Classroom Culture, Challenging Mathematical Tasks and Student Persistence

While there are many considerations for effective mathematics teachers, one key factor is the development of a classroom culture that supports the desired form of learning. In examining the opportunities and constraints associated with posing challenging tasks, we are exploring ways that teachers might influence classroom culture positively. The data presented below suggest that it is possible to foster a classroom culture in which teachers pose tasks that challenge students and encourage them to persist when working on those tasks. The key elements seem to be the ways the tasks are posed, the interactive support for students when engaged in the tasks, collaborative reviews of class explorations and assessment against criteria.