The effect of the courses of school experience and teaching practice on primary school mathematics teachers

The aim of this study is to determine elementary mathematics teachers’ thoughts and feelings on the courses of school-experience and teacher-practice. In this study was used the qualitative research method. Those involved in the study were 20 mathematics teachers employed in formal/government primary schools in the Province of Giresun and in the town of Bulancak in the academic years of 2010-2011. As a means of data collection, a semi-constructed interview form was used in the study. The data obtained were analyzed through the content-analysis-technique. The data obtained from the study indicated that primary-school mathematics teachers were faced with such problems in the courses of school-experience and teacher-practice as experience, the physical structure and managerial affairs of the school,  observation, teaching-learning process, measurement and assessment, duration, communication and worry. The data also showed that the courses of school-experience and school practice they took during their school-years provoked their interest in their jobs, provided them with a close observation of a school, its classrooms and students. Key words: School experience, teacher practice, mathematics teacher, pre-service education.