Blue Glasses Math

Get ready to rethink what it really means to be a “math person” as we dive into a lively chat with the incredible Brendan Scribner! Brendan’s career started in a middle school math classroom in Vermont and has taken him on a journey through various roles, all the way to transforming entire school systems. He’s got a fresh, inspiring take on how we can help students (and teachers!) see themselves a...

In this episode, I chat with Tanya LaMar, first generation college student who earned her Ph. D. in mathematics education from Stanford University! Tanya is the CEO of Struggly.com, an online program for students that helps them "walk the walk" of growth mindset as they grapple with interesting mathematic. Dr. LaMar shares with us the surprising role that struggle plays in math learning. We begin...

What stories do students bring to math class, and how do those stories impact their engagement with math? In Season Two, we will delve deeper into how our beliefs about what it means to be a math person makes a tremendous impact on learning and teaching. We will get specific about the synergy between affect and math learning. We will explore how emotional factors like anxiety, frustration, joy, an...

In this episode, we kick things off with a thought-provoking quote from Dan Meyer: "Students know what it feels like to have their education done to them rather than with them and they vastly prefer the latter." Let's dive into what this means and how it ties into the core human needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in the classroom. We'll ask the big question: "Do our educational values...

What do I actually mean when I say, "shift our perspective on what it means to be a math person"? Why the Blue Glasses? In this episode, you will learn more about the reason why I am calling for a shift in perspective. Why I think that the focus on "good at math" has been misdirected. Why I think math can be a vehicle for hope, agency and persistence. Inspiration for this episode, Brene Brown, Atl...

In this episode, 2 in a series of 3, we begin to take a peek at how math teacher identity may influence how they show up as math teachers. Yes, each teacher brings their own unique stories with them to their lessons. Those stories influence how teachers plan lessons, ask and answer questions, respond to faulty student reasoning and more. Let's take a look at changing the perspective on learned hel...

In this first of a three-part series, I talk about learned helplessness in math class. Is helplessness learned, or taught? What does helplessness represent? What are the implications of helplessness? And what can we do about it? Let's shift our perspectives on what it means to be "helpless" in math class. This series was inspired by this quote: Equitable Practices without high expectations are not...

Do teachers (and parents) play a role in shaping the flavors of students' mathematical narratives? You bet! We have the power to influence the bitterness or sweetness of students' mathematical experiences. Join me as I introduce the metaphor of a Mason jar as a container for students' math autobiographies. Each of our students comes to us with a jar - pre-filled with their thoughts and beliefs abo...

Building math confidence is like planting a seed that grows into a sturdy tree, providing a strong foundation for all future mathematical exploration and learning. It's important because confident students are more likely to take risks, embrace challenges, and persist through difficult problems, viewing mistakes not as failures but as vital steps in the learning process. .

Confidence is key when teaching and learning math effectively. So why are so many teachers (yes...there are plenty out there)...not super confident when it comes to teaching math "effectively"? In this episode I talk about what confident teachers do...and how vulnerability is a necessary factor in the confidence equation.

In a profession that makes all other professions possible, teachers have a lofty task. Teachers are tasked with preparing our kiddos to step out in the world and be able to function as independent members of society. What if we saw math class as a training ground to develop the life skills that every human needs, like curiosity, patience, concentration, self-confidence and perseverance. Because th...

Yup. The superintendent walked in on a fight, and witnessed, first-hand, how learners' beliefs will shift when they are given the space to express their opinions and co-create their mathematical thinking with one another. Let's take a look.

In this episode, I revisit the belief cycle Beliefs Thoughts Actions Results and begin to explore how simple actions we take, such as listening, can foster shifts in how students see themselves as math learners.

Imagine a student facing a complex math problem. The belief here might be, "I'm not good at math." This thought can lead to hesitancy in action, perhaps disengagement, disruptive behaviors, daydreaming. . And the result? A reinforcement of the belief, "See, I just can't do math." In this episode, I introduce the belief cycle and how it drives how students see themselves as math learners AND how te...

When we change our perspective on how mistakes help us learn, we develop hope from the struggle that is part of the problem solving process. In this episode, I explore the idea around tinkering in math and how tinkering, making mistakes and learning from those mistakes is where mathematical learning leads to hope in learners' future success. This episode was inspired by Brene Brown and Francis Su...

In this episode, we explore the somewhat uncharted territory of emotions in the world of math. I discuss the profound human experiences of frustration and satisfaction, showcasing how we can support learners in their emotional journey simply by not rescuing them from the uncomfortable emotions that sometimes accompany learning math.

In this episode we explore the similarities between rollercoasters and math class. People pay good money to ride rollercoasters so they can experience the thrill of the ups and downs...they pay to be scared. They pay for this experience because they feel safe. In a math class, there are twists and turns that can sometimes make students (and teachers) feel like they just need to grab the bathroom p...

We spend so much time thinking about the "right" curriculum, choosing and analyzing quarterly assessments, and designing environments for learning. What if we started paying attention to the "feelings" that happen when we do math? Come take a look. Your perspective may shift.

When I took the textbooks away, my 8th graders started to believe in themselves as mathematical learners.

My students complained to the school principal about my teaching style. They asked the administration remove me from my job as their 8th grade math teacher. In this episode of Blue Glasses Math, I tell the story about what happened when my students got fed up with my incessant questioning about their mathematical reasoning. They insisted that I didn't tell them the steps for solving problems...and...

What happens when an experienced teacher comes together with students who don't buy what she is selling?