Why is student-to-student discourse so important in mathematics teaching? How do we change math tasks to give students more opportunities to be problem-solvers? Join me this month as I welcome my guest, Ki Karou to the podcast. Ki is currently the Senior Director of Product and Content for MIND Education, an institute dedicated to increasing engagement and excitement in math education using research-based approaches. We discuss these questions and even talk about integrating ed tech into the math classroom to boost student discourse and engagement!

What is problem-based learning? How can a problem-based curriculum positively impact students' experiences in mathematics? These are some questions that we explore in this episode as I welcome April Mouton to the podcast this month. April is the Interim Vice President of Product Development at Illustrative Mathematics. We discuss why problem-based learning is essential for keeping students engaged in math and how shifting from memorization to problem-solving leads to deeper understanding and better outcomes. This is definitely a conversation you don't want to miss if you have been thinking about moving to a student centered approach, working with Building Thinking Classrooms, or your district is using a problem-based curriculum, like Illustrative Mathematics!

What lies ahead in math education years down the road? What can we be doing to prepare our students in mathematics for a future that is unknown? What systems need to be in place for us to create spaces for all to learn mathematics and create a "liberatory math future"? These are some of the fascinating questions that I get to discuss with the phenomenal SL Rao!

If you are not familiar with SL...well, you should be! SL Rao is a strategist who co-creates new futures in education, health and climate through design inspired system transformation. They bring a system-oriented, equity-centered approach to their work and to how they build, nurture, and grow teams and organizations. They are curious, and driven by the need to find solutions to seemingly intractable problems.

Join me and SL for this amazing conversation about the future of math education!

Have you been told to use your curriculum to "fidelity"? What does that mean and how can we start to move from using a curricula with fidelity to using it with "integrity"? This is the topic that we discuss in this episode. I am joined by one of the Stanislaus County Office of Education's math special projects coordinators, Christina Rubalcava. We also talk about the work around Building Thinking Classrooms that has been done throughout the county and the rollout of the new CA Mathematics Framework. This is a great conversation that I hope you will enjoy!

How can we think in an "ish" way? The phenomenal, Jo Boaler joins the podcast to have this conversation. Jo Boaler is the founder of YouCubed.org and the author of Mathematical Mindsets and Math-ish. She has devoted her entire career in education to supporting teachers in moving towards equitable and effective teaching environments. Jo and I discuss Math-ish, teaching fractions, data science and new CA Framework...something that I am looking forward to implementing!

This is definitely a conversation you don't want to miss!

How do we foster positive math identities for all of our students? Join this conversation with Rolanda Baldwin, the Vice President of Unbound Ed's Math and Science Projects as we seek to answer that question. We discuss "GLEAM", an acronym that can help teachers as an everyday guide to bringing all kids into the mathematics. We also spend some time talking about supports for our multilingual learners and rethinking "intervention" to help students and at the same time support positive math identities. Another great episode with another great guest!

In this SUPERSIZED episode, I welcome the co-creators of the popular Building Thinking Classroom grade book tool, Tim Brzezinski and Melisa McCain! We have a great conversation about how the tool was created, how teachers have been using the grade book and reasons why it is so important to change grading mindsets to move towards "outcomes" based grading and away from "events" based grading. This is a great episode for anyone interested in shifting grading practices.

Here it is! Part 2 of my conversation with Peter Liljedahl, author of Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics. We continue our discussion by talking about non-curricular tasks. Peter outlines the importance of non-curricular tasks used on a regular basis and the best times in the school year to give non-curricular tasks. We also talk about homework and how teachers can work within school systems that require them to give or grade homework. This is a great discussion you don't want to miss!

He's back! Peter Liljedahl, the renowned author of Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics, returns to the podcast! Join us for part 1 of this "super-sized" conversation with Peter as we discuss success stories from teachers and students in Thinking Classrooms. Peter describes the power of success for teachers. He also describes why cards is the better way to go when randomizing student groups instead of digital randomization tools. This is an episode you don't want to miss!

We are back!! It so exciting to be going into SEASON 3! In this first episode of the new season, I welcome one of our "teachers on special assignment" (and technology teacher), Melissa Marcucci, to the podcast. We talk about her work in our district's college and career ready initiative and discuss our takeaways from a California State University Symposium we attended focused on preparing students for college level mathematics. Let me tell you...the important skills students should know going into college mathematics may not be the same as high school teachers have historically emphasized. This is a great episode for secondary teachers that are interested in hearing about what they can focus on in their math classes to get students ready for their future!