The Mindful Math Podcast

Lesson study and problem-based learning have gained national attention over the past several years as promising solutions to American students’ lagging achievement in math. In this episode, you’ll hear from Tom McDougal, who’s at the heart of this work as the leader of Chicago’s renowned Lesson Study Alliance. Through his years of organizing public lessons and leading teachers through analysis of what did and didn’t work, he’s become an advocate of letting students do the real thinking in lessons - and he’ll show you how to do it. For more information, and to access show notes and related resource links for this episode, go to www.mindfulmathcoach.com/episode48

In this episode, Chrissy explains why she is making a hard edit in her business right now and how you can apply this idea to to your role in your school or district.

When students enter our math classrooms several years behind, we tend to see THAT as the challenge that needs to be solved. However, in many schools, the question of how to catch kids up is ever present and something that needs to be addressed year after year after year.  When more than 30% of your students need math intervention and Tier 2 and 3 support, unfinished learning isn't the root of the problem -- but rather a symptom of bigger issues your school team faces. Click play to hear how I helped teachers at my school narrow the opportunity gap and 3 areas you’ll want to make sure you have on lock to ensure your students are on track to college and career readiness. To access show notes and related resource links for this episode, go to www.mindfulmathcoach.com/episode47. 

For more information about the Streamline Your Math Strategy Workshop Series, or to sign up, click here: www.mindfulmathcoach.com/streamline. 

Several years ago, I had the opportunity to partner with Astrid Fossum, Senior Math Specialist at Student Achievement Partners, on a topic we’re both passionate about -- catching kids up in math. We were motivated to help middle and high school math teachers find practical and effective solutions to a challenge they face every day in the classroom: what to do when students have significant unfinished learning from previous grades. Based on our individual experiences, conversations with math teachers, and countless classroom observations, we knew teachers and leaders were seeking guidance about best-practices related to math interventions. Listen in to hear common missteps schools make, recommendations for what to do instead, and examples to help shed light on the complex decision-making process teachers must go through to support students where they are while moving forward with grade-level content. For more information, and to access show notes and related resource links for this episode, go to www.mindfulmathcoach.com/episode46

Today, we’re flipping it around and switching it up. Instead of being the interview-er like I normally am, in this episode I’m the interview-ee. Several months ago, Nathan Vann, host of The Teacher’s Morning Prep Podcast, invited me to be a guest on his show -- and he’s agreed to share that episode with you here, on the Mindful Math Podcast. We discussed a variety of topics, and one overarching theme was the unique challenges math teachers face -- and what we can do about them. Whether you’ve already transitioned back to in-person learning, or if you’re gearing up for it in the near future, this episode is packed with timely and relevant tips to help you give yourself the grace you deserve, differentiate to meet your students’ needs, and avoid a common (and ineffective) approach to catching kids up. Let’s hand it over to Nathan to take it away! For more information, and to access show notes and related resource links for this episode, go to www.mindfulmathcoach.com/episode45

Dr. Keonna White is a leader who walks the walk. She brings her whole self to her work, and her passion, authenticity, and vulnerability shine through. She tells it like it is while showing compassion and supporting others to be their best. In this episode, Dr. White explains what leadership at all levels looks like and how to use data, questions, and candid conversations to help members of your school community to see a different perspective. Listen in to hear how to tap into teachers’ strengths, leverage the power of the collective, and “keep it tight and keep it loose” as you lead your teachers, staff, and students to create an inclusive space where everyone wants to be. For more information, and to access show notes and related resource links for this episode, go to www.mindfulmathcoach.com/episode44

Fawn Nguyen LOVES teaching with visual patterns - and, after hearing why, you will too. She shares hundreds of them on her website, visualpatterns.org for FREE! As an experienced educator and veteran middle school teacher, she’s spent years finely honing the craft of using this warm up routine to help students make sense of math. In this episode, Fawn explains how there’s so much more to patterns than input-output tables, including seeing structure, algebraic thinking, and the opportunity to engage in mathematical modeling.  Students receive rich benefits when teachers incorporate them in math lessons all year long - not just in the functions, expressions, and equations unit. Listen in to hear how you can get started with visual patterns right away! For more information, and to access show notes and related resource links for this episode, go to www.mindfulmathcoach.com/episode43

We all WANT our students doing the heavy thinking during math lessons… so why is it so hard to IMPLEMENT? How can we stop “teacher-splaining” and instead, provide opportunities for our students to problem solve, ask and answer questions, and explore concepts? In this episode, Math and Science Instructional Coach, Karla Morris, shares two obstacles teachers face as they work to engage students in deep learning. Listen in to hear what it means to shift the cognitive lift to students and the four phases teachers can work through to make it happen. For more information, and to access show notes and related resource links for this episode, go to www.mindfulmathcoach.com/episode42

In recent years, educators have worked to replace deficit-based thinking with a more asset-based approach -- as it relates to students. But have we given the same attention to using a strengths-based approach with adults in the building? In this episode, I’m sharing how knowing and using your innate gifts can help you be at your best, improve interpersonal relationships, and find more joy and ease in your work. Listen in to hear 5 benefits you’ll gain from identifying your strengths (and others’ strengths) and leaning into them in your work. Whether you’re a teacher, coach, or school leader, you’ll gain insight and ideas about how to leverage your unique personality traits to reach your goals. For more information, and to access show notes and related resource links for this episode, go to www.mindfulmathcoach.com/episode41