Making Math Moments That Matter

In this episode we speak with professor, author, speaker Jennifer Bay-Williams. Dr. Bay-Williams is an internationally respected mathematics educator, a prolific author and popular speaker on topics related to effective mathematics teaching. Her most recent work has focused on fluency in mathematics, communicating that it is more than learning facts and algorithms, but is about being able to reaso...

What do I do after I finish a lesson? How does practice fit in? Do I have enough time to build conceptual understanding using a problem-based lesson AND still build fluency?  In this episode Kyle and Jon share how they design lessons to meet these common “pebbles in our shoes” and while still covering the content standards.  You’ll learn:  How to teach through problem based lessons with intentiona...

Today we bring on Laura Tomas for a record third appearance. Laura has been an educator for 31 years, she’s a math coach and fellow podcast host from Palm Beach Florida.  Laura chats with us today about providing support during the pandemic, why school leaders and coaches need to step into a teaching role on a regular basis, how to build a mentor/mentee relationship without pushing too hard, and h...

Have you ever met a math guru who shreds the keytar and just so happens to be in a rock band that opened for Bon Jovi? Vanessa Vakharia aka The Math Guru joins us on the show today to talk about why stereotypes are the biggest obstacle when it comes to teaching math, why failing Grade 11 math twice was the best thing that ever happened to her, and why the world would be a better place if math was...

When we hop on our Monthly Q&A Calls with Academy Members or Mentorship Calls with District Math Leaders, one of the largest barriers to transforming mathematics pedagogy and educator content knowledge is time. With a seemingly never ending list of mandatory “to do’s” and a jam packed list of mathematics standards to uncover, it shouldn’t be a surprise. In today’s episode, we’ll be digging int...

In this episode we discuss how to use trickery or influence in your math class for good. We’ll discuss the difference between moral influence and immorary trickery; how educators could and should consider methods of moral influence to promote building student proficiency and a productive disposition towards mathematics; we’ll show you examples of helpful influence and less helpful influence; and,...

In this episode we speak with Chris Shore all about changing the world and why clothesline math is the master number sense maker. Chris has spent 33 years in education helping students understand their mathematical identities and he’s here with us to give you resources and ideas around a great teaching tool.  You’ll Learn:  How curiosity can spark students to ask “why” and dig into math more deepl...

In episode 189 we discussed all things assessment and standards based grading with guru Tom Schimmer. We knew you had follow up questions around assessing in your classroom so in this episode we’re sharing a question and answer session we had with members of the Make Math Moments Academy all around assessment with standards based grading.  Stick around and you’ll hear answers to:  How to blend sta...

Today we speak with an independent education author, speaker, and consultant from Vancouver, BC. Over the course of his career he has been a classroom teacher, school administrator, and district level leader. Tom is an internationally recognized leader and expert in the areas of assessment, grading, RTI, and educational leadership. In our discussion we’ll discuss which assessment practices are tim...

In this episode, we’re excited to bring back two of our past educator guests for a discussion about supporting teachers through instructional coaching. We spoke with Jess Michalchuk back in Episode 169 on the topic of Building Math Moment Makers and we spoke with Lana Steiner in Episode 143 on How To Effectively Capture Observations and Conversations; two very highly regarded episodes! Today we ge...

Do you have students who struggle with math in your classroom? How can we get them to take the earbuds out and actually put in effort in our classes? On today’s episode we talk to Juliana Tapper from CollaboratEd and cover misconceptions about teaching students who struggle with math plus get some actionable tips about how to get these students more engaged.  Juliana taught Algebra 1 and Math Inte...

In this Where Are They Now? episode, we speak with Tom Marker, a 6th grade teacher from Ohio. Tom is back to update us on how he has progressed moving students away from relying on algorithms towards reasoning and applying strategies when solving problems. After an update from Tom, you’ll hear the current pebble knocking around in his shoe as he seeks to find balance when it comes to the expectati...

In this Math Mentoring Moment Episode, we speak with Jonathan Lind, a high school math teacher currently teaching at an American school in Qatar! Over his career, he has been working to build a more authentic math classroom starting with assessment as he leverages the power of problem solving and communication.. This is a Math Moment Maker Reflection episode where we talk with a member of our fant...

