Teaching resources in the primary-years mathematics classes: criteria to guide teacher’s choice and use

Abstract

This paper presents and discusses the criteria used by this research’s teachers/contributors to choose and employ mathematics teaching resources in the early years of elementary school. Data research consisted of three stages: questionnaire, observation and interview. Furthermore, this research, that uses a qualitative approach, was based on the analysis of the thematic content. According to it, the student is the aspect most taken into account in the selection and use of didactic resources. It was also verified that important teaching resources, such as the abacus and the Golden Bead Material, were not part of the mathematical professional-training process of the primary education teachers. In conclusion, there is a problem with the professional training of teachers regarding the use of didactic resources, especially in the mathematics teaching, and there is a neglect or even a disregard with the criteria relevant to guide the selection of classroom didactic resources, such as the specific content and the aimed objectives.