What if math felt like a playground instead of a test?

In this episode, I sit down with Cindy Lawrence, executive director and CEO of the National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) in New York City and one of its visionary founders. We explore Cindy’s math story, from second-grade struggles to rediscovering wonder through museum-making.

We talk about the emotions that live inside math — joy, struggle, curiosity — and what it means to feel seen, safe, and celebrated as a math person. From riding a square-wheeled tricycle to the upcoming MoMath expansion, Cindy shares how the museum turns awe-inspiring math into a full-body experience.

Whether you're a teacher, student, parent, or just someone who’s ever said “I’m not a math person,” this episode will challenge that narrative and invite you to play with math in new ways.

Vist MoMath in NYC

!https://momath.org/

Deborah Peart brings her perspective of what it feels like to be a student in a classroom whose mathematical ideas are not valued. Deborah uses her experiences as a student of math to help teachers understand that all students can learn math AND that all people who do math - are Mathers.

Deborah is the founder of My Mathematical Mind. She trains teachers to create environments where all students can develop lasting and positive math identities and improve achievement in math.

https://mymathematicalmind.com/

"Always bet on people" - Dan Meyer

In this episode of Blue Glasses Math, I sit down with Dan Meyer, a passionate advocate for better math instruction that truly supports both teachers and students. You may know him from his viral TED Talk, Math Class Needs a Makeover, or his work as Chief Academic Officer at Desmos Classroom, or his recent National Math Leadership Award from NCSM .

Dan shares his insights on how to support math teachers in shifting their practice, why we need to trust students to think mathematically, and how technology, when used to foster curiosity, can invite students into mathematical conversations.

Dan's Substack is a must read.

https://danmeyer.substack.com/

Connect with Dan on BlueSky or X.

https://bsky.app/profile/ddmeyer.bsky.social

https://x.com/ddmeyer?lang=en

How can we create math classrooms where English learners (ELs) don’t just survive—but thrive? In this episode, I sit down with Adrian Mendoza, author of Teaching Math to English Learners, to explore strategies that make math more accessible and meaningful for multilingual learners.

We unpack the unique challenges ELLs face in math classrooms, from language barriers to cultural differences in mathematical understanding. Adrian shares practical approaches that help ELLs engage deeply with math concepts, develop mathematical language, and build confidence as problem-solvers.

If you’ve ever wondered how to shift your instruction to better support ELLs—or if you’re looking for actionable strategies to make math more inclusive—this conversation is a must-listen!

Connect with Adrian @adrianmendozaed

Learn more and buy Teaching Math to English Learners

https://seidlitzeducation.com/our-team/adrian-mendoza/

How does empathy shape the way we teach, lead, and connect with students?

In this episode of Blue Glasses Math, I sit down with Erin Thorpe, a leadership coach and host of Tactical Empathy to explore how empathy is an inside job—a skill that transforms classrooms and empowers teachers as leaders. We’ll discuss what it really means to teach with understanding and why this shift is critical for both students and educators.

Tune in for real talk about leadership in education, and the power of empathy to reshape learning. 🎧✨

https://www.erinthorp.ca/podcast/

Connect with me on Instagram or send me an email!

[email protected]

In this episode of Blue Glasses Math, I sit down with Dr. Amanda Jansen, professor at the University of Delaware and author of Rough Draft Math: Revising to Learn. We dive into the transformative power of revision in the math classroom—how shifting away from a right/wrong binary can empower students, boost confidence, and foster a culture of collaborative learning. Mandy shares insights on the importance of revising ideas, embracing mistakes, and creating learning environments where students are seen as smart without being perfect.

We also discuss the Rights of the Learner framework and how teachers can structure their classrooms to encourage mathematical exploration. If you’ve ever wondered how to make math class a place where every student can thrive, this episode is for you!

Connect with Mandy on BlueSky!

Order your copy of Rough Draft Math, Revising to Learn \

This conversation with Eli Luberoff, founder and CEO of DESMOS Studio PBC gives us insight into how DESMOS was built and how to use this amazing dynamic calculator to recognize the brilliance in all students in your classroom. From graphing basic linear equations to creating amazing works of art, DESMOS Studio has no limits for helping students and teachers to see themselves as math people. https://www.desmos.com/

https://youtu.be/c7nXa9OcuWI

Kevin Dykema always excelled at math as a student, mastering formulas and solving problems with ease. But when he stepped into the classroom as a teacher, he realized that true understanding of math goes far beyond surface-level memorization—it’s about deeply engaging with concepts to guide others on their learning journeys.

In this inspiring episode, Kevin, former president of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), shares his story of transformation. We discuss the challenges of moving from procedural expertise to conceptual understanding, why embracing mistakes is essential for learning, and how teachers can create classrooms where students AND sometimes teachers say, “Oh, now I get it!”

Whether you’ve ever questioned your math abilities or are looking to inspire others to see themselves as math people, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

Also, check out Kevin's most recent book,

Productive Math Struggle: A 6-Point Action Plan for Fostering Perseverance (Corwin Mathematics Series) 

Connect with Kevin @dykemamath on social.

In this episode, I explore the transformative potential of Amplify's Polypad, a free virtual whiteboard packed with interactive math manipulatives, from ten frames to fraction bars and beyond! If you’ve ever struggled with keeping students engaged, helping them truly understand concepts, or sparking excitement about math, this episode is for you.

I am joined by David Poras, a former middle school math teacher who now works with Amplify, inspiring teachers and students with the power of visual and interactive mathematical representations on Polypad. Together, we dive into how Polypad can help solve common classroom challenges while making math more meaningful and fun.

In today's episode, I talk about what I actually mean when I say "shift perspective on what it means to be a math person".

Math evokes powerful feelings - for a reason.

Experiences in math class stick with us and leave indelible marks on our souls because of the feelings that we experience when doing math.

Learning math is about more than facts and "answer getting".

Learning math as an opportunity to develop confidence in our ability to tackle new problems.

Part of that learning requires us to see the learning process as non-linear and sometimes "messy".