From our own work in elementary schools, we
believed that improving a school math
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ematics program is not simply a question
of a change in the topics taught or the way
these topics are taught. Nor is new math
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ematics learning for teachers sufficient.
While each of these changes may have
some benefit and all are necessary to make
a substantive impact on a school math
-
ematics culture, there is another crucial
consideration. Since it is teachers who
bring about change in the classroom,
teachers need to understand the rationale
for change, take responsibility for deter
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mining the implications for their teaching
practice, and, together with their col
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leagues, evaluate the effect of changes
made. There are many examples which
demonstrate that teachers’ uncritical ac
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ceptance of reform ideas proposed by ex
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perts in content and/or pedagogy can lead
to mathematics instruction that runs
counter to the intent of the proposed re
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forms. Consulting with outside experts
on content and pedagogy is important,