In listening to the students in the CGEA [adult basic education] classroom I have become more and more aware of the importance played by their own unique views of themselves and their lives. I think that somehow these motivations, and past life experiences, can provide valuable clues for teaching. They tell us how the students see themselves; what they see as their role in life. I am suggesting that this positioning of self, coupled with a picture in their heads of what mathematics actually is, has a greater effect on what they take away from maths and numeracy classes than teachers might realize. These factors can cut across any visions that we, as teacher, might have of what is important in mathematics.

Beth Marr
From the article: Making connections;listening to the voices
of adult numeracy students, 1994