Math: Universally Speaking

How can state education departments move from accountability officers to true instructional partners?

In this episode of Math Universally Speaking, host Ron Martiello is joined by Pennsylvania Department of Education leaders Amy Lena (Deputy Secretary for Elementary & Secondary Education) and Dr. Megan Clementi (State Assessment Coordinator for Mathematics).

Amy and Megan share PDE's vision for working elbow-to-elbow with K–12 educators, administrators, and curriculum leaders across Pennsylvania. They dive into:

• Why PDE views its mission as one of support over surveillance.

• The ongoing conversations surrounding PA Core Math Standards and Chapter 4 regulations.

• Integrating data literacy into the curriculum to prepare students for a data-driven world.

• Overcoming math anxiety to ensure every student believes they are a "math person".

• Free PA resources every educator needs to know about—including the SAS Assessment Builder, Evidence Resource Center, and PVAAS support teams.

Whether you're a classroom teacher, instructional coach, or school administrator, tune in to discover how state support and inclusive math practices are transforming learning outcomes for all students.

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Unlock high-quality, equitable, and inclusive math instruction in this episode of Math: Universally Speaking as host Ron Martiello sits down with Jennie Beltramini, Deputy Chief Program Officer for the Math Team at Student Achievement Partners.

Tune in as Jennie and Ron dive deep into the newly released e2 (Essential and Evidence-Informed) Instructional Practice Framework. Discover how educators can go beyond traditional standards to build classrooms rooted in four essential pillars: rigorous grade-level instruction, joy and belonging, linguistically sustaining practices, and culturally responsive teaching.

Whether you're an elementary generalist, a K–8 math teacher, or an instructional leader, this episode provides actionable, low-barrier strategies to remove learning barriers, support multilingual learners, and help every student see themselves as a capable mathematician.

Key Topics Covered:

• Breaking down the 4 pillars of the e2 Instructional Practice Framework

• Defining true joy, safety, and student belonging in the math classroom

• Moving beyond basic ELL strategies with linguistically sustaining practices and language objectives

• Adapting high-quality instructional materials for cultural relevance without sacrificing rigor

• Practical classroom tips and learning walk tools from Learn with SAP

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Explore the e2 Framework & Resources: Learn with SAP

• Access Historical Tools & the Coherence Map: Achieve the Core

• Connect with the Podcast: Math Universally Speaking

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How can we break down barriers in elementary math and design instruction where every student thriHow do Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) intersect to make K–12 mathematics accessible for every learner?

In this episode of Math Universally Speaking, host Ronald Martiello connects with Fred Cochran—a 28-year educator, MTSS Lead, and co-founder of the California UDL Coalition. Fred shares his decade-long journey of integrating UDL into MTSS and explains how educators can shift UDL from being "one more thing" to becoming a daily teaching habit.

Key Topics Covered:

• Systemic Alignment: Using UDL as the Tier 1 foundation within MTSS.
• Math Accessibility: Moving from procedural memorization to meaningful conceptual understanding.
• Overcoming Barriers: Shifting mindsets to ensure all students thrive in general education spaces.
• UDL Community: The story behind the California UDL Coalition and details on the upcoming 4th Annual UDL Summit.

How can we break down barriers in elementary math and design instruction where every student thrives? In this episode of Math: Universally Speaking, host Ron Martiello sits down with Ashley Marlow—elementary math coach, consultant, Director of Operations at All Learners Network, and co-author of Universal Design for Learning in Mathematics Instruction K–5.

Ashley shares her journey of connecting high-quality math pedagogy with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS). Together, Ron and Ashley unpack:

• Dismantling Math Myths: Why we need to take math off its "pedestal" and shift from procedural drill to deep conceptual understanding.
• Proactive UDL vs. Reactive Differentiation: How anticipating learning barriers ahead of time creates accessible Tier 1 instruction for all students.
• High-Leverage Concepts (HLCs): Prioritizing foundational through-lines (place value, number sense, fractional reasoning) over short-term "whack-a-mole" interventions.
• Building Learner Agency: Empowering students to make choices, develop voice, and take ownership of their mathematical thinking.

Whether you're a K–5 classroom teacher, math coach, special educator, or administrator, this episode provides actionable strategies to foster true inclusion and learner agency in your math classroom.

Whether your classroom is energized like Earth, Wind & Fire’s "September" or feeling the back-to-school fatigue of Green Day’s "Wake Me Up When September Ends," strong connections are key to a successful school year.

In this episode of Math: Universally Speaking, we explore three practical Universal Design for Learning (UDL) approaches to build community, support diverse learners, and engage students from day one:

• Reflecting on Math Identity: Empowering students through math biographies, songs, or art (Conquering Math Myths with Universal Design).
• Instructional Triads: Using John SanGiovanni’s small-group framework to lower performance anxiety and support language learners.
• Modern Mathematicians: Showcasing inspiring real-world figures like John Urschel, Gladys West, and Lonnie Johnson so every student sees themselves in math.

Learn how to cultivate agency, foster peer collaboration, and build an inclusive math environment from the start!

In this episode of Math: Universally Speaking, Ron Martiello explores how educators can keep students engaged during math learning by intentionally designing for rigor, productive struggle, and perseverance through the lens of Universal Design for Learning (UDL).

