Math Chat
Mona, of Mona Math, reveals the mysteries of how to teach elementary math even if you aren't a math person. Discover how you can develop a buzzing student led math classroom. We cover all things math identity, classroom culture, and student centered instructional practices to help you empower students to love and understanding math deeply.
Episodes
213 episodes
195: Readers Read and Mathers Math, Interview with Deborah Peart Crayton
What if math classrooms were places where every child saw themselves as capable, curious, and confident? In this episode, we’re joined by Deborah Peart Crayton, founder and Queen Mather of My Mathematical Mind, to explore...
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Episode 195
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43:49
194: What If Students Don’t Know the Math Yet?
What happens when students haven’t been taught the math yet—but the task is right there waiting? In this episode, I unpack the fear many teachers feel before launching a rich task and explains why that hesitation, while understandable, often bl...
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Episode 194
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10:03
193: Questions to Ask in Math Class
What if the biggest shift in your math block didn’t come from a new curriculum or tool—but from the questions you ask? In this episode, I explore how intentional math questions can spark deeper thinking, richer conversations, and stronger reaso...
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Episode 193
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14:11
192: What Should Students Do, Say, and Think in Math Class & How We Get Them There.
What should students actually be doing, saying, and thinking in math class? In this episode, I break down this essential question and shifts the focus away from pacing guides, tests, and compliance—and back to student thinking. If you ...
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Episode 192
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12:34
191: When 1st Graders Tackle Multiplication Stories… Magic Happens
Today’s episode dives into a question many K–1 teachers ask: Why are we giving multiplication problem types when they’re nowhere in the standards? If you’ve ever wondered whether this is developmentally appropriate, too advanced, or si...
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Episode 191
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17:25
190: What Happens When Students Struggle? How We Can Help Without Taking Away the Opportunity to Think
In today’s episode, we’re diving into what really happens when kids struggle—and how to support them without rescuing them from the thinking process. You’ll hear the story of a quiet 3rd grader named Daria and how confidence, belief, a...
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16:44
189: My Kindergarten Lesson
I’ll start with a confession: I’ve never taught kindergarten. Honestly? I don’t think I could. Kindergarten teachers bring superhuman levels of compassion, patience, and organizational magic. They teach kids how to be at school while a...
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Episode 189
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21:35
188: "Let's Just See What They Can Do!"
💭 What “Let’s Just See What They Can Do” Really MeansThis phrase isn’t about tossing students into a problem they can’t handle. It’s about honoring the strategies, intuitions, and lived math experiences they already bring. You’l...
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Episode 188
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14:38
187: Anchor Moves to Coach in Chaos
Coaching often becomes hectic fast. Schedules shift, classrooms get noisy, and teachers feel stretched thin. While the instinct is to fix everything, coaching isn’t actually about fixing at all — it’s about refocusing on student thinking.
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Episode 187
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11:17
186: Learning Walks - Getting Better Together
Hey teacher friends, Mona here! Today we’re diving into one of my favorite ways to grow as a team and strengthen math instruction across a school: Learning Walks. If you’ve never tried one before, don’t worry. By the end of this episode,...
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Episode 186
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11:40
185: A Better Way to Use CUBES - Ditch Keyword in Math for Making Sense
Many classrooms use the CUBES strategy for solving word problems. It's familiar, structured, and gives students a clear process. However, in this episode, we explore how traditional CUBES may unintentionally encourage students to “hunt for clue...
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Episode 185
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14:59
184: Building Joyful, Equitable Math Classrooms with Kendra
What does it really look like when students thrive in math? In this inspiring episode, Kendra unpacks what it means to build thriving math communities — classrooms where every child feels seen, confident, and ready to learn. She...
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Episode 184
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32:18
183: What if We’ve Been Telling the Wrong Math Story?
Think about this: how often do you hear a student say, “I can’t do this”? You might wonder, why do they give up so easily? But here’s the truth — it’s not laziness. It’s not a lack of confidence. It’s anxiety.Be...
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Episode 183
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12:06
182: What Matters Most in Math Classrooms? With John SanGioVanni
Math education is changing fast — and few people are leading that change more thoughtfully than John SanGiovanni, a math educator, district leader, and author of numerous influential books. In this episode of our math education podcas...
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Episode 182
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29:03
181: Book Launch Day - A Classroom of Problem Solvers Starts Here
It’s here — the Word Problem Workshop book is officially out in the world! Every teacher knows the struggle — students disengaged, confused, or quick to say, “I’m not a math person.” This book was born out of that challenge...
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Episode 181
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8:03
180: Kassia - Behind the Dedication - My Editor’s Behind-the-Scenes Thoughts at Shaping the Book
In this special episode of Math Chat, we sit down with Kassia, the brilliant editor who played an instrumental role in shaping the Word Problem Workshop book. With her keen eye and unwavering support, Kassia helped turn ideas ...
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Episode 180
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22:40
179: Behind the Scenes of Writing Word Problem Workshop
So, I’m sitting here with my coffee, reflecting on how surreal it feels that Word Problem Workshop is finally a real book — something teachers can actually hold in their hands. Before it hits shelves, I wanted to take you behind the sc...
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Episode 179
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24:35
178: Mark Golden - Behind the Dedication - Hot Takes From a Teacher Who’s Lived WPW for Years
Imagine walking into a classroom where math doesn’t just happen on the board, but is a lively conversation in every corner. Mark Golden’s math classroom, especially during Word Problem Workshop (WPW), is where students actively engage, ask ques...
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Episode 178
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26:22
177: Word Problem Workshop - Planning
In this episode of Math Chat, we dive deep into planning for Word Problem Workshop (WPW) and how to maximize your preparation time. Instead of focusing on what students will do, we’re shifting the focus to how students will en...
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Episode 177
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10:48
176: Amanda - Behind the Dedication - How Doing Hard Things Grows Math Understanding and Confidence
In this episode of Math Chat, we welcome Amanda, a teacher who has completely transformed her math instruction through Word Problem Workshop (WPW). Together, we dive into the powerful shifts she’s made in her teaching practice, and how...
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Episode 176
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30:05
175: Step 5 Word Problem Workshop - Reflect
In this episode, we dive into the power of reflection in the Word Problem Workshop (WPW). If you're an educator seeking to enhance student learning through meaningful discussions, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Learn how addin...
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Episode 175
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9:14
174: Meghan Princehorn - Behind the Dedication - The Gift of Building Classroom Communities Where Every Child Belongs
In this episode, we sit down with Meghan Princehorn, a school social worker, to talk about the powerful connection between social emotional skills and success in the classroom—especially in math. Meghan shares insights from nearly two de...
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Episode 174
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31:47
173: Step 4 Word Problem Workshop - Discuss
Talking is my thing—I love it! But in the classroom, I’ve learned it’s not just about giving students time to talk. It’s about teaching them how to discuss math in ways that deepen understanding, build confidence, and move learning forwa...
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Episode 173
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15:30
172: Ed Spicer - Behind the Dedication - How One Classroom Opened my Eyes to the Genius Children Carry
What does it really take to create a classroom where students not only learn math but also trust themselves, their peers, and their teacher? In this episode, I sit down with educator Ed Spicer to talk about building a math classroom comm...
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Episode 172
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33:03
171: Step 3 Word Problem Workshop - Share
Does your math class feel like only a handful of students ever raise their hands while the rest stay silent? Or maybe your students avoid sharing out of fear of being wrong? You’re not alone—many teachers face this challenge. In today’s episode...
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Episode 171
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10:14