Characteristics of high enjoyment teachers of mathematics in primary schools

Abstract Despite teacher enjoyment of teaching being associated with a range benefits for teachers and their students, little research exploring the characteristics who enjoy mathematics exists. Semi-structured interviews were conducted ten scored in top third terms from sample 118 generalist, early-year primary school teachers. Thematic analysis interview data revealed that negative-to-positive turning point experiences commonplace amongst high-enjoyment teachers, but so too reports consistently positive feelings towards throughout entire lives. While most articulated passion mathematics, all considered instances when students experienced ‘light bulb’ moments mathematical understanding made lesson enjoyable to teach. An important implication our is one need not be ‘maths person’ come love mathematics. Rather, one’s pre-service education, or in-service professional learning, have potential transform attitude