Minimal interventions in the teaching of mathematics
This paper addresses ways in which mathematics pedagogy can benefit from insights gleaned from counselling. Person-centred counselling stresses the value of genuineness, warm empathetic listening and minimal intervention to support people in solving their own problems and developing increased autono...
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| Format: | Article |
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2014
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/27857/ |
| _version_ | 1848793456987602944 |
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| author | Foster, Colin |
| author_facet | Foster, Colin |
| author_sort | Foster, Colin |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | This paper addresses ways in which mathematics pedagogy can benefit from insights gleaned from counselling. Person-centred counselling stresses the value of genuineness, warm empathetic listening and minimal intervention to support people in solving their own problems and developing increased autonomy. Such an approach contrasts starkly with the much more directive and leading interventions often made by mathematics teachers in the classroom. In this position paper I argue that minimal teacher interventions are a powerful way to support students in their learning of mathematics. Drawing on the interplay between a mathematics teacher’s responsibility to teach mathematics and their duty to support students pastorally, I argue that such an approach builds on skills that teachers already possess and has considerable potential to enhance students’ healthy mathematical development. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:00:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-27857 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:00:36Z |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-278572020-05-04T20:16:36Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/27857/ Minimal interventions in the teaching of mathematics Foster, Colin This paper addresses ways in which mathematics pedagogy can benefit from insights gleaned from counselling. Person-centred counselling stresses the value of genuineness, warm empathetic listening and minimal intervention to support people in solving their own problems and developing increased autonomy. Such an approach contrasts starkly with the much more directive and leading interventions often made by mathematics teachers in the classroom. In this position paper I argue that minimal teacher interventions are a powerful way to support students in their learning of mathematics. Drawing on the interplay between a mathematics teacher’s responsibility to teach mathematics and their duty to support students pastorally, I argue that such an approach builds on skills that teachers already possess and has considerable potential to enhance students’ healthy mathematical development. 2014 Article PeerReviewed Foster, Colin (2014) Minimal interventions in the teaching of mathematics. European Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 2 (3). pp. 147-154. ISSN 2301-251X Counselling; Learned helplessness; Mathematics teaching; Pastoral care; Student autonomy; Teacher interventions http://scimath.net/articles/23/231.pdf |
| spellingShingle | Counselling; Learned helplessness; Mathematics teaching; Pastoral care; Student autonomy; Teacher interventions Foster, Colin Minimal interventions in the teaching of mathematics |
| title | Minimal interventions in the teaching of mathematics |
| title_full | Minimal interventions in the teaching of mathematics |
| title_fullStr | Minimal interventions in the teaching of mathematics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Minimal interventions in the teaching of mathematics |
| title_short | Minimal interventions in the teaching of mathematics |
| title_sort | minimal interventions in the teaching of mathematics |
| topic | Counselling; Learned helplessness; Mathematics teaching; Pastoral care; Student autonomy; Teacher interventions |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/27857/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/27857/ |