PUPILS’ ATTITUDES TOWARD MATHEMATICS: COMPARATIVE RESEARCH BETWEEN ESTONIAN AND FINNISH PRACTICE SCHOOLS

In initial teacher education, we have put a lot of effort into improving student teachers' readiness to support learners' motivation and use diverse teaching methods. The objective of this paper is to research the motivation to learn mathematics and mental arithmetic among primary school pupils in student teachers' practice schools. In Estonia, the problem is that most pupils don't like science studies, and most university students prefer social sciences. Mental arithmetic strategies and arithmetic skills used by pupils are important in mathematics, as well as in everyday life. Teachers' skills in teaching mathematics are poor and there is a little variability. A survey was conducted in April and May 2006 among the 1st to 3rd form pupils of 7 student teachers' practice schools in Estonia. Research results were then compared to the results of research conducted simultaneously in Finland, and also among 1st to 3rd form pupils in practice school. The present article focuses on pupils' attitudes toward mathematics and mental arithmetic. The main results of the research show that the attitude toward mathematics among pupils is positive. The comparison showed that Finnish pupils' attitudes are more positive toward mathematics than Estonian pupils' and boys have a more positive attitude than girls. In teaching methodologies and teacher training, the emphasis has to be put on the problems girls are having. This is because girls are the ones who don't like mathematics and mental arithmetic.