Blue Glasses Math

In this engaging conversation, Alex Romero shares his journey in math education, influenced by his family's background in mathematics. He discusses the development of Tile Farm, a platform designed to make math beautiful and enjoyable for learners of all ages. The conversation explores the importance of joy in math education, the role of family in fostering a positive math environment, and the innovative features of Tile Farm that encourage creativity and engagement in math learning. Alex emphasizes the need for a cultural shift in math education, where asking questions is celebrated and learning is a joyful experience.

00:00 Introduction and First Impressions

03:12 Alex's Math Journey and Influences

06:04 The Role of Family in Math Education

08:35 The Birth of Tile Farm

11:10 Creating Beautiful Math Experiences

13:56 Tile Farm's Educational Impact

16:36 Engaging with the Community

19:12 The Future of Tile Farm

24:51 The Light Bulb Moment: New Jersey's Historical Significance

25:38 Exploring Patterns: A Deep Dive into Geometry

27:42 Interactive Learning: Engaging with Tile Farm Studio

29:40 Daily Visual Math Prompts: Encouraging Inquiry

30:45 Numeracy Content: Analyzing Patterns for Deeper Understanding

35:44 Creating a Safe Space for Questions in Math

38:48 Transforming Beliefs About Math: Joy and Engagement

42:41 Hope for the Future: Shifting Paradigms in Math Education

44:15 The Perspective of Being a Math Person

Connect with Pam:

insta: @BlueGlassesMath

bluesky: @pambrett.bsky.social

linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-brett-23b56675/

website: https://www.blueglassesmath.org/

Connect with Alex:

insta: @tilefarm @tilefarmer

bluesky: @tilefarmer

website: https://tilefarm.com/

In this episode of the Blue Glasses Math podcast, Pam Brett and Alison Mello discuss the influence of self-perception on math teaching and learning. They explore Alison's journey as an 'accidental math teacher,' the importance of vulnerability in education, and the need for a supportive math environment. The conversation emphasizes the significance of using visuals and manipulatives in teaching, creating engaging contexts for students, and fostering hope within the math education community. They also highlight the upcoming conference aimed at celebrating and empowering teachers.

Connect with Pam:

@BlueGlassesMath

https://www.blueglassesmath.org/

Connect with Allison:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-j-mello-ed-d-2b326960/

@alisonmellomathconsulting

@alisonmellomath

In this conversation, Pam Brett and Kate Rolland discuss the behind-the-scenes aspects of podcasting, the importance of support in business, and the transition to more efficient tools. They explore how AI can enhance social media management, the significance of building trust in collaboration, and the holistic approach to web design and business support. Kate shares insights on understanding client needs and the reset process for overwhelmed business owners, culminating in a discussion about New Year resolutions and personal growth.Connect with Pam:@BlueGlassesMathhttps://www.blueglassesmath.org/Connect with Kate:@katerolland.indrukhttps://www.indrukdesign.com

In this engaging conversation, Pam Brett and Dan Meyer explore the transformative landscape of math education, reflecting on Dan's influential TED Talk, 'Math Class Needs a Makeover.' They discuss the importance of shifting perspectives on math, building student confidence, and the role of technology in the classroom. Dan emphasizes the need for teachers to allow students to explore and engage with math on a human level. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI in education and the necessity of nurturing teachers to foster meaningful connections in the learning environment.

Find Dan Meyer Online 📍

https://danmeyer.substack.com/

Talking with Courtney Flessner feels like an invitation to rethink what math education is for. In this episode, we explore why teaching math can’t be reduced to getting the right answers—and why understanding the “why” behind the math matters just as much as the “how.” Courtney pushes us to ask brave questions about our practice, to sit with discomfort, and to see reflection as an act of care for our students.

If you’re ready to deepen your purpose and strengthen the way you show up for young mathematicians, this conversation is a powerful place to start.

Find Courtney Online 📍

https://open.spotify.com/show/6NE3uynZ60e8XLdcA4jakq?si=cb5c552690ae4fd0

https://www.instagram.com/mathandotherthings/

https://keepindianalearning.org/author/cflessner/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-flessner-98bb7415/

Christopher Danielson has a way of making math feel more human, more joyful, and more deeply connected to the curiosity we all carry. In this episode, we talk about the math stories that shaped us, the importance of teachers doing real math, and what it means to truly listen to children’s thinking. Christopher also shares the heart behind Math on a Stick, his playful State Fair initiative that invites families to explore shapes, patterns, and wonder together.

This conversation left me feeling hopeful about what’s possible in math education—and I think it will do the same for you.

