Mathematical knowledge for teaching probem solving: lessons from lesson study

Although the importance of mathematical problem solving is now widely recognised, relatively little attention has been given to the conceptualisation of mathematical processes such as representing, analysing, interpreting and communicating. The construct of Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching (Hill, Ball & Schilling, 2008) is generally interpreted in terms of mathematical content, and in this paper we describe our initial attempts to broaden MKT to include mathematical process knowledge (MPK) and pedagogical process knowledge (PPK). We draw on data from a problem-solving-focused lesson-study project to highlight and exemplify aspects of the teachers’ PPK and the implications of this for our developing conceptualisation of the mathematical knowledge needed for teaching problem solving