Math Chat

Send us Fan Mail What should students actually be doing, saying, and thinking in math class? In this episode, I break down this essential question and shifts the focus away from pacing guides, tests, and compliance—and back to student thinking. If you want math class to feel alive, engaging, and meaningful, this conversation sets the stage. So how do we make this happen consistently? The answer is...

Send us Fan Mail Today’s episode dives into a question many K–1 teachers ask: Why are we giving multiplication problem types when they’re nowhere in the standards? If you’ve ever wondered whether this is developmentally appropriate, too advanced, or simply “off track,” you’re definitely not alone. But here’s the truth: young children already experience multiplicative situations in real life — and...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, we’re diving into what really happens when kids struggle—and how to support them without rescuing them from the thinking process. You’ll hear the story of a quiet 3rd grader named Daria and how confidence, belief, and intentional instruction changed her entire trajectory. Many teachers have taught a student like Daria—sweet, shy, unsure, and labeled “below grad...

Send us Fan Mail I’ll start with a confession: I’ve never taught kindergarten. Honestly? I don’t think I could. Kindergarten teachers bring superhuman levels of compassion, patience, and organizational magic. They teach kids how to be at school while also supporting families. Yet I support K–8 math, and as a parent of two kindergarteners, I know exactly what a Monday afternoon classroom feels like...

Send us Fan Mail 💭 What “Let’s Just See What They Can Do” Really Means This phrase isn’t about tossing students into a problem they can’t handle. It’s about honoring the strategies, intuitions, and lived math experiences they already bring. You’ll hear how the Grapple step in Word Problem Workshop allows students to make sense of the story without the teacher rescuing, modeling, or pre-teaching e...

Send us Fan Mail Coaching often becomes hectic fast. Schedules shift, classrooms get noisy, and teachers feel stretched thin. While the instinct is to fix everything, coaching isn’t actually about fixing at all — it’s about refocusing on student thinking. In this episode, Mona introduces the anchor moves she relies on when coaching feels chaotic. These moves bring clarity, calm, and purpose back i...

Send us Fan Mail Hey teacher friends, Mona here! Today we’re diving into one of my favorite ways to grow as a team and strengthen math instruction across a school: Learning Walks . If you’ve never tried one before, don’t worry. By the end of this episode, you’ll know exactly what Learning Walks are, why they work, and how to use them to build collaboration, confidence, and shared vision among teac...

Send us Fan Mail Many classrooms use the CUBES strategy for solving word problems. It's familiar, structured, and gives students a clear process. However, in this episode, we explore how traditional CUBES may unintentionally encourage students to “hunt for clues” instead of understanding the meaning of the story. Let’s talk about how to shift from keywords to reasoning using the Word Problem...

Send us Fan Mail What does it really look like when students thrive in math? In this inspiring episode, Kendra unpacks what it means to build thriving math communities — classrooms where every child feels seen, confident, and ready to learn. She shares practical ideas and joyful starting points that any teacher can use to bring connection and purpose to math learning. When students thrive in math,...

Send us Fan Mail Think about this: how often do you hear a student say, “I can’t do this”? You might wonder, why do they give up so easily? But here’s the truth — it’s not laziness. It’s not a lack of confidence. It’s anxiety. Because each of us has a Math Story . Some stories are good. Some, not so much. Maybe yours began with racing to be the fastest in “Around the World,” or memorizing steps to...

Send us Fan Mail Math education is changing fast — and few people are leading that change more thoughtfully than John SanGiovanni , a math educator, district leader, and author of numerous influential books. In this episode of our math education podcast , John shares the conversations we should be having about teaching math — and what’s getting in the way. John offers a refreshingly candid take on...

Send us Fan Mail It’s here — the Word Problem Workshop book is officially out in the world!  Every teacher knows the struggle — students disengaged, confused, or quick to say, “I’m not a math person.” This book was born out of that challenge. It’s a response to years of listening to teachers, watching classrooms, and realizing something had to change. 🔗 Listen, Celebrate, and Join the Movement 🎧...

