This paper reports on data from 183 nine-to eleven-year old children attending six Waikato schools. An analysis is provided of children’s responses to a question about their teacher’s role in helping them learn mathematics. Four major roles were identified, including mentor, classroom manager, transmitter of information, and arbiter of decisions. The implications for students’ mathematics learning of viewing their teacher in each of these roles are then discussed. The importance for teachers of recognising the ways they are perceived by their students is also considered.