Ron clarifies the differences between three commonly misunderstood mathematics education terms—rigor, productive struggle, and perseverance—and explains why understanding these distinctions matters when designing equitable, inclusive, and engaging math instruction.

Throughout the episode, listeners will discover practical ways to sustain student effort and persistence in mathematics, including:

• Clarifying learning goals

• Optimizing challenge and support

• Using scaffolds during problem solving

• Fostering collaboration and mathematical discourse

• Building belonging and community in math class

• Providing actionable feedback that advances student thinking

Ron also discusses how teachers can support students without taking away the thinking, why struggle is an important part of learning mathematics, and how classroom design can help students see themselves as capable mathematicians.

This episode is valuable for K–12 teachers, instructional coaches, interventionists, special educators, administrators, and school leaders looking to strengthen student engagement in mathematics through inclusive and rigorous instructional design.

Whether you teach elementary, middle, or high school mathematics, this conversation will provide practical ideas for helping students sustain effort, persist through challenges, and build deeper mathematical understanding.

Listen to Math: Universally Speaking on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Castbox, or your favorite podcast platform.

In this episode of Math: Universally Speaking, I am joined by Dr. Juli Dixon to discuss the framework behind The Fact Tactics Fluency Program. We explore how to move beyond rote memorization by focusing on the meaning of multiplication and the properties of operations. Juli explains how her program helps students transition from basic additive thinking to true multiplicative reasoning, ensuring they have a solid foundation for more advanced mathematics.

We take a deep dive into the six specific tactics that drive the program: Grounding, Linking, Strategic Repetition, Review, Assessment, and Extension. This episode isn't just about theory—it’s about giving you high-impact strategies to build fluency while engaging students to take ownership of their own progress. Listen to the full episode now to discover Juli’s practical roadmap for transforming your approach to multiplication facts and challenging every learner in your classroom.

How do we truly invite students into mathematics?

In this episode of Math Universally Speaking, Ron Martiello explores the connection between Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and high-quality mathematics instruction, focusing on the engagement guideline of welcoming interests and identities. When students feel invited into the learning process, they are more likely to stay engaged, persevere through challenges, and develop a strong math identity.

Drawing connections to the Standards for Mathematical Practice and NCTM’s Principles to Actions, this episode explores how teachers can design math classrooms that honor learner variability while maintaining high expectations for all students.

You’ll hear practical ideas for:

• Using multiple mathematical tools and strategies to support conceptual understanding

• Designing instruction that promotes choice, relevance, and authenticity in math learning

• Encouraging strategic thinking and problem solving rather than relying on a single algorithm

• Creating opportunities for joy, collaboration, and productive mathematical play

• Using asset-based language to nurture positive math identities for every student

Ron also discusses how welcoming student identities can transform math classrooms from places of compliance into spaces where students feel valued, capable, and invited to think deeply about mathematics.

This conversation connects directly to ideas explored in the book Conquering Math Myths with Universal Design: An Inclusive Approach to Instruction K–8, co-authored by Ron Martiello and Dr. Jenna Rufo.

If you're passionate about inclusive math instruction, equitable teaching practices, Universal Design for Learning, and developing confident math learners, this episode will give you practical insights and inspiration for your classroom.

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In this episode of Math Universally Speaking, Ron Martiello welcomes veteran educator and instructional leader Sheila Robitaille for a conversation on early numeracy and number sense development—two essential foundations for long-term success in mathematics learning.

Together, they explore how students often experience mathematics as procedures rather than conceptual understanding, and how weak early numeracy skills can contribute to math anxiety and disengagement. Sheila shares practical elementary math strategies, including purposeful wait time, mathematical discourse, gamification, and instructional approaches aligned with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to support all learners.

The discussion highlights how play, inquiry, and low-floor/high-ceiling tasks promote equitable access while strengthening students’ mathematical identity and confidence.

The episode also introduces World Maths Day, a free global mathematics event hosted by 3P Learning, connecting students worldwide through engaging live math challenges.

If you’re looking to strengthen number sense, improve math engagement, and create inclusive mathematics classrooms where every student can succeed, this episode offers practical ideas you can use immediately.

In this episode of Math, Universally Speaking, Ron Martiello reflects on a collaboratively designed fourth-grade lesson on equivalent fractions through the lens of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). He shares how intentional planning, precise academic language, and the strategic use of multiple representations helped students develop deep conceptual understanding of fractions.

Listeners will learn how tools like the Frayer Model, anchor charts, visual models, and structured discourse can activate prior knowledge, clarify vocabulary, and support repeated reasoning. Ron explains how moving deliberately from concrete visuals to symbolic equations empowered students to recognize patterns, test ideas, and understand why fractions are equivalent—rather than relying on memorized procedures.

This episode highlights practical teacher moves for supporting diverse learners, including English language learners and students who struggle with academic language, while maintaining high expectations and mathematical rigor. Through real classroom examples, Ron demonstrates how UDL principles can increase access, engagement, and student agency in elementary math instruction.

Whether you are teaching fractions, designing concept-based math lessons, or working to strengthen equity and accessibility in your classroom, this episode offers actionable strategies for building meaningful mathematical understanding.