The Mindful Math Podcast

Do you roll your eyes when people tell you to take time out for self care? You think: “Someday I’ll have time for that, but not now!” If this sounds familiar, today’s episode is for YOU. My guest, Jasmine Lamitte, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who serves as the Director of Mental Health for 20 schools in California. In this episode, Jasmine shares the negative effects that come with burning...

Have you heard of stereotype threat? Researcher Claude Steele defines it as: “the situational predicament in which a person from a particular group is at risk of confirming a negative stereotype of that group.” There is much evidence of the negative effects of stereotypes on students who are historically marginalized in math. However, teachers can help mitigate the negative impacts through a posit...

Are you willing to SPEND time to SAVE time? When I surveyed math teachers and leaders last month, 71% said that TIME is one of their biggest challenges right now. Do you feel like your To Do List is never ending? Are you exhausted, depleted, or overwhelmed? Wish you had more time to spend with your loved ones? I've been there, too. For SURE as a teacher and again when I became a coach. But ov...

Are you worried your math lessons are dull or dry? Just this week, I was engaged in conversations online about the topic of boring lessons. And while I do NOT believe it’s a teachers’ job to entertain students, it is true that if students are bored, they are more likely to check out, and if they’re checked out, they’re likely NOT taking away much learning from the lesson. So then really, what’s th...

One of the most common questions we hear in math classrooms is, “What Should I Do First?” Whether teachers have handed out a worksheet, projected a problem using a smart board or document camera, or pointed students to a problem in their textbook, the first question many math teachers ask is: “What Should I Do First?” Why is this a concern? Why am I dedicating an entire episode to helping teachers...

Regulating your emotions is an invaluable skill that we all need to be successful, both today and in the future. As educators, part of our role is to support students to grow in this area - but it starts by learning to control your OWN responses in the face of emotional triggers. Only then will you be able to support your students to lower their anxiety enough to engage in the math. In this episod...

What is the story you tell yourself about your own math ability? And what stories do your students tell THEMSELVES about how “good” they are at math? The way students perceive their own ability to learn and understand math is what makes up their math identity, and it ultimately has huge implications on their success with the subject. In this episode, educational consultant, Tiayana Marks, shares i...

Along with the challenges we're facing in this unprecedented time comes an opportunity to reenvision what learning can look like for our children -- and our own role as co-teachers. In this episode, Gretchen Osodipe, founder of Co-Teach LLC, shares how you can create your own vision for at-home learning that works for both you and your child. If you've felt stressed by remote learning, y...

If you’re a teacher, I bet you’re racing the clock as you tackle your ‘to do’ list every day. And while some tasks are important enough to spend hours on, there are others that feel like a mere distraction from what matters most. In this episode, I interview Megan Alvarez, an experienced educator, to hear how she approaches these tasks with more joy and less resistance. Listen in to gain insight i...

It is possible to create a strong community of learners even if you are teaching in a remote setting, but it DOES take intentionality. The good news is that a little effort can go a long way, so you don’t need to turn yourself inside out or spend hours coming up with virtual ice breakers to form trusting relationships with and between students. With over five years of experience working in a remot...

Does math time = stress time in your household? Whether your child has a history of struggling in math or not, the unfamiliar strategies children are learning in school today can make helping with math work feel near-to-impossible for parents. But it doesn’t have to be like this! You were NOT trained as a math teacher, so you probably have no idea if what you’re currently doing makes things better...

How many times have you taught a math lesson and thought your students ‘got it’ only to find out weeks later that something didn’t stick? It’s beyond frustrating and leaves teachers with a tough choice - move on knowing there’s unfinished learning OR spend more time on the topic and risk pacing challenges later on in the year.  While we shouldn’t expect every student to master every skill or conce...

There is much research suggesting that our emotional competencies predict future career success, and we already know the key role it plays in personal relationships. As a result, social emotional learning (SEL) has become an important area for students to develop in school as well as at home. As schools take on more and more of this responsibility, it’s imperative that educators themselves have th...

Equity is top of mind right now, and many educators are more committed than ever to working towards educational equity for students. But what does equity in math really mean, and what will it take to move toward, and ultimately achieve, this goal? Listen in to an honest and candid conversation with my friend and fellow educator, Vanna O’Conner, to hear how you can identify areas where inequities e...

Teachers are always crunched for time, and even more so at the beginning of the school year. That’s why it’s important to be strategic in how you prioritize your time to maximize the hard work you’re putting in. I created this episode as an example of how to focus your efforts on the 20% of things that will get you 80% of results. My goal? Give you as much value in the shortest amount of time. Lis...

Relationship building is the gatekeeper you need to reach students academically, make long-lasting impact in their lives, and help them move mountains. Educator, speaker, and author, Andrea “Fitz” Fitzgerald knows this. A self-described “efficacy-builder,” Fitz focuses her work on helping students, teachers, and leaders to conquer their challenges and prove to themselves that they CAN do hard thin...

Getting students to talk in math class can be tricky at times, but it IS an essential part of the learning process for students, and it’s 100% worth the effort. Not only does it help students connect mathematical ideas and clarify their thinking, but teachers gain insight into students’ understanding by listening to their ideas and explanations. In this episode, experienced educator and math speci...

The language we use contributes to the results we have and the outcomes we see. While teaching students with unfinished learning, it’s even more important to be strengths-based and solution-focused. If you want to bring out the best in your students, build their confidence in math, and help them achieve their highest potential, it starts with the language you use. Asset-based language empowers stu...

So what does whole group instruction have that small group and personalized computer programs don’t have? How can you possibly meet the needs of all of your students in a whole group lesson? Hit play now because on this episode of The Mindful Math Podcast I’m answering BOTH of these questions. I also reveal the simple lesson structure you can use to increase students’ confidence and engagement, sa...

Despite its popularity, there is no compelling evidence to show that personalized learning is improving learning experiences and outcomes for students. Yet, more and more schools are looking to this approach as a way to differentiate instruction, address unfinished learning, and compensate for learning loss in math. What started out as an ideal vision is falling short, especially due to the way ma...

The most common concern I hear from middle and high school math teachers is how to support students who have unfinished learning from previous grades. In the face of rigorous grade-level content, this is a valid question -- and one without a silver bullet solution. When should teachers revisit previous grade-level content, and for how long? When should they push ahead?  In this episode, I’m sharin...

Wouldn’t it be nice to multiply the impact of your effort? You can do just that by taking time at the beginning of the school year to create a positive community with your students. It takes a small amount of time upfront and yields a big payoff over the course of the school year. There is urgency to close the opportunity gap and to support all students in mastering grade level math content, and i...

Mindfulness and math are an unlikely pairing of topics, but after this episode you’ll understand their connection. Today, I’m sharing how personal development leads to professional payoffs. Connecting with yourself helps you connect with your students, and inner personal work can lead to better outcomes for your students. When we’re young, we don’t choose our own beliefs and much of our unconsciou...

Systemic oppression and institutional racism against black, indigenous, and people of color has existed in the United States for more than 400 years. The recent killings of innocent black lives is yet another reminder of the violence and pain caused by white supremacy culture and police brutality.  It’s important that I as a white person am using my voice and privilege to speak up and speak out as...

Systemic oppression and institutional racism against black, indigenous, and people of color has existed in the United States for more than 400 years. The recent killings of innocent black lives is yet another reminder of the violence and pain caused by white supremacy culture and police brutality.  It’s important that I as a white person am using my voice and privilege to speak up and speak out as...