ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the nature of teachers’ work, particularly as it relates to the teaching and learning of mathematics. It looks at the issue of mathematics anxiety and how building confidence is a crucial aspect of becoming an effective teacher. The chapter discusses the national professional teacher standards and teacher registration. The best teachers have a well-developed personal understanding of the structure and principles of the mathematics that they are teaching. A primary school teacher’s work requires the planning, teaching and assessment of mathematics. Teachers who themselves have had negative experiences of mathematics can unconsciously model anxiety, fear or avoidance behaviour to their students. The effect can be to perpetuate a cycle that can profoundly limit students’ future learning opportunities and, ultimately, their career choices. Effective teachers constantly strive to enhance their practice by using research to inform their instructional choices.
