Solving for the Undefined: A Math Teacher Podcast

What if I told you that I found the key to your students' math success? It would be hard to believe, right? In today's episode, Jay Brown is bringing us all the details on how self-efficacy can speed up student learning and set them up for math success. Let's get started. Links Connect with Jay on Instagram Visit Jay's website to learn more Check out the Seven Math Teacher Must Hav...

Ready for state testing? I'm not! But whether we are ready or not, with state testing coming up, we are all looking for ways to creatively review everything that we have been learning this year. Today I am going to share a game that is going to have your students up & moving and solving math problems. It’s called the Paper Bag Review. Let’s get started! Links Grab my free guide: Seven Math Tea...

Did you know that 10% of students are considered gifted? Not just in a “wow they are really smart!” way, but in a Talented and Gifted student (Tag, Gate, etc.) And if you have a class of 30, that’s roughly 3 kids. So how can you identify and provide support for them in the classroom? With the expertise of Kimberly Jayne, we are going to learn just that. Let’s get started! Links Join Molding Mathem...

Raise your hand if you like your school's math curriculum. Yup...not many hands raised! That's because the majority of textbooks were not designed with our post-covid students in mind. So in today's episode, I am going to be sharing three ways to give your curriculum an upgrade. Let's get started! Links Come hang out with me on Instagram! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/po...

Today’s episode is one that I am thrilled to share with you because it is something that I know is not done enough in the classroom. With the expertise of Elaina Weaver, the classy teacher, we are going to learn how simple it truly is to implement choice in the classroom. Let’s get started. Links Join the Chaos to Community mini-course here! Connect with Elaina on Instagram Read more about Choice...

It’s time to take a stand! Quite literally actually. In today’s episode, I am going to be sharing what I believe is the most overlooked way to get students’ brains thinking and engaged with math. And that is adding movement in the math classroom. Let's get started. Links Supply Round Up Slides Musical Partner Slides Join my mini course, Chaos to Community Clock partners [FREE] --- Support this pod...

The one thing that all of us teachers need is more time. More time to plan, to grade, and to teach. One way to maximize teaching time in the classroom is by implementing the math workshop model. In today's episode, Jamie Miller (@jamiemillermath) is sharing her expertise on what the math workshop model is, how to implement it, and the benefits it has on student collaboration. Let's get started! Li...

When you see math class in movies and tv shows, do you recall how it’s depicted? Typically as a boring direct instruction lesson full of algorithms. But anyone who truly knows math knows how frickin' cool it is! So in today's episode, I walk through 4 ways to bring creativity to the math classroom. With that, let's get started. Links Math Teacher Must Haves for Student Success Rotation Scavenger H...

Put the magic back into math worksheets by turning them into games! In this episode, Brooklyn, from Brooklyn's Brightest, shares her expertise on two games that transform worksheets into games. Links Brooklyn's Blog Brooklyn's Instagram Math Teacher Must Haves for Student Success --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/solving-for-the-undefined/support

WOW! It is wild that we have reached 50 episodes of Solving for the Undefined Podcast. In celebration of this milestone, I am going to share 3 things I wish I knew about teaching math when I first started. Let's get started Links Math Teacher Must Haves Guide Episode 49: Rough Draft Thinking Episode 44: Better Warmups for Math Class Episode 40: Homework, Yay or Nay? Miss Kuiper Instagram --- Suppo...

Here's my 2nd best teacher tip: utilize rough draft thinking as an essential practice in your math classroom.  What started off as a random attempt to get students to try turned into the daily practice of rough draft thinking. And in today's episode, I share that experience and how you can replicate it for your students. Whether it's students below grade level or apathetic learners, this can...

How often do you get this question from your students? When am I going to use this in real life? In today's episode,  we’re going to help answer that question. With Caroline’s expertise, we are going to be talking about how to create project based assessments using real world examples. Let's get started! Links Project Based Assessment Starter Kit Math Teacher Must Haves for Student Success --...

Looking for a math review game to wrap up a unit? The Unfair Game is the perfect game to keep students engaged while actually showing work on math problems. In today's episode, I share the rules, the setup, the pros and cons, and how to make it better. Let's get started! Continue to build math community through my mini course: Chaos to Community ! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spoti...

Wondering how to use strategic questioning in math to further student thinking? In this episode, Mona Iehl and I share how we do just that in our classrooms.  Links Show notes for this episode "Never Say What a Kid Can Say" Article Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl In the Moment by Jen Munson 5 Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematics Discussions   *contains affil...

What better way to start of 2023 than to predict what could happen this year? In today's episode I share 4 predictions I have about 2023 in regards to the math education space. Links Chaos to Community Course --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/solving-for-the-undefined/support

How soon after the bell rings do your students start to think critically about math? In today's episode, I share 4 tasks you can use to get your students thinking critically as soon as the bell rings. Let's get started! Links Crack the Code Which one doesn't belong? Estimation 180 TED-Ed Riddles --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/solving-for-the-undefined...

Kids feel safer and perform better when there is consistency in the classroom. In today's episode, I share 3 ways to be consistent to help student be successful with math. Let's get started! LINKS Free Classroom Slides Math Teacher Must Haves --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/solving-for-the-undefined/support

One of the four major correlations of positive student outcomes is teachers having high expectations for their students. But what does that look like? In today's episode, we dive into what the research shows, what high expectations are, and how to live it out in the classroom. Let's get started. Links Seven Math Teacher Must Haves            &...

Are the problems you're assigning students actually worth their time? If there's no cognitive demand, it might be a time waster. In today's episode, we explore what cognitive demand is and isn't, how to make problems better and how to scaffold without taking away the rigor. Join us for another exciting episode of Solving for the Undefined Podcast. I'm glad you're here. Links Math Teacher Must Have...

Homework is a complex topic that is highly debated in the education space. Today we talk about the pros, cons, and how to make it an equitable item for student success. Let's get started. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/solving-for-the-undefined/support

Building connections that first week of school is vital in building the foundation of trust. Team building activities are a way to start paving the way to having a community within the classroom.  In today's episode, I share team building activities that can achieve the following things: Students getting to know each other. Students working towards a common goal. Students learning to trust ea...

Think back to an emotion-packed moment. Do you remember everything that was said or how the words made you feel? Words have a powerful impact on our impressionable students.  In today's episode we talk about how to tweak your words to ensure they evoke positive emotions in your students. Links from today's episode: Download your free Daily Slides Template --- Support this podcast: https://pod...

As teachers, we know that going visual is the best thing since sliced-bread. But are you using them to their full potential? In today's episode, we dive into how to use slides, whether Google or PowerPoint, to help your students be successful. I talk about the 3 types of slides, Intro/Agenda, Warmup, and Work Time.  Links from today's episode: Download your free Daily Slides Template Join Mat...

Looking for ways to make math more visual and hands-on? In today's episode I share the 7 manipulatives that have changed the game in my classroom. Take a listen! If you enjoyed this episode, download my "Seven Math Teacher Must-Haves for Student Success" to learn about 6 more must haves for your math classroom. Links from the episode Kristen Damman's Algebra Tiles Video Your "Seven Math Teacher Mu...

It seems that summer time is the only time I make reading a priority. In today's episode, I share my summer reading list and why I chose them. Here are my 3 teacher-reads for this summer: Teaching with Poverty in Mind by Eric Jensen Fair isn't Always Equal by Rick Wormeli Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics by Peter Liljedahl These links are affiliate links meaning I make a small percentag...