Making Math Moments That Matter

Mary Kemper  is the Director of Mathematics for Coppell ISD in Coppell, Texas. She’s an Apple Distinguished Educator, and the outgoing president of the Texas Association of Supervisors of Mathematics. In this episode we chat with Mary about what professional learning and support needs to look like; how to nudge teachers without causing overwhelm;  what to stop doing in your professional developmen...

Today we speak with Nancy from St. Louis. Nancy is a math specialist at her school and is frustrated with an ineffective model of supporting students in need. You’ll hear how she wants a better plan to help the students she works with and together we help her realize what she can influence and how she can proceed to help make change.  This is another  Math Mentoring Moment episode where we talk wi...

Today we bring back Carmen Sinatra from Richmond Hill Ontario for a 3rd time on the show. Carmen continues her chat with us about teaching during a pandemic both face-to-face and online!   By sticking around you’ll hear us discuss two big struggles: how to use portfolios for assessments instead of tests without drowning, and how to manage giving out feedback so you can stay sane!  This is another...

In this episode we chat with Ed Campos Jr. who is building inclusive classrooms through music, technology, and dry-erase paint!  Stick around to hear about 360Math and why you need to be teaching it; what super-moves help students think and feel safe in the classroom and, how to choose ed-tech tools to use with your students.  You’ll Learn:  What is 360Math and why you need to be teaching it.  Wha...

In this episode we speak with author, early years math curriculum designer Doug Clements. Doug is a professor at the university of Denver. He’s published over 130 research studies, authored 23 books on early years mathematics. He’s served on the U.S. President's National Mathematics Advisory Panel and he’s a co-founder of Learningtrajectories.org with his partner Julie Sarama.  Stick around w...

Today we bring back Carmen Sinatra from Richmond Hill Ontario. Carmen is back in the classroom with COVID protocols firmly in place and shares what it has been like teaching from a distance online and preparing for the part of her schedule where she’ll be teaching from a distance face-to-face. By sticking around you’ll hear us chat about two benefits of our new all-day math blocks and what we can...

Today we speak with Howie Hua, an instructor from Fresno State in California. Howie’s love of mathematics, students, and mental health are driving forces he uses to help pre-service teachers along their mathematics learning journeys.  Stick around as Howie gives a master class on how to help teachers and students shift their mindset around mathematics education; five (5) qualities that make someon...

In this, the 100th episode of the Making Math Moments That Matter Podcast, Jon and Kyle reflect on the past 100 “weeks” of learning and why the 2nd annual FREE 2020 Make Math Moments Virtual Summit should be on your calendar. They’ll discuss how many “listens” the podcast has had over the almost two years of weekly episode releases as well as some of the different session topics and “must attend”...

Today we speak with Farshid Safi from the University of Central Florida. We reached out to Farshid after his presentation in NCTM 100 Days of Learning.  In Farshid’s work with educators he helps teachers see how context and connection must take priority above all else. He weaves the mathematical content we have to teach with student identity and their humanness.  Stick around while we learn how to...

In this episode we speak with the godfather of the Thinking Classroom Peter Liljedahl . We spoke with Peter way back on episode 21 of the podcast about how he built the components of the thinking classroom and we needed to bring him back on because we only got through a fraction of what we needed to!  If you haven’t listened yet to Episode 21 we strongly encourage you to push pause on this one and...

In this episode we chat with past mentoring moment guest Stephanie Moore from North Carolina!  We’ve brought Stephanie back on so she can share her plans for an upcoming lesson with us so she can get some feedback on the learning she’s done in our Online Workshop and Academy.  Like Stephanie, many of us are struggling to figure out what our lessons will look like while we’re teaching synchronously...

In another “Where are they now?” episode series we bring back on 5th grade math teacher Matt Makuch from Victoria BC. Matt’s back to talk about the changes he made in his classroom around Vertical non-permanent surfaces, anticipating student solutions, and differentiating his instruction to meet all levels of learners in his class.  This is another  Math Mentoring Moment episode where we talk with...

