PME-NA

The Role Of Teacher Support And Enthusiasm In Stimulating Mathematics Interest And Confidence Among Students

• In Event: Poster Session #1
  In Poster Session: The Role Of Teacher Support And Enthusiasm In Stimulating Mathematics Interest And Confidence Among Students

Description

Teacher support and enthusiasm are critical factors in stimulating student interest and confidence in mathematics. This study investigates how these teacher characteristics influence the mathematics engagement of senior high school students. Employing a concurrent mixed-methods design with multi-stage sampling, data were collected from 200 students using questionnaires and interviews. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses, including simple linear regression, along with thematic analysis of qualitative responses, revealed that increased teacher support significantly enhances students’ interest and confidence in mathematics. Similarly, teacher enthusiasm positively predicts student engagement. These findings, underpinned by social cognitive theory, suggest that positive teacher-student relationships and teacher enthusiasm are essential to improving student attitudes toward mathematics. The study recommends fostering supportive and enthusiastic classroom environments to boost student performance in mathematics for enhanced academic achievement.

Authors

• Christian Kwame Kpotosu, Pennsylvania State University

• Christopher Yarkwah, University of Cape Coast