Motivating Mathematics

Engaging Teachers and Engaged Students

David Wells

• Publisher: ICP
• Year: 2015
• eBook ISBN: 9781783267552
• Topic: Mathematics
• Subtopic: Education Theory & Practice
• Index: Mathematics

Motivating Mathematics demonstrates that pupils can be motivated by being given the Big Picture, including a clearer picture of the nature of maths, and by linking topics to the sciences, rather than teaching each topic in isolation. The author emphasises the many virtues of problem-solving, strongly emphasised in secondary education specifications, especially the role of perception, and the ability of pupils to create their own proofs and to appreciate 'cool' ideas and arguments.

David Wells draws on his extensive experience of teaching primary and secondary pupils and his understanding not just of how students think about mathematics, but of how they feel about a subject which so often seems merely a collection of facts and rules to be mastered. This book will be of immediate practical use to teachers and students at all levels.

Anyone involved in mathematics education will benefit from reading this inspiring book, whether classroom teacher, trainer, teacher in training or professional development, or even parent. The book will also be of interest to policy makers and others with an investment in the future of mathematics education.

Motivating Mathematics demonstrates that pupils can be motivated by being given the Big Picture, including a clearer picture of the nature of maths, and by linking topics to the sciences, rather than teaching each topic in isolation. The author emphasises the many virtues of problem-solving, strongly emphasised in secondary education specifications, especially the role of perception, and the ability of pupils to create their own proofs and to appreciate 'cool' ideas and arguments.

David Wells draws on his extensive experience of teaching primary and secondary pupils and his understanding not just of how students think about mathematics, but of how they feel about a subject which so often seems merely a collection of facts and rules to be mastered. This book will be of immediate practical use to teachers and students at all levels.

Anyone involved in mathematics education will benefit from reading this inspiring book, whether classroom teacher, trainer, teacher in training or professional development, or even parent. The book will also be of interest to policy makers and others with an investment in the future of mathematics education.

Readership: Students of maths education and interested parents, professional mathematics teachers and teacher trainers (providers of Continuous Professional Development), and policy makers.
Key Features:

• Only book in English to analyse motivation in mathematics in detail and in the context of the nature of mathematics itself
• Presents a picture of mathematics that links to mathematical recreations and abstract games, which can be understood and appreciated by pupils of all ages
• Emphasises the crucial role of problem solving in the effective learning and teaching of mathematics

Table of contents

• Cover
• Halftitle
• Title
• Copyright
• Preface: Themes and Sources
• Acknowledgements
• Contents
• Preamble: Young on The Teaching of Mathematics (1907)
• Chapter 1 Introduction: Motivation and Mathematics Teaching
• Chapter 2 Demotivating and Demotivated Pupils
• Chapter 3 Motivating and Motivated Pupils
• Chapter 4 Appreciating = Knowing about Mathematics
• Chapter 5 Motivating Emotions: Beauty and Aesthetics
• Chapter 6 Proof in School Classrooms
• Chapter 7 Ways of Seeing Mathematics
• Chapter 8 Euclidean Geometry as Game-Like
• Chapter 9 The Scientific Approach to Mathematics
• Chapter 10 Mathematics as Perception
• Chapter 11 Mathematics Applied to Science
• Chapter 12 Classrooms in Other Countries
• Chapter 13 Rich Complexity, False Simplicity
• Appendix: Jennifer Kano’s Letter
• Author’s Bibliography
• Bibliography
• Index