This study aims to investigate the impact of using stories in pre-school mathematics teaching in Saudi Arabia. An intervention was designed to promote interactive teaching and learning in eight classrooms across three private schools. Integral to the intervention was a series of five stories especially written by the researcher based around the same central characters; reflecting the cultural setting familiar to the children, and with a problem-solving storyline. The stories include a range of mathematical facts, skills and concepts applicable to young learners. Additional resource materials to accompany the stories were also designed and provided for the participating teachers. The researcher adopted a qualitative, constructivist, technical action research approach and three data collection tools were used: a bibliographical questionnaire for the teachers; pre- and post-interventions semi-structured interview schedules, and classroom observations. A thematic analysis of the pre- and post-intervention data was undertaken in order to monitor the impact of using the stories in the pre-school classrooms. The study considers the findings from the data in relation to both the teachers’ and the children's’ experiences pre- and post-intervention. In particular, the impact of the intervention on teachers’ subject knowledge, attitudes, confidence and classroom practice is discussed along with the impact on children’s engagement and enjoyment of mathematics; their mathematical understanding and thinking skills. The study concludes that using stories to teach mathematics had a positive impact on the quality of teaching and learning mathematics. Using the stories prompted a positive change in teacher’s and children’s attitudes and feelings towards mathematics; a greater understanding of key mathematical ideas; and an appreciation of the value and uses of mathematics in everyday life. The implications from the study highlight the importance of providing appropriate training for pre-school teachers (and elsewhere) and the pivotal role that using stories can play in ensuring high quality mathematics teaching and learning.

Over a period of twenty months a mathematics teacher educator uses narrative inquiry, a form of story-telling, to investigate her professional practice in working alongside pre-service primary teachers. Two main themes emerge in this research. The first of these centres around the use of mathematical investigations as a vehicle for supporting pre-service primary teachers to consider what the learning and teaching of mathematics may entail. As part of this process the author personally undertook several mathematical investigations. This resulted in significant learning about previously unrecognised personal beliefs about the nature and learning of mathematics. These beliefs were discovered to include ideas that 'real' mathematicians solve problems quickly, do so on their own and do not get stuck. Surprisingly, all of these subconscious assumptions were contrary to what the author espoused in the classroom. A consequence of this learning included some changed beliefs and teaching practices. One such change has been moving from a conception of mathematics as a separate body of 'correct' mathematical ideas, and where the emphasis when doing mathematics was on attaining the correct answer, to now viewing mathematics as a sense-making activity involving discovering, doing and communicating in situations involving numbers, patterns, shape and space. Thus, mathematics is now perceived to primarily be found in the 'doing' rather than existing as a predetermined body of knowledge. As such one's interpretations of a mathematical problem are important to consider. Changes in teaching include using mathematical investigations as a teaching approach with the belief that students can effectively learn mathematical ideas using this approach; an acceptance that this may involve periods of being 'stuck' and that this does not mean that the teacher needs to immediately support the students in becoming 'unstuck'; more in-depth interactions, including questioning, to support this mathematical learning; and an acceptance that mathematics can be learned by people working in a collaborative manner. The second theme encountered in this narrative inquiry involves the exploration of narrative as a powerful means with which to pursue professional development. Narrative inquiry, including a mention of differing forms of narrative writing, is described. Issues also considered include the place of reflection in narrative; the notion of multiple perspectives that are encountered in qualitative research such as this; issues of validity and authenticity; a consideration of what the products of narrative research might be and who may benefit from such research; a brief mention of collaboration; and the place of emotion in qualitative research. The concept of change occurring within a narrative inquiry is not seen to imply an initial deficit position. Rather the research process is regarded as the building of a narrative layer that supports and grows alongside the writer's life as it occurs (Brown Jones, 2001). Thus there is not a seeking of perfection or an ideal, but a greater awareness of one's professional practice. The results of narrative research therefore, are not definitive statements or generalisations about an aspect of that which is being researched (e.g., Winkler, 2003). As such, a definitive statement about how to be a teacher of pre-service students learning mathematics is not offered. Rather, a story is shared that may connect with the stories of the reader.

What happens when teachers are required to implement a mandatory mathematics literacy curriculum whose purposes and pedagogy is distinctly different from that of mathematics curricula of the past? More specifically: How do teachers beliefs and understandings of the curriculum affect the implementation pathway of a mathematics reform intended for ALL? In 2006 the national Department of Education of South Africa introduced a new curriculum into the mathematics landscape, namely Mathematical Literacy. This curriculum, which is markedly dissimilar in pedagogy, politics and purposes from past mathematics curricula, was introduced as a mandatory alternative to mathematics in the senior secondary phase of schooling; not as an integral component of mathematics curricula but as a unique subject of its own. It recognizes that every adult and therefore every child can and should do some form of mathematics. This research focuses on the implementation of this new curriculum in a context were mathematical literacy levels are not only unacceptably low among pupils leaving secondary schooling but also among many teachers charged with delivering mathematics education to the learners in South Africa. The three research questions guiding this study are: 1) What do teachers understand to be the purposes, problems and possibilities contained in the mathematical literacy curriculum? 2) How do teachers proceed to implement the mathematical literacy curriculum in their classrooms? 3) Why do teachers implement this curriculum in the ways they do? In other words, what explains the implementation pathways followed by the mathematical literacy curriculum in real classroom contexts? A review of the literature on curriculum and policy implementation revealed broad encapsulating themes that provide lenses for reform failure. It also provided a perspective that calls for domain specific research. Following on this, the study articulated a broader conceptual framework premised on the perception that a deep understanding of a curriculum is required, for contemporary reforms in mathematical literacy, especially if the goal is to pursue deep change in instructional practices and beliefs. Within this framework, three propositions were generated and then later tested against the emerging data: Proposition one: Teachers may not have a deep understanding of the purposes, problems and possibilities contained in the Mathematical Literacy curriculum. Proposition two: Teachers implement the Mathematical Literacy curriculum in their classroom using beliefs and pedagogies that are already entrenched in their practice. Proposition three: Teachers implement mathematical literacy only because it is a mandatory subject and not because of any strong conviction of the inherent value of this curriculum. A qualitative research design was used which included two in-depth case studies against the backdrop of a snapshot survey of fifty-four mathematical literacy teachers as an embedded unit of analysis. Using evidence from an array of data collection instruments, the study found that the two educators had a superficial understanding of the intentions of the curriculum both in terms of required pedagogy and purpose of the reform. For both educators the teaching of mathematics in context was outside their paradigm of understanding as was their limited grasp of the 'spirit' of this new reform. What was further revealed was that educators teaching mathematical literacy felt and expressed an overwhelming threat to the status of their professional teaching identity. The explorative study concludes with implications for future studies and professional teacher development. It also further expands on why a strong theory of action is mandatory if the challenges of complex curriculum change are to be met. / Thesis (PhD (Education Policy Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Education Management and Policy Studies / unrestricted