In this episode Eli Luberoff, the CEO of Desmos not only shares why he thinks most ed-tech software doesn’t make the grade he shares significant insight on what makes Desmos a thought leader in math education.  Stick around while we chat about how ed-tech can hinder learning and how ed-tech can help learning; how a software company’s guiding design principles can make you a better coach and/or tea...

Today we speak with Maia from the Boston area. Maia is a middle school math teacher and is working hard to make all students feel a sense of belonging in her classroom just like they felt when they were in Grade 2. You’ll hear about her own Math Moment that she remembers from math class and how it inspires her to build her own lessons, the work she’s been doing implementing structures from the Rou...

Today on this Where Are They Now Math Mentoring we speak with Laura Tomas from Palm Beach county in Florida. Laura ‘s been teaching for 28 years and she’s an instructional coach for her school.  Laura chats with us today about how she’s applied the suggestions and learning from our conversation back on episode 46 to help her teachers grow as educators. Laura shares how she implemented her plan, wh...

Today we speak with Carmen Sinatra from Richmond Hill Ontario. Carmen is gearing up for her new school year during the pandemic and like many teachers she’s asking questions like: How can we safely use vertical non-permanent surfaces in our classrooms? How do we create groups? How do I plan a 2.5 hour math block?  This is another  Math Mentoring Moment episode where we talk with a member of the Ma...

This week, Jon and Kyle reflect on their experience teaching remotely and realize that while the experience was (and continues to be) a struggle for many, with hardship comes new learning.  Stick around as we search for the silver linings that can easily go unnoticed.   You’ll Learn:  What distance learning has taught us about engagement; What distance learning has taught us about assessment; What...

That there is Whitney Becker - a middle school math teacher from Alabama. Whitney joined us to discuss what activities are great on the first day of school to show students what we as teachers value instead of just going over the rules and syllabus.  This is another  Math Mentoring Moment episode where we talk with a member of the Math Moment Maker Community who is working through struggles and to...

Today we speak with the creator of the 3-act math structure, Guinness Book of World Record holder, national speaker, and Chief Academic Officer at Desmos, Dan Meyer.  We get the dirt on Dan’s background as a student and early days as a teacher. He shares his insights on what lessons should look like, sound like and he lets us in on what a Chief Academic Officer really does.  Stick around and you l...

Kyle and Jon share their insights on what was working and what needed improvement from their emergency remote teaching time before summer and provide suggestions on how you can start this coming school year off on the right foot.  Stick around and you’ll hear how to set the stage to inspire curiosity throughout the school year; how to build trust with your students so you can create an inclusive c...

In this episode we speak with Math Moment Maker Stephanie Moore from North Carolina. Stephanie is a college instructor recently became a Making Math Moments Certified Educator after enrolling in our Full Online Workshop.  We chat with Stephanie about how to prepare students who are underprepared, how to handle lesson flops and what to do next, and what can you do when it seems everyone is struggli...

Today we’re speaking with Robert Q. Berry, he’s the current NCTM president, he’s a professor in the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia, and author of numerous books and articles on equity issues in mathematics education. Stick around to hear Robert discuss math moments he’s had as a student and a teacher. We’ll dive into a book series he’s been working on: Catalyzing Change, w...

While many of us are passionate about teaching mathematics, we’ve found that more often than not many educators do not leave ourselves enough time, energy, or maybe just aren’t interested in learning about money management and in particular, investing despite how mathematically centered finance is.  This episode is a little different in what we normally share, but we feel that financial literacy i...

Today we speak with Ryan Foley from Spokane, Washington. Ryan is a 6th grade math and science teacher, who became a Making Math Moments That Matter Certified Teacher after taking our online workshop! What you’re about to hear is another Math Mentoring Moment episode where we speak with a math moment maker like you who is working on a problem of practice. Together, we’ll brainstorm a plan for overc...

In this episode we speak with Ilana Horn - A professor of math education at Vanderbilt University. Llana’s work is motivated by the underperformance of students in mathematics. Today we talk with Llana about her book Motivated and what is needed to START to motivate your students.  Ilana calls her book the prequel to Peg Smith and Mary K. Stein’s book The 5 Practices to Orchestrating Productive Ma...