Inspiring pre-service teachers of early years education to create an inquiry environment for children to learn mathematics

Abstract

The paper presents a~teaching proposal for the Mathematics Education course for university students of Education with a specialisation in Early Childhood Education, in order to motivate pre-service teachers to self-discovery and to encourage individual mathematical problem solving. The proposal was pre-tested in practice. Interactive activities were carried out in which pre-service teachers individually solved mathematical problems at thematic stations and had the opportunity to learn by manipulating objects and discovering solutions to problems. The study was conducted using an action research approach. The results of the study are described in four areas of the researcher's activity: preparing the learning environment (organising the research), observing the subjects, communicating with the subjects (interviewing the pre-service teachers) and using the results.