Abstract
The text is an introduction into the study of mathematics education. The goal is to characterise motivating learning, based on concrete illustrations from mathematics lessons.
While reflecting on them, the reader is led towards realising his/her image of good practice in mathematics teaching and learning to critically evaluate various aspects of teaching. Constructivist approaches to teaching are characterised via five different approaches towards theorems on congruent triangles.
The text contains seven stories (transcripts of parts of lessons) which illustrate principles of constructivist teaching given in the text. A question or a task is posed to each principle and a didactic-mathematical commentary is given.
Two communication patterns of the teaching of mathematics, focusing and funnelling are characterised and illustrated by examples. A short list of recommended teaching is given.