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Do math grades stress you out? If you are needing to get some grades in the grade book for progress reports, this episode will help you figure out what to grade, when to grade, and how to grade in math.

In this episode, we are chatting about: 

• Separating student behaviors and their academic achievement for math grades 
•  Formative assessments for math grades
• Unit tests or summative assessments for math grades 

You might also like:

• 128: What are the 5 Strands of Math Proficiency?
• 101: Math Problem Types & Why They Matter
• Guide to Engaging Math Discussions

Have Questions? 📱 My DMs on IG are always open @hellomonamath

Leave a review!! 

If you love listening to Honest Math Chat, please take a few seconds to leave a review so other teachers know this is a valuable place to spend a few minutes each week.

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Do you use counting collections in your classroom? I have the expert you need to hear from on the show today!

Kathy shares practical tips to start using counting collections, helpful routines for counting collections, and how to use counting collections to differentiate our math instruction. You will feel empowered to start using counting collections or to use them in new ways after listening to this episode!

In this episode we will chat about: 

1. What counting collections are and how they can be used for K-5 students
2. How to integrate fractions and decimals content into counting collections in upper elementary grades
3. Extension questions to ask after using counting collections

About Our Guest, Kathy:
 
Kathy Minas is a math educator and the founder of The Math Collective. She holds a masters degree in General and Special Education from Teachers College, and her background in special education has shaped her approach to math instruction.

Kathy is committed to providing spaces for educators and school leaders to collaboratively deepen their understanding of effective, equity-focused math practices. She collaborates with educators in designing culturally relevant instruction that reflects the experiences and identities of their students, while providing points of entry for all learners.

Connect with Kathy: 

• @themathcollective on Instagram
• www.themathcollective.com

You might also like:

• 5 Practices for Orchestrating Math Discussions
• 5 Steps to a Student Centered Math Class

Have Questions? 📱 My DMs on IG are always open @hellomonamath

How to Increase Student Confidence in Math without Changing Your Curriculum

May 7, 2026 at 11:30 Central - Zoom 

Sign up NOW - monamath.com/leaderworkshop

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What does it take to build a math community?

On this episode, we're talking about 3 things I don’t want you to miss in math class to help you forge a community of mathematicians that work together to problem solve through discussing their thinking, taking risks, and learning through mistakes.

We are chatting about: 

1. Creating entrance routines
2. Having discussion structures
3. Making room for kids to explain their math thinking

Links mentioned in this episode:

• 8 Ways to Build Math Classroom Community
• 121: What is Student-Centered Learning?
• 107: Math Discussions: 3 Ways to Get Students to Engage

Other episodes you might like:

• Wait! 3 Common Pitfalls When Trying Something New in Math

Have Questions? 📱 My DMs on IG are always open @hellomonamath

Leave a review!! 

If you love listening to Honest Math Chat, please take a few seconds to leave a review so other teachers know this is a valuable place to spend a few minutes each week.

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You’re starting the school year and it’s time to set the bar high. Let’s talk about how you can get every child engaged now so that they stay engaged all year.

In this episode, I'm sharing 3 ideas to get every student engaged in math class.

We are chatting about: 

• Community building experiences that build trust, relationships, mindsets, and norms 
• Expectations and how to communicate them and provide accountability
• The importance of feedback and how it can be used for teachers AND students

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Thanks for the Feedback... I Think? (feedback picture book I mention!)
• 8 Ways to Build Math Classroom Community
• Principles to Action: Ensuring Mathematical Success for All

Other episodes you might like:

• 125: 3 Mistakes to Avoid When Planning for the Year
• 110: Building Thinking Classrooms with Maegan Giroux

Have Questions? 📱 My DMs on IG are always open @hellomonamath

Leave a review!! 

If you love listening to Honest Math Chat, please take a few seconds to leave a review so other teachers know this is a valuable place to spend a few minutes each week.

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What does it actually look like for our students to be proficient in math? In this episode, we are talking about the 5 strands of math proficiency and breaking each of them down so we can design our math instruction to help students build their math proficiency in all 5 areas.

We are chatting about: 

• Conceptual understanding
• Procedural fluency
• Strategic competence
• Adaptive reasoning
• Productive disposition

Are you wondering What is Math Proficiency? What are the 5 Strands of Math Proficiency? Go and listen to episode #40 "What is Proficiency in Math?"

Links mentioned in this episode: 

• 6: Four Simple Steps to Teach Anything and Everything in Math Class
• 5 Steps to a Student Centered Math Class
• Adding it Up (A great resource on the 5 strands!)
• Children’s Mathematics Cognitively Guided Instruction (A resource for teaching CGI)
• 32: Elementary Math Teachers: Are you using research based instructional strategy to empower students?

