Math Chat

Epizode

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  Build Belonging in Your Math Class (Part 6 of Creating a Classroom of Problem Solvers) 20.07.2026 14min

  Send us Fan Mail Build Belonging in Your Math Classroom Do all your students feel like they belong in math class? In this episode of Math Chat, we're wrapping up the Creating a Community of Problem Solvers series by exploring the foundation that holds every other instructional practice together: belonging. You'll hear why students can't become confident problem solvers until they know their ideas matter, how each part of your math block can strengthen (or weaken) classroom commun...
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  Student-Engaged Assessment: Creating a Classroom of Problem Solvers (Part 5) 12.07.2026 13min

  Send us Fan Mail Assessment shouldn't be something we do to students. It should be something we do with them. In this episode of the Math Chat Podcast, we're continuing our Creating a Classroom of Problem Solvers series by exploring the fifth strand of the framework: Student-Engaged Assessment. Too often, assessment data stays in teacher binders, spreadsheets, and data meetings. But what if we invited students into the process? When students understand the learning goal, reflect on their prog...
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  Strategic Instruction: Creating a Classroom of Problem Solvers (Part 4) 06.07.2026 16min

  Send us Fan Mail When do you actually teach in a student-centered math classroom? Teacher friend... if you've ever wondered that, you're not alone. In Part 4 of the Creating a Classroom of Problem Solvers series, we're talking all about Strategic Instruction—the teaching moves that happen because of what your students show you. We'll unpack why student-centered instruction absolutely includes direct instruction... just not the way many of us were taught. Instead of teaching what's next becaus...
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  Purposeful Fluency: Part 3 of Creating a Classroom of Problem Solvers 29.06.2026 14min

  Send us Fan Mail What if math fluency wasn't about speed... but about thinking? In this episode of the Math Chat Podcast, we're rethinking what it means to build mathematical fluency in elementary classrooms. Instead of timed tests and memorization, discover how purposeful fluency helps students develop flexible strategies, notice patterns, explain their reasoning, and build lasting mathematical understanding. You'll learn practical math fluency activities that promote reasoning, discussion, ...
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  Creating a Classroom of Problem Solvers: Thinking Routines (Part 2) 22.06.2026 16min

  Send us Fan Mail Before students can confidently solve problems, they need opportunities to confidently share ideas. We're continuing our Creating a Classroom of Problem Solvers series by exploring one of my favorite places to start: Thinking Routines. These routines create low-pressure opportunities for students to notice patterns, share ideas, compare strategies, justify their thinking, and build confidence as mathematicians. We'll discuss why thinking routines matter, how they support math...
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  What Your Math Block Needs & How to Fit It All In (Part 1 of Creating a Classroom of Problem Solvers) 15.06.2026 18min

  Send us Fan Mail Creating a classroom of problem solvers can feel overwhelming when you're trying to fit problem solving, fluency, discourse, assessment, intervention, and curriculum pacing into a single math block. In this episode we're unpacking the six essential elements that help students become confident, capable mathematicians and how these elements work together to create a classroom where students do the thinking, talking, and problem solving. Inspired by the research in Adding It Up:...
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  How to Launch the Year With a Problem-Solving Mindset in Math Class 08.06.2026 17min

  Send us Fan Mail What if the most important thing you teach at the beginning of the year isn’t a routine… but a belief about what math actually IS? In this episode of the Math Chat Podcast, we’re talking about how to launch the school year with a true problem-solving mindset so students learn to think, persevere, discuss ideas, and trust themselves as mathematicians from day one. Because students learn what math is by experiencing math. If math is always watching, copying, and repeating, stud...
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  Reflecting on the School Year as a Math Teacher 01.06.2026 15min

  Send us Fan Mail What if before planning next year… you actually took time to recognize how much growth happened THIS year? In this episode of the Math Chat Podcast, we’re talking about meaningful end-of-year reflection for math teachers, how to recognize the shifts that happened in your classroom, and why reflection is one of the most important parts of learning. Before we jump into planning next year, new classroom supplies, fresh routines, and all the “what should I change?” thoughts, I wa...
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  Why Turn and Talk Is the Key to Student Thinking in Math 25.05.2026 9min

  Send us Fan Mail Turn and talk is one of the most common strategies in math classrooms—but most teachers aren’t using it in a way that actually builds student thinking. In this episode, (part 4 of the Math Discussion Makeover Series) we break down how to use turn and talk intentionally to unlock deeper thinking, increase engagement, and strengthen math discussions. What You’ll Learn: Why turn and talk doesn’t always lead to real thinkingThe role of rehearsal in helping students explain their...
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  Why Your Questions Are Limiting Student Thinking in Math 18.05.2026 10min

  Send us Fan Mail What if your math questioning strategies are actually limiting student thinking? In this episode, we unpack why many “open-ended” math questions are really closed in disguise—and how a few simple shifts in your math questioning strategies can unlock deeper thinking and stronger math discussions. After this episode you'll know... How common math questioning strategies can unintentionally stop student thinking The difference between true open-ended questi...
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  Why Repeating Students Is Killing Your Math Discussions 11.05.2026 9min

