ABSTRACT
This chapter begins by considering the nature of teaching and learning in mathematics. It explores some different strategies for managing the physical and social environment in the classroom and how resources can be used to support student learning. Constructivism encourages educators to recognise the value of the knowledge and experience that students bring to learning. The teacher’s role in the social constructivist approach is to provide learner-centred experiences that enable students to build on their existing knowledge. Whole-class instruction is a useful technique when teachers need to convey instructions or information to their entire class. Teachers will often use this approach when introducing a new concept, or at the beginning or end of a lesson. Small group work enables students to learn from one another and generally provides more motivation than working on individual tasks. The use of small groups also allows teachers to cater for students with diverse learning needs.
