While many studies suggest that some teachers contribute more to students’ academic outcomes, research has not clearly identified teacher characteristics and classroom practices that are linked to improvement of student learning (Goe, L., & Stickler, L. 2008). The relation between teacher education and academic achievement is quite complex and there is not yet a general agreement in literature.

Different studies have tried to represent the complexity of the teacher work (e.g. Talis-OECD 2009, TEDS-M, Eurydice 2011) and cross national surveys collect (PISA, TIMSS, PIRLS) data that may help to draw the difference between and within the countries.

Several studies indicated that teacher related factors, such as gender, experience, level of education, professional development, teacher conceptions related to subject, readiness to teach,  instructional practices, use of calculators have effects with various magnitudes on student achievement in mathematics (e.g. Rivkin et al., 2005; Akyuz & Berberoglu 2010). Akiba (2007), using 2003 TIMSS data, found that teacher variables like education and experience are positively related to student outcomes across 46 countries. Instead, Luschei and Chudgar’s (2011) analysis found limited evidence that the teacher characteristics are related to student achievement . In addition, Dodeen (2012) showed that the teacher quality and practices differences were noted across the countries that were ranked at the extremes on the TIMSS achievement scale. Sturman and Lin found that none of the variable derived from teacher TIMSS questionnaire showed a consistent effect across countries, and many of these showed a significant effect in one country only.

Nonetheless the review of the research results on teacher quality revealed few consistent findings, and suggests that further evidence is needed (Goe, 2007).

In this study we investigate the association between student achievement in mathematics and teacher characteristics, using TIMSS 2007 data.

TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) is an important international survey, promoted by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) The project, involving more than 60 countries from all around the world, measures trends in mathematics and science achievement at grades four and eight. In order to improve teaching and learning in mathematics and science, TIMSS collect also background information about the students’ home contexts, the quality of curricula and instructional practices, and the availability of school resources, the use of technology in teaching and learning activities (Mullis et al. 2009) .

The aim of this study is to examine, the relationship between teachers’ qualifications, practices, and perceptions and the proficiency scores for mathematics achievement across Italy and countries that performed better in TIMSS 2007- Mathematics. We also verified whether these teacher characteristics are differently related to the achievement of students across countries.

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