Teacher Education: Techniques for Developing Positive Attitudes in Preservice Teachers

Many college seniors entering a course in elementary school mathematics methods admit to having negative attitudes toward mathematics. For most of these future elementary schoolteachers, the course in mathematics methods will be their last encounter with mathematic prior to student teaching. Since attitudes can probably be transmitted from teachers to student, developing a positive attitude toward teaching mathematics is one of the major goals of the course. The course in mathematic method cannot be just a clinic on math anxiety however; other goals must also be realized. These other goals include (1) at taining knowledge of the curriculum and (2) being able to select and use appropriate teaching aids, in tructional trategies, classroom organizational patterns, and diagnostic and evaluative technique. Nevertheless. no conflict really exists between covering the usual content of a course in mathematic methods and at the same time encouraging positive attitudes toward mathematics and combating math anxiety. A principal ingredient is “to deal with feeling,” a well a wi th idea and teaching kills. This article describc technique that can be used to help change mathematical attitudes and that, at the aame time, accomplish the other goal of the course.