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What Is The Making Math Moments That Matter Podcast?
In a nutshell, we want The Making Math Moments That Matter Podcast to be a resource that all educators who teach mathematics can turn to in order to learn from others in the mathematics education space. Each episode typically involves Jon and I conversing about ideas in math teaching and learning, Math Mentoring Moments with teachers who join us on the show for a coaching call, and interviews with influencers in the mathematics education space.
We would love to explore your story in mathematics education, the challenges you may have experienced along the way, and the current projects you are currently working on to raise awareness of all the great things happening with our Math Moment Maker Community of listeners.
If you want to get more of a feel for the style of the show, you can listen to previous episodes right from this webpage or, take them with you by listening in on all common podcast platforms such as iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify.
Interview Structure
Each interview is intended to be a free-flowing conversation.
However, early in the call we like to help listeners get a better sense of your story. This will include these three questions early on in the conversation:
- Tell us a little about yourself. What’s your math teaching story/journey?
- What inspired you to become a math educator / researcher / involved in mathematics education?
- When you think back to your own education experience, what memorable math moment has stuck with you?
Framing how you might respond to each of those three (3) questions ahead of time can be helpful for making things flow into the next section of the chat.
We then typically send you some high-level questions related to your specific work ahead of time. The conversation will dictate which pre-planned questions we discuss in the interview as well as any new questions that might arise.
Share Your Current Work
Consider your work and what might provide value for the Math Moment Maker Community:
- Are you currently promoting a book?
- Releasing a new podcast?
- Publishing a new research paper?
- Launching a new project or tool?
- Something else?
Be ready to share details with our audience (i.e.: website url, social media handle(s), etc.) to ensure they know where they can learn more about you and your work.
If interested, we would be happy to run a contest for a copy of your new book, resource, tool, etc.
Just let us know!
Interview Logistical Details
To ensure you have what you need to connect with us for an interview, we’ve created a list of the most important details:
- The interview will be audio only conducted via a web based tool called Zencastr via a link we would send in a follow-up email.
- The total time commitment would be approximately one hour.
- Secure yourself a microphone that connects to your computer. You don’t need to buy one at all if you have earbuds with a microphone attached. (For example I use the pair of earbuds that came with my iPhone). Note that sometimes bluetooth headsets can cause problems with delay, sound quality, etc. We’d recommend getting “wired in” if you can.
- Try to avoid using a tablet or Chromebook for this call. Our recording software isn’t a big fan of them and does much better with a desktop or laptop as the audio is recorded locally in your own computer web browser.
- Ensure that at the time of the call you are connected to high speed internet and using an updated web browser like Google Chrome or Firefox. Sadly, Internet Explorer and Safari don’t play well with our recording software.
Don’t hesitate to contact us if any of this is unclear or if you have additional questions about compatible technology.
We’d love to help!
NEXT STEPS…
Are you interested in joining us for an interview?
Contact us and we’ll send on our booking calendar to reserve you a date and time that works best for you!
Listen To Our Recent Episodes:
Episode #275: How To Align Your Math Classroom Teaching Practices With Your Philosophy – A Math Mentoring Moment
Have you ever wondered how to ensure your teaching actions align seamlessly with your educational philosophies? How close is your practice with your preach?
In this episode we speak with Felicia Favela, a veteran 8th grade pre-algebra teacher from Phoenix Arizona who knows that in the realm of education, consistency between what we say and what we do is pivotal but still wonders how closely she’s aligned.
Stick around and you’ll hear us uncover the root cause of why Felicia feels that she’s not aligned with her philosophies, how to identify when students are primed to progress to new challenges, maximizing their learning potential, and learn to harness the power of problem-based lessons as a tool for formative assessment, enhancing your ability to cater to individual student needs.
This is another Math Mentoring Moment episode where we chat with a teacher like you who is working through some problems of practice and together we brainstorm ways to overcome them.
Episode #274: Where should we focus our district’s math PD goals for the rest of this year? Next year?
Are you struggling to turn your ambitious math educational goals into tangible results in your classroom or district? Have you been asking: Where should I focus the efforts of my district math pd plan for the remainder of this year and following years?
This episode of “Making Math Moments That Matter” is crucial for educators and district leaders of mathematics who are seeking practical strategies to elevate the impact of their teaching and planning. By focusing on goal setting and planning in mathematics education, it addresses the common challenge of aligning educational objectives with measurable outcomes, ensuring that your teaching methods lead to significant, positive changes in student learning and engagement.
Episode #273: Navigating the Blend: Unifying Grades in Standards-Based Grading – A Math Mentoring Moment
Explore the often unspoken struggles that even seasoned math teachers encounter when grappling with concepts in middle and high school grades. Gain insights into the power of anecdotal assessments for both understanding students and refining your own assessment practices. Discover practical approaches to implementing standards-based grading without getting lost in individual grades, and unravel the true purpose behind assigning grades. In this Mentoring Moment episode we bring back Nicholas Rhodes to continue exploring his pebbles in Standards Based Grading.
This is another Math Mentoring Moment episode where we chat with a teacher like you who is working through some problems of practice and together we brainstorm ways to overcome them.
Episode #272: How To Consolidate & Close Your Building Thinking Classroom Lesson [Part 2]
As educators of mathematics around the world embrace the ideas shared in Building Thinking Classrooms, more and more students are being positioned to think collaboratively during math class instead of simply mimicking steps, rules, and procedures.
