Blue Glasses Math

Talking with Courtney Flessner feels like an invitation to rethink what math education is for . In this episode, we explore why teaching math can’t be reduced to getting the right answers—and why understanding the “why” behind the math matters just as much as the “how.” Courtney pushes us to ask brave questions about our practice, to sit with discomfort, and to see reflection as an act of care for...

Christopher Danielson has a way of making math feel more human, more joyful, and more deeply connected to the curiosity we all carry. In this episode, we talk about the math stories that shaped us, the importance of teachers doing real math, and what it means to truly listen to children’s thinking. Christopher also shares the heart behind Math on a Stick , his playful State Fair initiative that in...

I instantly knew I wanted to be Shelby's friend when I met her in Atlanta this Fall at the NCSM Annual Meeting. Not only does she seem to know everyone in math education, she carries herself with a warmth and wholeheartedness that’s impossible to miss. Shelby is the kind of educator who leads with joy, connection, and a deep belief in students. In this episode, Shelby joins me to talk about th...

What’s your math story? In this episode, Kristen Acosta brings us into hers—and invites us to reimagine math as a subject filled with movement, conversation, and curiosity. Known for her innovative use of clothesline math, Kristen shares how she makes learning visual, kinesthetic, and joyfully human in her classroom and in professional learning experiences. Kristen helps us with actionable strateg...

In this episode, I delve into the importance of emotions in math education. Teaching math isn't just about facts and procedures; it's about how students feel when grappling with mathematical ideas. I emphasize the need for students to experience emotions like grappling and perseverance, which are essential for learning and personal growth. Drawing from my research and two decades in math c...

What’s your math story? That’s where we begin this episode with the brilliant minds behind Smart With It , Jill Diniz and James Tanton . Together, they share powerful personal journeys—how emotions, curiosity, and frustration shaped their beliefs about mathematics and, ultimately, their purpose as math educators. Jill and James speak with honesty and heart about what it means to be “smart with it”...

In this episode of Blue Glasses Math,  I welcome Jen Dalton, Math Department Chair at New England Innovation Academy. We discuss the importance of building trust with students, and innovative teaching methods that integrate real-world applications and cross-disciplinary skills. Takeways Building trust with students is crucial for a successful learning environment. Real-world applications make math...

In this episode, I engage in a thought-provoking conversation with William Polan, an international school educator and math coach based in Thailand. We explore the transformative power of inquiry-based learning in math education, discussing how it fosters student confidence, creativity, and self-directed learning. William shares insights from his upcoming book, "The Inquiry Math Classroom,&qu...

In this episode of Blue Glasses Math , I sit down with four incredible math education leaders to explore the Math Narrative Project —a powerful initiative reshaping the way we think and talk about math teaching and learning. Please welcome  Dionne Aminata, Deborah Peart Crayton, Adrienne Baytops Paul and Nicole Joseph, PhD to the conversation.  We center student voices, especially the voices of Bl...

In this episode, I’m joined by Jennifer Lempp—math coach, author, and advocate for empowering students through the Math Workshop model. Jennifer opens up about her own struggles with math, and how those early experiences shaped her passion for helping every student see themselves as a math person. We talk about what it really takes to create a classroom where students feel safe, seen, and supporte...

In this power-packed Pam² episode of Blue Glasses Math , I sit down with Pam Harris!! Pam Harris is shifting the way we view and teach mathematics. She is a mom, former high school math teacher, university lecturer, author and the Founder of Math is Figureoutable. Math teachers around the world rave about her online Building Powerful Mathematics workshops. For over 20 years, Pam has been helping l...

What’s your math story? In this deeply inspiring episode of Blue Glasses Math , I sit down with the one and only Jo Boaler —mathematics education researcher, author of Math-ish , and founder of YouCubed . We talk about shifting math culture from correctness to curiosity, and from isolation to collaboration. Bentley, Jo’s adorable 14-week-old puppy, joins us too—snoozing peacefully in her lap as we...

