DebateMath Podcast

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Let’s talk about curriculum resources! Whether you are using a textbook that you chose or your district chose for you, many of you have been asked to use the resource with fidelity. But what exactly is fidelity, and is it a problem to create our own lessons? How much should teachers be expected to use what is included in a curriculum resource? Well that sounds like a great question for debate! So we have a panel of 3 guests today to share their thoughts on the question:

Should we teach a curriculum with fidelity? 

• Follow Adrianne Burns on BlueSky: @aburnsy.bsky.social
• Follow Phonisha Hawkins on BlueSky/X: @phonisha.bsky.social and on LinkedIn. 
• Follow Bobson Wong on BlueSky/X/Instagram: @bobsonwong.com and on LinkedIn. 

Listened to the episode? Now, it’s your turn to share! Find us on Social Media: @DebateMath to share your thoughts.

Don’t forget to check out the video version of this podcast on our YouTube channel!

Keep up with all the latest info by following @DebateMath or going to debatemath.com. Follow us @Rob_Baier & @cluzniak. And don’t forget to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!

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Is teaching math the same as teaching reading? Have you ever attended a PD or read about a strategy that works for teaching both reading and were asked to use it in math as well? There are times when these two pedagogies can overlap…but should they? Today, we have a very special “family” episode for you. We are going to hear a husband and wife debate it out on this very topic, answering the question: 

Should We Be Comparing the Teaching of Reading to the Teaching of Math?

• You can find Ryan Flessner on Bluesky: @ryanflessner.bsky.social
• You can find Courtney Flessner on Bluesky: @cfless.bsky.social or on LinkedIn
• Check out Courtney’s podcast: Math and Other Things

Listened to the episode? Now, it’s your turn to share! Find us on Social Media: @DebateMath to share your thoughts.

Don’t forget to check out the video version of this podcast on our YouTube channel!

Keep up with all the latest info by following @DebateMath or going to debatemath.com. Follow us @Rob_Baier & @cluzniak. And don’t forget to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!

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Math is full of algorithms. These are generalized procedures or sets of rules to be followed in solving problems of a given type. From the standard algorithms for subtraction and long division in elementary school all the way to the distance formula and the quadratic formula in high school, algorithms are a part of the mathematics curriculum. However, some may ask: should we be teaching students these methods, or should we Dump the Algorithms?

• Pam Harris’s website: mathisfigureoutable.com 
• Follow Pam Harris on social media: @pwharris
• Vanessa Vakharia’s website: maththerapy.com
• Follow Vanessa Vakharia (aka The Math Guru) on social media: @TheMathGuru

Listened to the episode? Now, it’s your turn to share! Find us on Social Media: @DebateMath to share your thoughts.

Don’t forget to check out the video version of this podcast on our YouTube channel!

Keep up with all the latest info by following @DebateMath or going to debatemath.com. Follow us @Rob_Baier & @cluzniak. And don’t forget to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!

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How narrow should we make the grade bands for teacher certification? When teachers get their certification in a state, it is usually for a specific subject and/or grade band. For instance, a teacher may get a certification in K-8 Elementary Teaching or 7-12 Math Instruction. These bands vary by state and change over time. So what is the ideal set of grade bands? Listen in as our debaters take on the resolution:  Should We Narrow the Grade Bands? 

• Gabriel mentioned the O’Mellan research article.
• You can contact Gabriel via email: [email protected]
• Follow Jodie on LinkedIn: Jodie Bailey

Listened to the episode? Now, it’s your turn to share! Find us on Social Media: @DebateMath to share your thoughts.

Don’t forget to check out the video version of this podcast on our YouTube channel!

Keep up with all the latest info by following @DebateMath or going to debatemath.com. Follow us @Rob_Baier & @cluzniak. And don’t forget to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!

Text us your thoughts!

As we’ve done in the past, we wanted to end the year by bringing together a few of our guests from past debates for a roundtable to reflect on the past debates and also engage in a discussion around a central question. This year’s question is:

How do we help students feel that they belong in math class? 

• Follow Melissa Dean on Twitter & Instagram: @Dean_of_math
• Check out Melissa’s Blog: Dean of Math Blog
• Follow Liesl McConchie on Twitter (and Bluesky): @LieslMcconchie
• Check out Liesl’s Website: lieslmcconchie.com
• Follow Shelby Strong on Bluesky and other Platforms: @Sneffleupagus
• Check out Shelby’s Website: strongermath.com 
• Follow Crystal Watson on Twitter and other Platforms: @_CrystalMWatson
• Check out Crystal’s Website: crystalmwatson.com
• Follow Bobson Wong on Twitter and other Platforms: @bobsonwong
• Check out Bobson’s website: bobsonwong.com

Listened to the episode? Now, it’s your turn to share! Find us on Social Media: @DebateMath to share your thoughts.

