Making Math Moments That Matter

In this episode, Jon and Kyle dive deep into a conversation with James O’Neal, founder of Mastery for All, exploring the impact of prioritizing conceptual understanding in math education.  James O'Neal, Jr. is a National Board-Certified middle school math teacher with 15 years of experience, currently teaching at Piedmont IB Middle School in Charlotte, NC. He holds an M.Ed. in Curriculum and...

Have you ever noticed how negativity can take over a mathematics coaching and training session, turning a productive opportunity into a venting session? When challenges dominate, progress gets sidelined, and it’s easy for our hard working teachers to disengage. But with the right approach, you can transform the tone of the session and foster meaningful learning and collaboration. Listen in and lea...

Are you curious about how to overcome the most common challenges in implementing student-centered teaching practices in math and to unpack the 5 Practices For Orchestrating Productive Mathematical Discussions? In this episode, Kyle Pearce, Yvette Lehman and Peg Smith, co-author of the new book Coaching The 5 Practices from Corwin dive into practical strategies for making math classrooms more effec...

Have you ever been in a PD session where the goals were unclear, and the entire experience felt scattered? It’s a common issue that leaves participants frustrated and disengaged. Clarity is the key to transforming professional development sessions into impactful learning experiences. Research by John Hattie shows that teacher clarity significantly affects learning outcomes, and the same principle...

Ever wondered how consistency and patience in teaching methods can drastically improve student & teacher performance in math? This episode dives deep into the challenges and triumphs of designing and sticking with consistent math action plans that support teachers with effective math teaching strategies. Whether you're a teacher aiming to boost your students' math scores or a math co...

Are you ready to transform your math classroom into a space where students see the beauty and relevance of mathematics in their everyday lives? In this episode, we speak with long time friend of the show Sunil Singh who is here to give you a snapshot of his upcoming Make Math Moments Summit session around the Language of Mathematics. Sunil is an author, educator, and advocate for the teaching and...

What if our students were not focused solely on finding the correct answer? What if they felt motivated to discuss and explain math topics? If we want students to deeply understand topics, they need to communicate their thinking, construct arguments, and listen and respond to others. They need to DebateMath! Listen in as Chris Luzniak, author of Debate Math shares his insights on how to get your s...

Are your current assessment methods truly capturing your students' growth and understanding in mathematics? In a world where traditional testing often falls short of showcasing real student achievement, this episode explores innovative strategies that could redefine how we measure success in the math classroom. Whether you're struggling to balance content standards with the need to teach...

How can you keep ALL students engaged and excited about math when the topic doesn’t seem to lend itself to engaging and insightful ideas?  If you're struggling to maintain your students' interest in math or finding it difficult to balance foundational skills with engaging activities, this episode offers practical solutions that could transform your classroom experience. We speak with Kin...

Learn how to use students’ prior knowledge to not only propel them forward to reach the standards in your grade level, but clear up many day-to-day problems that come from managing a classroom full of students. In this episode, we talk with Pamela Seda, author of Choosing to See: A Framework For Equity in the Math Classroom and we share how to structure your lessons so you are in position to use p...

What are the first week of school math activities that you should be using to start the school year off right and never look back?  In this episode, we explore how to kick off your school year with impactful math culture building activities and math classroom activities that set the tone for a year of growth and learning. We’ll also help you understand which components of effective math lessons yo...

What is the most fundamental question in math education right now?  Can you guess?  In this episode we make a bold claim about the fundamental question that needs answering in math education. We’ll share insights into how to be intentional in your math classroom so you can effectively plan, deliver, assess, and learn the standards for your current grade level. If you’re a math leader or administra...

Have you ever wondered how math education varies across the globe and what best practices you may have been missing out on when you are teaching math?  In this episode Kyle and Jon dive into a fascinating conversation with Amy Bride, who shares her research and observations from her year-long sabbatical exploring what teaching and learning math looks like worldwide and is here to help compare your...

What does the next level of support look like in our classrooms? What should it look like to support our students?  This episode dives deep into the world of a dedicated math interventionist who integrates specialized strategies to make math accessible and engaging for all students, especially those facing barriers like dyslexia and economic disadvantages. Tune in to this enlightening episode to s...

It’s likely that you as a math teacher or even your K-12 district may have been focusing on the wrong things when striving for improvement in mathematics.   In this episode, Jon and Kyle dive into a common challenge many educators face: the misalignment of priorities in the math classroom. They discuss how shifting the focus from specific resources to overarching student outcomes can create a more...

In this episode of the Make Math Moments That Matter Podcast, we dive deep into the transformative journey of Seth Boschen as he embarks on a new role leading a team of teachers in his math department.  Faced with the challenge of implementing standards-based grading and integrating portfolios into his classes, Seth shares his insights and experiences that will resonate with any educator looking t...

Are you leveraging your curriculum resources for mathematics to their fullest potential in the classroom? In today's fast-paced educational environment, teachers of math often find themselves overwhelmed with a plethora of curriculum resources, each promising to enhance student learning.  However, without a deep understanding of the author's intent and the underlying goals of these resou...

Dr. Jo Boaler is here to discuss her new book "Math- ish ," where she introduces findings that advocate for viewing mathematics through a real-world lens, termed “math-ish.”  This approach reshapes our perceptions of math, data, and personal capabilities. Recognizing the significance of diversity in individuals and varied learning strategies allows everyone to thrive.  Whether numbers in...

Are you ready to transform your math classroom by shifting the focus from grades to genuine learning? In today's educational landscape, many teachers struggle with moving away from a grade-centric approach to fostering a deeper understanding and love for mathematics in their students.  In this episode we speak with high school math teacher Lori Martin about her shift from traditional teacher...

Ever wondered why traditional math education might be holding back our true potential to understand and use mathematics effectively? Conrad Wolfram, strategic director of Wolfram Research and a prominent advocate for transforming math education, joins Jon and Kyle in this episode to explore revolutionary approaches to teaching math. With a fascinating journey from a math and physics enthusiast to...

As a math coach, how do you get teachers to open up to you so you can best serve them? What purposeful questions can you put in your “back pocket” to keep the coaching alive instead of just turning the session into “show and tell” ?  Listen in to this episode as we chat with first year math coach Connor Wagner from Pittsburg. Connor has had great success as a classroom teacher and coach, but somet...

Do we know what we are really measuring in our math assessments? What unintended thoughts are we conveying to our students when we pass the test back? How can we as parents and math professionals navigate complex relationships between teacher, parent, and student?  This episode delves into the complex dynamics of math assessment, addressing a universal concern among parents and educators about how...

Can you see the light at the end of the tunnel? Can you feel the change that is happening in your district’s math program? Are you on the right pathway to improve math instruction and ultimately student success in your school or school district?  These are all questions our guests, Michael Scott and Morgan Siler have asked themselves (and us) on their journey to transforming their math district’s...

Are you ready to transform your math classroom into a hub of student engagement and participation? If you're a math teacher or educator striving to maintain sustained student engagement and lead effective, captivating lessons, this episode is crafted for you. We caught up with 2-time mentoring moment guest Jeremy Sarzana, a high school teacher in Boston.  Together we dive into nuanced strateg...

Are you struggling to find the perfect balance between knowing what is enough guidance and structure you need to effectively teach your grade level or course? If you’re a district leader of math programming and struggling to figure out this same balance?  How much is too much hand-holding?  For math educators, coaches, and administrators, the challenge often lies in equipping teachers with the rig...