Knowing and Learning Mathematics for Teaching: Proceedings of a Workshop (2001)
Chapter: Reconsidering the Mathematics That Teachers Need to Know
RECONSIDERING THE MATHEMATICS THAT TEACHERS NEED TO KNOW
The first full day was devoted to consideration of teacher knowledge of mathematics. What mathematical knowledge does it take to teach well? What mathematics is crucial to the work of elementary school teaching? What can we learn from a closer look at the mathematics teachers have to teach and analyses of the core tasks and mathematical problems that they have to solve in the course of their work?
Such tasks include examining, interpreting, and evaluating student work; analyzing and modifying mathematics problems; designing follow-up problems (for example, homework); producing an explanation of a mathematical idea; and managing a class discussion around a mathematical idea. These were studied at the Workshop through videotapes of classroom lessons, copies of student work, and studying student thinking about mathematics.