Don’t forget to check out the video version of this podcast on our YouTube channel!

Keep up with all the latest info by following @DebateMath or going to debatemath.com. Follow us @Rob_Baier & @cluzniak. And don’t forget to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!

Text us your thoughts!

At the time of this recording, we are in an election year and political ads are everywhere. As we get closer to November 2024, it is harder and harder to avoid. Now, while you may not think of math as a course that intersects with political topics, teachers may find it coming up in many ways. So for this episode we gathered a panel of educators to give us advice on this, addressing the question: Should politics be avoided in math class?

• Follow Dee Crescitelli on Social Media: @dcrescitelli
• Follow Crystal Watson on Social Media: @_CrystalMWatson
• Check out Crystal’s Website: crystalmwatson.com
• Follow Matt Baker on Social Media: @stoodle (and @mrbakersmathclass on Instagram)

Some resources mentioned include:

• Facing History
• Skew the Script
• Slow Reveal Graphs

Listened to the episode? Now, it’s your turn to share! Find us on Social Media: @DebateMath to share your thoughts.

Don’t forget to check out the video version of this podcast on our YouTube channel!

Keep up with all the latest info by following @DebateMath or going to debatemath.com. Follow us @Rob_Baier & @cluzniak. And don’t forget to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!

Text us your thoughts!

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, or NCTM, is the world's largest mathematics education organization. While many math teachers are members of this organization and may attend its national conference, others do not. Maybe you are someone who has wondered whether or not to join? 

We wanted to explore this idea more in our latest debate: Is an NCTM membership worthwhile?

• Follow Desiree Harrison on all platforms: @Kidsmathtalk
• Follow Bobson Wong on Twitter/BlueSky/Instagram: @bobsonwong 
• Check out Bobson’s Website:  www.bobsonwong.com
• Follow Steve Phelps on all platforms: @MathTechCoach  
• Follow Sunil Singh on Twitter: @Mathgarden
• Check out Sunil’s Website: www.mathsings.com

Listened to the episode? Now, it’s your turn to share! Find us on Social Media: @DebateMath to share your thoughts.

Don’t forget to check out the video version of this podcast on our YouTube channel!

Keep up with all the latest info by following @DebateMath or going to debatemath.com. Follow us @Rob_Baier & @cluzniak. And don’t forget to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!

Text us your thoughts!

For our final “Hot Seat” of 2024, we wanted to lean into the topic of data science. It’s starting to become a course offered in high schools, but some may wonder if it is a rigorous pathway for students. Is Calculus still the most rigorous course for high school students? We want to hear from our guests from DataScience4Everyone, asking them:

Is Data Science as rigorous as any other advanced math course?

• Follow Lee Ellen Harmer via LinkedIn or on Twitter: @LeeEllenHarmer
• Follow Mahmoud Harding via LinkedIn
• Check out the website: datascience4everyone.org 

Listened to the episode? Now, it’s your turn to share! Find us on Social Media: @DebateMath to share your thoughts.

Don’t forget to check out the video version of this podcast on our YouTube channel!

Keep up with all the latest info by following @DebateMath or going to debatemath.com. Follow us @Rob_Baier & @cluzniak. And don’t forget to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!

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Do you know what Problem-Based Lessons are? And more importantly, do you think they are important? For this Hot Seat, we hear from educators Kyle Pearce and Jon Orr on why they think: Problem Based Lessons are Essential.

• Follow the Make Math Moments Podcast
• Check out Problem-Based Lessons on: makemathmoments.com
• Take the report at makemathmoments.com/report
• Follow Kyle on Twitter: @MathletePearce
• Follow Jon on Twitter: @MrOrr_geek

Listened to the episode? Now, it’s your turn to share! Find us on Social Media: @DebateMath to share your thoughts.

Don’t forget to check out the video version of this podcast on our YouTube channel!

Keep up with all the latest info by following @DebateMath or going to debatemath.com. Follow us @Rob_Baier & @cluzniak. And don’t forget to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!

Text us your thoughts!

For this next Hot Seat debate, we talk about the complicated decision to leave education. With many teachers leaving or considering leaving the profession, we brought on two former educators–Laila Nur & Justin Aion–to debate the question: Is it OK to quit teaching?

• Follow Laila on Twitter: @mslailanur or check out her website: www.mslailanur.com
• Follow Justin on Twitter: @JustinAion  

Listened to the episode? Now, it’s your turn to share! Find us on Social Media: @DebateMath to share your thoughts.

Don’t forget to check out the video version of this podcast on our YouTube channel!

Keep up with all the latest info by following @DebateMath or going to debatemath.com. Follow us @Rob_Baier & @cluzniak. And don’t forget to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!