How to Increase Student Confidence in Math without Changing Your Curriculum

May 7, 2026 at 11:30 Central - Zoom 

Sign up NOW - monamath.com/leaderworkshop

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Are you thinking through your classroom management strategies for the new school year? I have the expert you need to hear from on the show today! 

Jenna shares practical tips so that you can feel confident in your classroom management. You will feel empowered to build strong classroom routines and relationships with your students after listening to this episode. 

In this episode we will chat about: 

1. How to build a strong classroom community (and Jenna's secret sauce!)
2. Practical tips for classroom management (and what Jenna would tell newer teachers about management)
3. Building a strong classroom management foundation at the beginning of the year and referring back to it often

About our guest, Jenna:

Jenna has been an elementary educator for 11 years in New York. She has taught second, third, and fourth grade and currently teaches second grade! Jenna wanted to be an educator since she was in second grade. She LOVES supporting educators through her Instagram platform, That Strong Teacher, where she helps teachers become strong and confident in classroom management.

Connect with Jenna: 

• @Thatstrongteacher on IG
• The Classroom Management Playbook

You might also like:

• 8 Ways to Build Math Classroom Community
• 87: Why you need SEL in Math Problem Solving...Now!

Have Questions? 📱 My DMs on IG are always open @hellomonamath

How to Increase Student Confidence in Math without Changing Your Curriculum

May 7, 2026 at 11:30 Central - Zoom 

Sign up NOW - monamath.com/leaderworkshop

Send us Fan Mail

Have you been thinking about how to establish clear expectations and a strong foundation for classroom management this school year? I’m not a big fan of rules… and this rule is the best rule.

On today's episode, I'm telling you about the only rule you need and how to use it.

We're chatting about: 

• The one classroom rule that changed the game for me
• Setting clear boundaries while preserving students' dignity in rule making
• How this rule is equitable, responsive, and provides ownership to students

Links mentioned in this episode: 

• Love and Logic
• How to Create a Love and Logic Classroom blog post
• Episode 75: Proactive Classroom management tips in 4 steps
• 8 Ways to Build Math Classroom Community

Have Questions? 📱 My DMs on IG are always open @hellomonamath

Leave a review!! 

If you love listening to Honest Math Chat, please take a few seconds to leave a review so other teachers know this is a valuable place to spend a few minutes each week.

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Are you thinking about planning out your school year? 

On this episode, we’re going to talk about how to plan for your year that includes more than just your scope and sequence.

We chat about these 3 planning mistakes and what to do instead: 

• Focusing on the wrong content
• Misunderstanding "rigor"
• Leaving conceptual understanding till the end once kids “get the procedures” 

Links mentioned in the episode: 

• Planning for a Year of Math ($27 PD)
• Major math work for each grade level (achievethecore.org)
• Rigor in Mathematics

➡️ What do you think of when you hear the word "rigor?" - Send me your thoughts on IG @hellomonamath 

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Are you looking for a way to support your students in building problem solving skills, a deep understanding of math and a positive math mindset?

In this episode, we are talking about Word Problem Workshop - my step-by-step plan for teaching problem solving in a student-centered way. 

We are chatting about: 

• Moving from the WHAT to the HOW in math 
• Using research to make shifts in how we plan, think about, and facilitate math 
• How Word Problem Workshop is a student-led approach to exploring and understanding math

Links mentioned in this episode: 

• Word Problem Workshop
• Moving From the WHAT to the HOW in Math Class 
• Helping Kids Become Math Problem Solvers
• 5 Steps to a Student Centered Math Class

Research mentioned in this episode:

• 5 Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematics Discussions 
• Children’s Mathematics, Second Edition: Cognitively Guided Instruction
• Principles to Actions: Ensuring Mathematical Success for All

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Do you struggle with not having the time to create every math task yourself but knowing that what your curriculum has to offer just isn’t enough?

Take a deep breath, this episode is for you!

We are diving into: 

• The pros and cons of math curriculums 
• The pros and cons of teacher created lessons
• My recommendation for how to spend the bulk of your time during math planning

Links mentioned in this episode: 

• My interview with The Kindergarten Cafe podcast on getting new curriculum
• Year of Word Problems (K-5 for only $29!)
• High Quality Math Tasks List

You might like: 

• Principles to Action: Ensuring Mathematical Success for All 
• Guide to Engaging Math Discussions
• Word Problem Workshop

Have Questions? 📱 My DMs on IG are always open @hellomonamath

Leave a review!

If you love listening to Honest Math Chat, please take a few seconds to leave a review so other teachers know this is a valuable place to spend a few minutes each week.