Mathematics subject knowledge of Irish primary pre-service teachers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish what mathematics Irish primary school student teachers bring to initial teacher education. The research was premised on the belief that a certain kind of mathematics subject knowledge is needed for teaching and the possibility that such mathematics subject knowledge can be assessed. Three recently published curriculum implantation studies express concern that not all is well with the teaching of mathematics in Irish primary schools (Government of Ireland, 2005a, b; National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, 2005) These provide a background in praxis for the study into mathematics subject knowledge of primary pre-service teachers described here.