- What is the status of the National Curricula, in different countries, regarding content coverage, organization, assessment and pedagogical approaches?

- What is the current situation of teaching mathematics in primary schools in different countries to cater for the range of different abilities?

- How are different countries managing issues of equity of gender, access, language and disadvantaged groups in preschool and primary years?

- What are the key problems and challenges faced in primary school education in your country?

- What is the role of technology in different countries in preschool, primary and special education?

- What are the teaching approaches for teaching large classes of more than 70 learners?

- What is the role of informal knowledge in primary school education in different countries?

- What is the balance of focus for preparing primary mathematics teachers: a focus on strong mathematics content knowledge or a focus on the development of how children learn?

- How is the math education community responding to new strands of mathematics that are being introduced in the early years? e.g. Algebra, Mathematical modeling.

- What mathematics do teachers need to know and to learn to successfully teach mathematics in primary schools?

- What mathematics is seen to be critical or essential at this level of schooling?

- How is assessment conducted in primary schools to identify pupils’ current knowledge and mathematical abilities?

- What factors hinder pupils’ opportunity to learn in the context of primary schools?

Call for contributions

Those wishing to participate in DG 20 are encouraged to submit a one-page description of their interest and/or research related to these questions or other questions more generally on the topic of problems and challenges in primary mathematics teaching and learning. It would be helpful if these descriptions could include the author(s) names and location (town and country, school or establishment; the age range of the pupils concerned or, if referring to teachers, the ages of the pupils taught and, where relevant, the mathematics topics that are addressed.

These contributions should be received by each of the five members of the committee no later than Dec. 17, 2007 and should specify the question or questions that will be addressed.

As well as the usual kinds of paper proposals, we also invite contributions of brief video clips of pupil learning in elementary school classrooms. These clips would be accompanied by: a transcript in English or subtitles of the video clips in a language other than English. These clips would be supported by background information such as: country, type of school, age of students, research project as well as a description of the particular goals of the researcher/teacher in presenting the video.

Participants whose proposals will have been accepted by the organizing team should submit, via e-mail attachment, a paper of 1000 to 2000 word in extent, to each member of the Organizing Team not later than Jan. 18, 2008,

The organizing team expects to make its selection of participants no later than January 25, 2008. It is understood that a necessary condition for participation in the group and posting of any material is that the participant be registered for ICME 11.

No later than April 15, 2008, the organizing group will circulate an agenda for the three sessions. Some individuals will be requested to play particular roles.

Please note that the set of questions we have included seeks to provide a stimulus for papers. They are not intended to limit the areas of discussion. Those wishing to participate in the discussion group are encouraged to e-mail other possible areas of discussion to the group chairs for inclusion in the draft program even if not supported by a discussion paper.

Papers and discussion documents

Gervasoni Ann, Australian Catholic University (Australia). The Problems and Challenges of Catering for the Range of Mathematics Abilities in Australian Primary Classrooms. (118.00 KB)

Campos Tânia (UNIBAN), Gitirana Verônica (UFPE), Magina Sandra (PUC/SP) & Galvão Spinillo Alina (UFPE) - Brazil. Combinatorial Reasoning: An Analysis of Elementary Students’ Errors. (39.00 KB)

Carvalho Liliane M. T. Lima, Federal University of Pernambuco (Brazil); Nunes Terezinha, University of Oxford (U.K). The status of the National Curricula in different countries regarding the use of re (480.00 KB)

Li Yuwen, Mathematics Education Research Institute, Dezhou College (Dezhou, Shandong 253023, P.R.China). Open Mind Questions and Creativity Education in Mathematics. (111.00 KB)

Santana Eurivalda Ribeiro Dos Santos; Cazorla Irene Mauricio, Universidade Estadual De Santa Cruz (Brazil) & Magina Sandra Maria Pinto, Pontifícia Universidade Católica De São Paulo (Brazil). Relationship Between the Conception of Teachers’ and St (75.00 KB)

Opyene Eluk Patrick, Islamic University in Uganda (Mbale, Uganda). Mathematics Content Required for Teaching in Primary Schools. (48.00 KB)

Ozmantar Fatih & Bingolbali Erhan, University of Gaziantep (Turkey); Akkoç Hatice, University of Marmara (Turkey). Curriculum Reform and Teachers: Difficulties and Dilemmas in Primary Mathematics Education. (67.00 KB)

Pavanello Regina Maria and Nogueira Clélia Maria Ignatius, State University of Maringá (Maringá PR, Brazil). Between Current Teacher Training and That We Wish to Have: Possible Paths. (45.00 KB)

Nogueira Clélia Maria Ignatius and Pavanello Regina Maria, State University of Maringá (Maringá PR, Brazil). Facing Learning Difficulties in the Teaching of Mathematics in the State Of Paraná, Brazil: The Support Classroom Program. (45.00 KB)

Nielce Meneguelo Lobo da Costa, Bandeirante University of São Paulo – UNIBAN (São Paulo, Brazil). Teaching Mathematics in Primary Level: An Experience with Computers Data-Base Analisys (117.00 KB)

Opolot-Okurut Charles, School of Education, Makerere University (Kampala - Uganda). Factors that hinder opportunities to learn mathematics in primary schools in Uganda. (63.00 KB)