Find Christopher online 📍

www.talkingmathwithkids.com

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

https://www.instagram.com/Trianglemancsd/

I instantly knew I wanted to be Shelby's friend when I met her in Atlanta this Fall at the NCSM Annual Meeting.

Not only does she seem to know everyone in math education, she carries herself with a warmth and wholeheartedness that’s impossible to miss. Shelby is the kind of educator who leads with joy, connection, and a deep belief in students.

In this episode, Shelby joins me to talk about the often unseen work of teaching—the emotional weight, the long-game mindset, and the moments of quiet breakthrough that remind us why we stay. She reminds us that teaching is an act of hope. That even when we don’t see the results right away, we’re still planting something powerful.

Shelby’s voice is a steady one, full of honesty and heart. I know you’ll walk away from this episode feeling encouraged, grounded, and maybe even a little more connected to your own purpose.

Shelby Strong is a math coach and consultant originally from New Orleans, now living and working in New England. Her mission? To dismantle the myth of the “math person” and build confidence in every member of the community—from students to teachers to school leaders.

Shelby is known for her bold honesty, deep compassion, and love of vertical alignment (yes, really). If you let her, she'll happily spend hours talking about math education, sandwiches, trapezoids, and anything else you bring to the table. She believes math belongs to everyone—and she’ll make you believe it too.

📍 Find Shelby online:

strongermath.com
🔗 LinkedIn
🌤️ @sneffleupagus.bsky.social

What’s your math story? In this episode, Kristen Acosta brings us into hers—and invites us to reimagine math as a subject filled with movement, conversation, and curiosity. Known for her innovative use of clothesline math, Kristen shares how she makes learning visual, kinesthetic, and joyfully human in her classroom and in professional learning experiences.

Kristen helps us with actionable strategies for shifting perspectives on what it means to be a math person!

We talk about the power of giving students time to think and talk, and how shifting away from rushed, procedural math opens the door to deep understanding. If you're ready to make math more interactive, more human, and more meaningful—this episode is for you.

Connect with Kristen!

⁠https://kristenacosta.com/⁠

https://www.instagram.com/kristenacostamath

Check out Kristen's new Kickstart Number Line packs - to complement any curriculum and get your students moving in math class!

https://shop.zaner-bloser.com/collections/kickstart-number-line-activities?srsltid=AfmBOoq9qmcONGnpf-D02rLsZe3CjjIEy8rxrPtrnBHsZZPSyjiU5tHc

In this episode, I delve into the importance of emotions in math education. Teaching math isn't just about facts and procedures; it's about how students feel when grappling with mathematical ideas. I emphasize the need for students to experience emotions like grappling and perseverance, which are essential for learning and personal growth. Drawing from my research and two decades in math classrooms, I advocate for creating spaces where students' emotions are acknowledged and valued.

Takeaways

• Emotions play a crucial role in math education.
• Grappling and perseverance are key to learning math.
• Teachers should create spaces for emotional expression.
• Emotional intelligence is vital for navigating math challenges.
• Students need autonomy, competence, and relatedness.
• Math is not just about facts and procedures.
• Teachers can impact how students navigate emotions.
• Emotions help build beliefs about math capabilities.
• Classroom strategies should foster emotional growth.
• Emotions are necessary for personal and academic development.

Join the conversation!

Message me on Instagram

Check out my Substack

What’s your math story? That’s where we begin this episode with the brilliant minds behind Smart With It, Jill Diniz and James Tanton. Together, they share powerful personal journeys—how emotions, curiosity, and frustration shaped their beliefs about mathematics and, ultimately, their purpose as math educators.

Jill and James speak with honesty and heart about what it means to be “smart with it”—to see math as deeply human, to honor student emotion as a catalyst for belief, and to boldly build a curriculum that teaches the why behind the math, not just the how. We talk about childhood moments of wonder (and discouragement), disrupting belief cycles, and why the future of math teaching must center thinking, not compliance.

If you’ve ever felt like something was missing in math class, this episode will restore your hope. It’s a call to action to make mathematics joyful, playful, and meaningful—for all the maths and all the learners.

• Why emotions shape beliefs about math—and how teachers can shift them

• The myth of the “math person” and what it really means to belong in math

• How Smart With It brings “passion and heart” to secondary math curriculum

• Cognitive science, spaced recall, and what it means to actually remember something

• Why telling the human story of math makes all the difference

Check out All the Maths on SmartWithIt

https://smartwithit.com/all-the-maths/

Connect with Jill and James on LinkedIn!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jilldiniz/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-tanton-9920bb58/