suppect
Phil's experience is from his work with prospective eleentary ed. students.
One survey given at a ICTM conference did in fact state that many el. ed
students are mathematics avoiders if not in fact mathematics anxious. In my
developmental mathematics classes I do a mathematics biography. More than
50% state that their dislike of mathematics came from school experiences in
the primary and or middle school. They are very suprised when at the end of
the semester they have actually had success. They do not find mathematics
much more enjoyable but they are more inclined to take more mathematics and
some even like mathematics because of their success.
A side question: a rough research of student success in our school shows
that students drop one grade as they progress through our developmental
program. For example a student who earned an A in pre-algebra will get a B
in basic Algebra, a C in geometry, and d in intermediate algebra. It is very
distrubing. I believe it it is because the focus in our developmental
courses is too much on skill and not concept development. Question: What if
anything are people doing differently to improve this process of declining
performance?