In this episode of Blue Glasses Math , I talk about the importance of understanding the beliefs we each carry about teaching and learning math—and how those beliefs impact both us as teachers and our students. I share why it’s so powerful to reflect on our own math stories, and how the stories our students bring into the classroom shape their learning. We’ll explore the role emotions play in formi...

In this solo episode, I reconnect with the Blue Glasses Math community, reflecting on the deeper purpose of teaching mathematics. I emphasize the importance of humanizing math education, focusing on the emotional experiences of students, and the virtues that mathematics can cultivate. Through personal anecdotes and insights from educational research, I discuss the belief cycle in math education an...

What do you get when two deeply reflective educators who love math — and love teachers — show up with vulnerability, humor, and a whole lot of heart? In this episode, Zak Champagne (Chief Content Officer at Flynn Education and co-author of enVision Mathematics ) and Dr. Mike Flynn (former second-grade teacher and Director of Math Leadership Programs at Mount Holyoke College, and now CEO of Flynn E...

In this engaging episode, Ron Martiello shares his deeply personal and evolving journey with mathematics. From proudly wearing Smurf stickers in elementary school after winning fast-fact games to becoming a passionate math coach and author, Ron reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped his perspective. He dives into the power of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in creating accessible math ins...

Summary In this engaging conversation, Zach Champagne shares his journey in math education, emphasizing the importance of authentic questioning, fostering curiosity, and creating safe spaces for students to express their ideas. The discussion highlights the need for teachers to model vulnerability and uncertainty, as well as the value of community and discourse in the math classroom. Zach also dis...

In this episode of Blue Glasses Math , I sit down with Marc Seigel—STEM educator and high school chemistry and design teacher—to talk about the power of mistake-making in learning. From flaming Doritos to balloon experiments that didn’t go quite as planned, Marc shares how he creates hands-on spaces where students feel safe to take risks, try new things, and grow from every misstep. We dig into ho...

What happens when someone who studied actuarial science and worked in corporate consulting walks away to teach high school math? In this episode, I sit down with Paul Battaglia—a powerful voice in math education who brings passion, intentionality, and deep belief in students to every lesson he teaches. We talk about his journey into education, how he keeps math relevant and real for his students,...

What if the best way to help students to see themselves as math people...is to let them lead the way? In this episode, I sit down with Anne Paoletti-Bayna - award winning educator and creator of a groundbreaking math research elective designed to tap into high school students' curiosity. Anne shares how she creates space where teenagers can ask their own questions and explore mathematics throu...

What happens when we stop treating math like a checklist and start seeing it as a living, breathing human experience? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Kris Childs shares how centering student interests — starting with a group of sneaker-obsessed teens — unlocked a classroom full of powerful mathematical thinking. We explore why context matters, how technology can be a tool for deeper engagement,...

In this episode of Blue Glasses Math , I sit down with Dr. Chepina Rumsey and Dr. Jody Guarino, authors of Nurturing Math Curiosity with Learners in Grades K–2 . They unpack the power of student-driven inquiry in early math classrooms—and how curiosity, when nurtured, becomes the gateway to mathematical reasoning, identity, and joy. From classroom anecdotes involving first graders debating the rel...

What if math felt like a playground instead of a test? In this episode, I sit down with Cindy Lawrence, executive director and CEO of the National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) in New York City and one of its visionary founders. We explore Cindy’s math story, from second-grade struggles to rediscovering wonder through museum-making. We talk about the emotions that live inside math — joy, struggle...

Deborah Peart brings her perspective of what it feels like to be a student in a classroom whose mathematical ideas are not valued. Deborah uses her experiences as a student of math to help teachers understand that all students can learn math AND that all people who do math - are Mathers. Deborah is the founder of My Mathematical Mind. She trains teachers to create environments where all students c...

"Always bet on people" - Dan Meyer In this episode of Blue Glasses Math , I sit down with Dan Meyer , a passionate advocate for better math instruction that truly supports both teachers and students . You may know him from his viral TED Talk, Math Class Needs a Makeover , or his work as Chief Academic Officer at Desmos Classroom , or his recent National Math Leadership Award from NCSM . Dan shares...