If you like the teacher, you'll "get" maths more : students talk about good mathematics teachers

Skills in mathematical reasoning are becoming ever more important in the workplace and everyday living, driven in part by emerging technologies. Yet the last 20 years have seen a decline in the number of students taking mathematics at upper secondary level and beyond. The choice not to pursue mathematics has been seriously influenced by students' attitudes towards, and performance in, the subject during the middle years of schooling (Year 5 to Year 8 in New South Wales). This is a time when young people are experiencing emotional, social, physical and cognitive changes, and these factors, along with wider societal influences, are often difficult to control from within the school. However, students' attitudes and academic performance are also deeply shaped by school mathematical experiences and the teaching they experienced in school. Arguably teachers are one of the most powerful influences on students' engagement with mathematics. Applying pedagogical content knowledge, teachers can achieve high and consistent levels of engagement and effective learning.