While this shift in mathematics teaching practice is a massive leap in the right direction, our work does not stop once students solve the thinking task at hand.
Rather, the real work for the facilitator now begins.
Join Peter Liljedahl, Jon Orr, and Kyle Pearce from the opening session of the 2023 Make Math Moments Virtual Summit as they discuss one of the most important, yet often overlooked parts of an effective problem based mathematics lesson: the closing.
This is part 2 of the hour-long Keynote session from this past year’s Virtual Summit in November.
Episode #271: The Crucial Role of Educational Leadership in Math – An Interview with Rob Baier
Curious about the transformative power of leadership in mathematics education? Ever felt the challenge of aligning your strategic plan when it seems like you’re constantly putting out fires? Join us in this episode where we unravel the critical importance of seeking support in leadership roles and dive into a conversation with Rob Baier, Executive Director of Mathematics and STEM at Pittsburgh Public Schools.
If you’re an educator navigating the complexities of coaching, consulting, or directing, this episode is your guide. Rob Baier, co-host of the Debate Math Podcast, shares insights on staying aligned to your strategic plan amidst chaos, the significance of andragogy in leading mathematics educators, and the key to optimizing coaching and professional learning models.
Gain a profound understanding of why seeking appropriate support is crucial for educators stepping into leadership roles.
Discover the transformative potential of andragogy in leading mathematics educators, offering a fresh perspective for educational leaders.
Uncover actionable insights on reviewing coaching models, ensuring they optimally serve educators, and staying aligned with district vision and strategic plans.
Ready to elevate your leadership game in mathematics education? Click now to listen and lead with newfound passion and impact. Don’t miss this chance to reshape your approach and empower both educators and students in your district!
Episode #270: How To Consolidate & Close Your Building Thinking Classroom Lesson [Part 1]
As educators of mathematics around the world embrace the ideas shared in Building Thinking Classrooms, more and more students are being positioned to think collaboratively during math class instead of simply mimicking steps, rules, and procedures.
While this shift in mathematics teaching practice is a massive leap in the right direction, our work does not stop once students solve the thinking task at hand.
Rather, the real work for the facilitator now begins.
Join Peter Liljedahl, Jon Orr, and Kyle Pearce from the opening session of the 2023 Make Math Moments Virtual Summit as they discuss one of the most important, yet often overlooked parts of an effective problem based mathematics lesson: the closing.
This is part 1 of the hour-long Keynote session from this past year’s Virtual Summit in November. Look for part 2 in two weeks.
Episode #269: Creating Safe and Equitable Math Classrooms – A Math Mentoring Moment
Have you ever wondered why creating a safe space for students in mathematics class is crucial? This episode of The Making Math Moments That Matter Podcast explores this question and unveils insights that will reshape the way you think about math education.
In a world where educational equity is a pressing concern, ensuring that schools are safe places for students becomes paramount. This episode delves into the critical role of a safe environment, especially in mathematics classes. Discover how breaking free from over-generalizations can pave the way for equitable math lessons and why helping teachers build their math proficiency is key to fostering an inclusive classroom. Join us as we unravel the intricacies of these concepts and their real-world implications.
Unlock the secrets to creating a safe and equitable math classroom by listening to the latest Make Math Moments episode now. Transform your approach to math education and contribute to fostering a positive and inclusive learning space for all students. Press play and embark on a journey to reshape math education today!
Episode #268: Can We Build A Thinking Classroom & Still Maintain Rigor – A Math Mentoring Moment
Today we speak with Michael Finley, the academic dean for math and science at a K-12 independent school.
Michael’s staff is questioning their work in building thinking classrooms and how it serves high achieving students.
Listen in as we brainstorm strategies to uncover micro moves and macro plans to build a classroom culture that allows a thinking classroom to emerge.
This is another Math Mentoring Moment episode where we chat with a teacher like you who is working through some problems of practice and together we brainstorm ways to overcome them.
Episode #267: Are You Cleaning Up Messes That Haven’t Happened Yet? – A Math Mentoring Moment
Today we speak with Diana Worthen, a 10th grade math teacher from Denver Colorado. In our discussion we help to shake out a common pebble in an educator’s shoes: How to keep students engaged during practice time. Stick around and you’ll hear why students tend to “shut down” after a teacher led lesson; how to be more targeted with your 1 on 1 support with your students; and how to structure your lessons to maximize engagement during your entire math block.
This is another Math Mentoring Moment episode where we chat with a teacher like you who is working through some problems of practice and together we brainstorm ways to overcome them.
Episode #266: The Pathway To Higher Achievement: A Conversation with Mike Lipnos
Join us for an uplifting conversation with Mike Lipnos, a middle school teacher and math coach from Ohio. In this episode Mike shares his experience and insights on helping teachers build ownership and agency for students in their mathematics classrooms.
We discuss how some teacher moves ultimately shut the door on students seeking higher levels of mathematics, and how young people are thinking beings and are capable of doing high level thinking, even if a data point may say they are “low” and how having agency as a mathematician is going to be more impactful on humanizing mathematical experiences than the traditional “I do, we do, you do” model of math teaching.
STAY IN THE LOOP:
JOIN THE COMMUNITY
KYLE PEARCE & JON ORR


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