This juxtaposition of Finnish PISA success and TIMSS shortcomings has created something
of an enigma. What is happening in Finnish mathematics classrooms to produce such
disparate outcomes? In this paper, we examine this enigma through analyses of two serendipitously
available data sets that afford insight into the relationship between Finnish PISA
success and Finnish mathematics classroom practice—we focus on PISA because of the
international interest shown in Finland’s success and the fact that Finland has participated in
all PISA assessments but only two of the five TIMSS. The first data set comprised sequences
of videotaped lessons taught on standard topics by teachers construed locally as effective,
while the second comprised interviews undertaken with Finnish mathematics teacher educators.
As the analyses unfold, it should become apparent that the Finnish mathematics education
enigma is more profound than that indicated by a comparison of PISA and TIMSS results
alone. Before then, we discuss how the Finns, and by implication external observers, typically
construe Finnish PISA success. In so doing, we observe that didactical analyses are generally
missing from these commentaries.