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode of Math Chat , we sit down with Kassia, the brilliant editor who played an instrumental role in shaping the Word Problem Workshop book. With her keen eye and unwavering support, Kassia helped turn ideas into action, ensuring the book would resonate with teachers and make a real difference in math classrooms. Curious about the behind-the-scenes process and t...

Send us Fan Mail So, I’m sitting here with my coffee, reflecting on how surreal it feels that Word Problem Workshop is finally a real book — something teachers can actually hold in their hands. Before it hits shelves, I wanted to take you behind the scenes of how it came to life: the “why,” the “how,” and the “who” behind every page. If you’ve ever felt like your students just don’t get it , this...

Send us Fan Mail Imagine walking into a classroom where math doesn’t just happen on the board, but is a lively conversation in every corner. Mark Golden’s math classroom, especially during Word Problem Workshop (WPW), is where students actively engage, ask questions, and challenge each other’s thinking. The sounds of excited voices collaborating, the visuals of students working on complex problems...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Math Chat , we dive deep into planning for Word Problem Workshop (WPW) and how to maximize your preparation time. Instead of focusing on what students will do, we’re shifting the focus to how students will engage with and solve math problems. Want to learn how to plan math lessons that encourage deep thinking and problem-solving? Keep reading! When planning math...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Math Chat , we welcome Amanda, a teacher who has completely transformed her math instruction through Word Problem Workshop (WPW). Together, we dive into the powerful shifts she’s made in her teaching practice, and how these changes have influenced her students’ growth, confidence, and love for math. If you're looking for inspiration and practical tips for y...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we dive into the power of reflection in the Word Problem Workshop (WPW). If you're an educator seeking to enhance student learning through meaningful discussions, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Learn how adding just one simple step— Reflect —can shift your classroom dynamic and help your students internalize what they’ve learned. How Reflect...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sit down with Meghan Princehorn, a school social worker , to talk about the powerful connection between social emotional skills and success in the classroom—especially in math. Meghan shares insights from nearly two decades of collaboration and practical strategies you can use right away. We explore the “window of tolerance” and how it affects a student’s abili...

Send us Fan Mail Talking is my thing—I love it! But in the classroom, I’ve learned it’s not just about giving students time to talk. It’s about teaching them how to discuss math in ways that deepen understanding, build confidence, and move learning forward. In this episode, we dive into the power of math discussions in Step 4 of Word Problem Workshop. Picture it: students in a circle, shoulder to...

Send us Fan Mail What does it really take to create a classroom where students not only learn math but also trust themselves, their peers, and their teacher? In this episode, I sit down with educator Ed Spicer to talk about building a math classroom community where students are independent, curious, and unafraid of hard things. A Classroom That Changed Everything When I first visited Ed Spicer’s 1...

Send us Fan Mail Does your math class feel like only a handful of students ever raise their hands while the rest stay silent? Or maybe your students avoid sharing out of fear of being wrong? You’re not alone—many teachers face this challenge. In today’s episode, we’re diving into Step 3 of Word Problem Workshop: the Share , and how it can transform your math classroom into a motivated community of...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when we stop teaching math as a set of steps to memorize and instead create space for students to explore, question, and discover? In this episode, we dig into how shifting our approach to math instruction can transform classrooms—and mindsets. This episode is packed with insights and practical strategies for making math class more engaging, joyful, and effective. Tun...

Send us Fan Mail We’ve all heard about the importance of productive struggle in math —but what does it actually look like in practice? In this episode, I share why Grapple Time is one of the most powerful parts of Word Problem Workshop, how to prepare students to persevere, and the exact four teacher moves you can make while students are solving. Wondering what this looks like day-to-day? I walk y...

Send us Fan Mail It’s a common belief: “My students can’t read, so they need to master simple math first before tackling word problems.” But what if this thinking is actually holding students back? In this episode, we challenge the unproductive idea that kids must learn the basics first, and instead explore how word problems can be the foundation for building math proficiency . The Word Problem Wo...