When we think about math struggles, we often picture multiplication facts, fractions, or word problems. But what if one of the most common misunderstandings begins much earlier, with a symbol students see every single day?

In this installment of our Unlocking Dyscalculia series, Adrianne Meldrum welcomes back Dr. Sarah Powell from UT Austin to talk about something deceptively simple: the equal sign.

And as it turns out, there’s a lot to know.

See more interviews referenced in this episode here: madeformath.com/unlocking-dyscalculia

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In this episode of Unlocking Dyscalculia, host Adrianne Meldrum sits down with Lorraine Hightower, a dyslexia advocate, consultant, and parent whose professional mission was shaped deeply by personal experience. Their conversation centers on advocacy—what it looks like, why it matters, and how parents and teachers can work together to better support students with learning differences.

Parents often sense it before they can name it. Their child is exhausted after school. Homework takes hours. Meltdowns happen at home, not in the classroom. Teachers say things are “fine,” yet something clearly isn’t.
When a child is struggling, it’s not enough for support to exist on paper—it has to work in practice. Drawing from lived experience and expert advocacy insight, this episode of Unlocking Dyscalculia walks parents through what advocates do, when to seek help, how to use data effectively, and what to do when IEPs or 504 plans fall short.

Read the full blog post here: Advocating For Students With Dyslexia And Dyscalculia - Made For Math

In this episode of the Unlocking Dyscalculia podcast, Heather Brand—our Operations Manager at Made for Math—sits down with two giants in the world of math education: Dr. John Mighton, founder of Jump Math, and Dr. Amanda VanDerHeyden, creator of Spring Math.

Individually, each of them has reshaped how students learn mathematics. Now, they’re collaborating, and we get a behind-the-scenes look at how their work fits together.

In this episode of Unlocking Dyscalculia, Adrianne Meldrum, founder and CEO of MFM, and Heather Brand, Operations Manager, dive into a phrase many of us have heard—the science of learning. It’s become a buzzword in education, but what does it actually mean? More importantly, how does it apply to how children learn math?

Looking for our Subitizing Cards? Check them out here: Subitizing Playing Cards (Free Shipping) - Made for Math

See more interviews referenced in this episode here: madeformath.com/unlocking-dyscalculia

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In this episode of Unlocking Dyscalculia, Heather Brand from Made for Math sits down with Alisa Dorman, President of Acadience Learning, to explore how curriculum-based measurement (CBM) tools can identify math learning challenges early—and help students thrive before frustration sets in.

See more interviews referenced in this episode here: madeformath.com/unlocking-dyscalculia

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In a recent interview with Adrianne Meldrum, Nathaniel Hansford shared his journey as an educator, teaching across multiple countries and working with students with diverse needs.

From classrooms in Korea to behavioral schools in England, Nathaniel’s experiences shaped not only his approach to teaching but also his understanding of how research informs educational practices.

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In this conversation, Adrianne Meldrum, CEO of Made for Math, sits down with Dr. Nathaniel Swain—teacher, instructional coach, researcher, and author of Harnessing the Science of Learning. Together, they dive into the fascinating intersections of language, cognition, and mathematics instruction.

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Too often, math is treated as if it’s just one skill. People say things like, “I’m not a math person”—something you’d rarely hear someone say about reading. The truth is, being “good at math” is not an all-or-nothing talent you’re born with. Just like reading, math proficiency is made up of many connected skills that can be strengthened over time.

In this episode of Unlocking Dyscalculia, Adrianne Meldrum and Heather Brand dive into their vision for a Mathematical Proficiency Rope—a simpler, yet still deeply interconnected model that explains what it really takes to develop strong math skills.

See more interviews referenced in this episode here: madeformath.com/unlocking-dyscalculia

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Unlocking Dyscalculia host Adrianne Meldrum sits down with Canadian researcher and evidence-informed learning designer Dr. Nidhi Sachdeva. Together, they sit down to explore one of the most persistent—and misleading—ideas in education: learning styles. You’ve probably heard it before (or even said it yourself): “I’m a visual learner,” or “My student needs kinesthetic learning.” But is there any truth to it?

Connect with Dr. Nidhi Sachdeva
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In the latest episode of Unlocking Dyscalculia, Heather Brand sits down with educator and consultant Brendan Lee to explore what happens when a teacher steps outside the traditional path and rethinks how we reach students—especially those who struggle with math. Join us as we uncover common math myths and share practical strategies you can use with your students instead.

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