Dr Mari Paloniemi Lindström - Maths Teaching and Learning & Research in Sweden

🎙️ In this episode, we meet Dr. Mari Paloniemi Lindström, a lecturer at the University of Dalarna here in Sweden. With a background of 25 years as a middle school teacher specializing in mathematics learning, Mari’s journey led her to complete her doctoral thesis on Teachers’ Professional Competence and Working Conditions in Swedish Schools.

Together, we explore the current landscape of Swedish education—its successes, its struggles, and everything in between. Mari takes us inside today’s classrooms, where challenges range from unqualified teachers being allowed to teach, to teachers asked to cover subjects without proper training in maths content and pedagogy—factors that directly affect students’ learning maths.

We also dive into why so many teachers are moving between schools each year, how the role of the school principal is shifting, and the mixed blessings of digital tools in education.

This episode is a must-listen for teachers, educators, caregivers, and anyone with a stake in education.

So tune in, reflect, and share this conversation widely. And as always—be kind. – Liisa✌

References:

Mari Paloniemi Lindström (2025) Teachers Professional Competence and Working Conditions in Swedish schools (Doctoral Thesis). Department of Education and Special Education. Faculty of Education, University of Gothenburg. Sweden.

Mari Lindström, Stefan Johansson & Linda Borger (2025) Does formal teacher competence matter for students’ mathematics achievement? Results from Swedish TIMSS 2019, Educational Research and Evaluation, 30:1-2, 137-166, DOI: 10.1080/13803611.2024.2367486

Mari Lindström, Stefan Johansson, Linda Borger (2024) Teachers’ formal qualifications and instruction in grade 4: Effects on student achievement in grade 4 and 6 The European Conference on Educational Research, ECER 2024, Nicosia, Cyprus - 2024

Stefan Johansson, Mari Lindström, Linda Borger (2023) Teachers' Formal Competence and Their Reading Instruction in Grade 4: Effects on Grade 6 Achievement 10th IEA International Research Conference - 2023

Mari Lindström, Stefan Johansson, Linda Borger (2023) Teacher Job Satisfaction and Student Mathematics Achievement: Relations to Working Conditions and Teacher Competence 10th IEA International Research Conference - 2023

Mari Lindström, Stefan Johansson, Linda Borger (2023) Does Teachers' Subject-specific Specialization Matter for Students' Mathematics Achievement and Student Assessed Instructional Quality? Results from Swedish TIMSS 2019 The European Conference on Educational Research (ECER), The European Educational Research Association (EERA) - 2022