Minding your Ps and Cs: subjecting knowledge to the practicalities of teaching geometry and probability

Description/Abstract

The review of the implementation of the National Numeracy Strategy by Ofsted (Nov. 2003) has highlighted weak subject knowledge as a consistent feature in unsatisfactory teaching. This study looks at the subject knowledge of generalist primary trainees in the areas of geometry and probability and their ability to apply their knowledge to problem solving tasks. The study goes on the raise the question, ‘is a profound understanding of fundamental mathematics (PUFM) (Ma, 1999) possible in generalist teachers?’