Teaching Mathematics

Teaching Mathematics at the European Schools

Mathematics could be defined as a study of properties, relationships, operations, algorithms and applications of numbers and spaces at the very basic levels and of abstract objects and concepts at more advanced levels. Mathematical objects and concepts and related knowledge and methods are products of insight, logical reasoning and creative thinking and are often inspired by problems that seek solutions. Abstractions are what make mathematics a powerful tool for solving problems. Mathematics provides within itself a language for representing and communicating ideas and results of the discipline.

One of the tasks in the pupil’s learning process is developing inference skills, analytical skills and strategic thinking, which are linked to both the key and subject specific competences. This is the ability to plan further steps in order to succeed solving a problem as well as dividing the process of solving more complex problems into smaller steps.

A goal of teaching mathematics is to develop pupil’s intuitions in mathematics appropriate for their age. The ability to understand and use mathematical concepts is much more important than memorising formal definitions.