Dr. Jo Boaler is here to discuss her new book “Math-ish,” where she introduces findings that advocate for viewing mathematics through a real-world lens, termed “math-ish.”
This approach reshapes our perceptions of math, data, and personal capabilities. Recognizing the significance of diversity in individuals and varied learning strategies allows everyone to thrive.
Whether numbers instill a sense of competence or cause anxiety varies widely among individuals. Dr. Jo Boaler, a Stanford researcher and esteemed professor of mathematics education, contends that embracing these individual differences is crucial for tapping into our fullest potential in mathematics.
Lean into this conversation and you’ll come out the other side with an innovative approach focusing on estimation and deeper conceptual understanding, which has proven more effective and preferred by students over traditional methods.
You’ll also learn about breaking away from rigid, rule-based learning to allow students to utilize their own problem-solving skills….and much more.

Are you ready to transform your math classroom by shifting the focus from grades to genuine learning?
In today’s educational landscape, many teachers struggle with moving away from a grade-centric approach to fostering a deeper understanding and love for mathematics in their students.
In this episode we speak with high school math teacher Lori Martin about her shift from traditional teacher to Building Thinking Classroom practitioner.
Stick around and you’ll learn practical strategies and insights that can help you make this important shift.

Ever wondered why traditional math education might be holding back our true potential to understand and use mathematics effectively?
Conrad Wolfram, strategic director of Wolfram Research and a prominent advocate for transforming math education, joins Jon and Kyle in this episode to explore revolutionary approaches to teaching math. With a fascinating journey from a math and physics enthusiast to a leader in computation software, Conrad sheds light on how our current education system may not be equipping students for the real-world challenges that await them in a technology-driven environment.

As a math coach, how do you get teachers to open up to you so you can best serve them? What purposeful questions can you put in your “back pocket” to keep the coaching alive instead of just turning the session into “show and tell” ?

Listen in to this episode as we chat with first year math coach Connor Wagner from Pittsburg. Connor has had great success as a classroom teacher and coach, but sometimes struggles with how to keep the teacher reflecting and holding back on advice giving.

Do we know what we are really measuring in our math assessments? What unintended thoughts are we conveying to our students when we pass the test back? How can we as parents and math professionals navigate complex relationships between teacher, parent, and student?
This episode delves into the complex dynamics of math assessment, addressing a universal concern among parents and educators about how best to support and evaluate students’ understanding without creating undue pressure or conflict.

Can you see the light at the end of the tunnel? Can you feel the change that is happening in your district’s math program? Are you on the right pathway to improve math instruction and ultimately student success in your school or school district?
These are all questions our guests, Michael Scott and Morgan Siler have asked themselves (and us) on their journey to transforming their math district’s math program from the inside out.
Michael and Morgan are two math coordinators from Ohio and their district has partnered with us in the Make Math Moments District Improvement Program and have had a “night and day” experience from where they were to where they are now on achieving their goals.
This podcast episode dives into the real-world experiences and strategies of Michael & Morgan who are navigating the complexities of supporting math teachers in their district, focusing on developing depth of understanding for their educators, effective coaching methods, and vision and goal alignment.

Are you ready to transform your math classroom into a hub of student engagement and participation?
If you’re a math teacher or educator striving to maintain sustained student engagement and lead effective, captivating lessons, this episode is crafted for you.
We caught up with 2-time mentoring moment guest Jeremy Sarzana, a high school teacher in Boston. Together we dive into nuanced strategies to engage the varying level of audiences we see during our day using timing, cadence, and the art of “reading the room”.
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.
Don’t miss out on these transformative insights – listen to this episode now to elevate your teaching and make every math moment matter in your classroom!

Are you struggling to find the perfect balance between knowing what is enough guidance and structure you need to effectively teach your grade level or course? If you’re a district leader of math programming and struggling to figure out this same balance?
How much is too much hand-holding?
For math educators, coaches, and administrators, the challenge often lies in equipping teachers with the right tools without overshadowing their unique teaching styles while at the same time trying to create “buy-in” with what is effective.
This episode delves into this common dilemma, offering insights and strategies for those in educational leadership roles. It’s tailored to help you empower teachers while ensuring that they remain motivated and innovative in their approach to teaching math.
Tune in to gain valuable insights into striking the right balance in supporting math teachers, and take the first step towards transforming the way you approach teacher development in your institution!

How can we engage our students for the entire class with grade level content? Puzzles aligned to grade level standards is one answer.
In this episode we speak with Gordon Hamilton from Mathpickle.com who designs mathematical puzzles for K-12 classrooms.
Stick with us and you’ll learn How to use puzzles to teach grade level standards, how to challenge students who tend to move through problems faster than others, and why games are important for mathematical thinking.

It can feel frustrating and overwhelming and you’ll feel like you’re forced to “go back to the drawing board” when your curriculum resource is pulled away from you.

What do we consider when trying to select a new curriculum resource?

Are we supposed to create our own resources from scratch?
As educators, we are constantly facing the challenge of adapting our teaching methods to improve student understanding and engagement.
This often involves exploring new pedagogies, such as problem-based learning, and selecting the right curriculum resources that align with our teaching goals.
In this episode we speak with long-time friend of the show Katrien Vance, a middle school math teacher in Virginia.
Katriene is trying to decide how to transition to a new curriculum resource and feels overwhelmed with the work ahead. Stick around and you’ll hear how together we make a plan for next steps.