It has been a long school year for those in the Northern Hemisphere! Whether you are already off on summer break like our friends in the Southern States of the U.S. or whether you’re eagerly looking to the end of June like our Friends here in Canada, the time to rest, reflect and recharge for the next school year is upon us.  In this episode, we will dig into some of the most impactful learning we...

In this episode, we sit down for a chat with Dr. Tashana Howse, an associate professor of mathematics education at Georgia Gwinnett College. With over 22 years in mathematics education, Tashana has a wealth of experience teaching in the high school classroom and now helps to develop the teachers of tomorrow through preservice teacher education courses.  Stick around as we dive into Tashana’s Make...

As we continue another school year during this pandemic, educators everywhere are asking themselves: What should I focus on most? How can I help my students get ready for the next grade level? Do I have time to teach through problem solving or should I just teach with direct instruction? What resources can I use so that I cover the curriculum and still teach deep learning? Let’s take a deep dive i...

Today we speak with Christine Michalyshen, a math consultant in Winnipeg, Manitoba. As a mathematics consultant for the Frontier School Division, Christine shares her experiences early in her career as she struggled to meet the needs of her diverse student population with a wide range of mathematical readiness. After learning about Laney Sammons work with Guided Math, Christine dove in and is now...

In this episode of the Making Math Moments That Matter Podcast, we sit down with fellow Math Moment Maker, Chase Orton. Chase is a self-proclaimed “Imperfect and Unfinished Math Teacher” and today, we sit him down to talk about exactly what that means.  The Imperfect and Unfinished Math Teacher is actually the title of Chase’s brand new book where he offers a vulnerable and courageous grassroots g...

In this episode Jon & Kyle outline their experience using worksheets. You’ll hear them outline different styles of worksheets while giving you insight on how to design them to maximize student thinking. You’ll learn when you should use a worksheet, what types of problems should go on the worksheet, and when you should ditch the worksheet altogether.  You’ll learn:  The types of problems/questi...

In this special episode Kyle & Jon highlight and showcase one of their favourite new podcasts: Debate Math Podcast!  Recently in episode 4 of the Debate Math Podcast Jon and his daughter Lucie went head-to-head against Kyle and his daughter Taliah to debate: Is a hotdog a sandwich?  In this cross-posted episode you’ll hear the two hosts of the Debate Math Podcast, Chris Luzniak and Rob Baier s...

In this Math Mentoring Moment Episode, we speak with Jeremy Sarzana, a high school math teacher at a Vocational High School in Boston, Massachusetts. Jeremy has been putting all kinds of great pedagogical practices into play including students working in randomized groups to engage in problem based lessons and is having success. However, when it comes time to consolidate the lesson, the student pa...

Today we speak with University Professor, author and former Making Math Moments That Matter Online Workshop participant, Elana Reise. Elana joins us today to chat about how we can leverage curiosity to engage students in solving abstract mathematics - in particular, mathematical proofs!  Join us for a great conversation with Elana where we discuss her initial hesitation to get into mathematics edu...

Today we speak with Sarah Stecher from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Sarah has experience teaching courses from Geometry all the way through to AP Calculus in the most diverse public high school in Michigan. She is now the chief lesson designer at Math Medic, a website that provides free lesson plans for teachers, covering the entire high school math curriculum. The discussion today will focus around th...

In this episode, we’re eager to dive into a discussion about the beginning of each and every math class… you got it: Warm-Ups!  Stick around and you’ll hear how the Math Moment Maker Community defines and implements warm-ups, why different approaches to implementing warm-ups can be helpful and how you can be a little more choosy with your next math class warm-up in this jam packed episode. You’ll...

In this “where are they now” episode, we speak with Caitlyn Sloan, a high school math teacher from Georgia is back to update us on how she has managed since sharing struggles to bring a problem based approach to her support students. After sharing the changes she’s made in her approach, we then dig into her most recent focus for her math classroom: communication. How can we emphasize communication...