  Send us Fan Mail What if one of the most common teaching habits is actually training students not to listen? In this episode, we unpack why repeating students during math discussions can quietly kill engagement and what to do instead to build stronger, more meaningful math conversations. What You’ll Learn Why repeating students reduces student-to-student listeningThe hidden reason students disengage during math share timeHow to use revoicing to shift responsibility back to studentsSimple way...
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  Why Your Math Share Time Is Killing Student Engagement 04.05.2026 9min

  Send us Fan Mail If your math share time feels disengaged, the issue might not be your students… it might be the structure. In this episode, we unpack how one common routine is quietly reducing student engagement and what simple shift can help students listen, think, and fully participate in math discussions. What You’ll Learn: Why bringing student work to the carpet can actually lower student engagement What the true purpose of the share is in building student thinking and engagement How ...
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  207: You don’t need a new curriculum. You need a different structure. 27.04.2026 12min

  Send us Fan Mail Have you ever found yourself walking around during grapple time unsure of where to go or what to say? This episode taps into that exact moment—when students are at different stages and the instinct is to jump in and fix everything. You’ll discover why the real power of grapple time isn’t in giving answers, but in how you respond to student thinking in math. Most teachers were trained to look for correct answers, not to analyze thinking. During grapple time, that leads to scan...
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  206: What Actually Changed When One School Rethought Math Instruction 20.04.2026 9min

  Send us Fan Mail You’ve likely felt this before—leaving a PD inspired, only to return to the same classroom routines the next day. This episode opens with an honest question: if we know what works in math instruction, why aren’t we seeing real change? The answer isn’t more effort—it’s creating the structure and support needed to make math a language of power in every classroom. We’ve explored the problem and what’s possible—now it’s time to make it actionable. This section bridges theory to p...
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  205: If You Feel Like Math Isn’t Working… It’s Not You 13.04.2026 9min

  Send us Fan Mail In recent conversations, we’ve unpacked a common frustration: math instruction isn’t always producing the confident problem solvers we hope for. But what if the issue isn’t effort or ability—what if it’s structure? This episode opens the door to what’s possible when a school shifts how students experience math as a language of power. Here’s the surprising part: nothing new was added—no new curriculum, no extra workload. Instead, the focus was on implementing a consistent, pre...
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  204: Why Math Class Isn’t Building Confident Problem Solvers (And It’s Not What You Think) 06.04.2026 9min

  Send us Fan Mail What if the reason students struggle with math problem solving has nothing to do with effort, curriculum, or ability? In this opening, we challenge a common assumption and reveal a powerful truth: the structure of math classrooms is often what holds students back from building confidence. This shift in perspective sets the stage for transforming how we think about teaching math as a language of power. Step into a real classroom scenario where a single moment exposes a d...
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  203: Why Knowing What To Do Isn’t Changing Your Math Classroom 30.03.2026 9min

  Send us Fan Mail Have you ever walked out of professional development thinking, “That makes so much sense”… only to return to your classroom and teach the exact same way? You’re not alone—and this episode dives into the real reason why knowing better doesn’t always lead to doing better in your math classroom. Here’s the reality: teachers don’t struggle because they lack knowledge—they struggle because change requires action before confidence. In math education, that gap between knowing and do...
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  202: The Problem With Gamifying Math (And What Actually Helps Students Learn) 23.03.2026 8min

  Send us Fan Mail Right now, gamified math platforms are everywhere—and yes, they can feel like a lifesaver. Students are engaged, they’re excited, and for a moment, it feels like learning is happening seamlessly through technology in math classrooms. However, this episode invites you to pause and consider what these tools are actually teaching students about math. At first glance, math games seem to promote engagement. But in reality, many students are focused on speed, rewards, and getting b...
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  201: Why Word Problems Feel Hard Even When Students Know the Math 09.03.2026 10min

  Send us Fan Mail Many teachers have experienced this exact moment. Students can add, subtract, and multiply during a lesson, but the moment they see a word problem, everything seems to unravel. In this episode, we explore why word problems in math often feel so challenging—even when students clearly know the computation. One of the biggest shifts in teaching math word problems is understanding the difference between knowing procedures and making sense of a situation. Students may remember ste...
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  200: I Still Believe This after 200 episodes! & 🎁 a free Gift 02.03.2026 8min

  Send us Fan Mail Reaching 200 episodes of the Math Chat is more than a milestone—it’s a movement. For two hundred conversations, we’ve challenged the idea that math is just memorizing steps and instead focused on building thinkers through meaningful math word problems and discussion. Most importantly, this episode reflects on what still matters most after years of listening, learning, and growing alongside educators like you. The Belief Shift: Thinking Builds Test Success After 200 episodes, ...