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
206 episodes
188: "Let's Just See What They Can Do!"
đ What âLetâs Just See What They Can Doâ Really MeansThis phrase isnât about tossing students into a problem they canât handle. Itâs about honoring the strategies, intuitions, and lived math experiences they already bring. Youâl...
â˘
Episode 188
â˘
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 isnât actually about fixing at all â itâs about refocusing on student thinking.
â˘
Episode 187
â˘
11:17
186: Learning Walks - Getting Better Together
Hey teacher friends, Mona here! Today weâre diving into one of my favorite ways to grow as a team and strengthen math instruction across a school: Learning Walks. If youâve never tried one before, donât worry. By the end of this episode,...
â˘
Episode 186
â˘
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 âhunt for clue...
â˘
Episode 185
â˘
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 â classrooms where every child feels seen, confident, and ready to learn. She...
â˘
Episode 184
â˘
32:18
183: What if Weâve Been Telling the Wrong Math Story?
Think about this: how often do you hear a student say, âI canât do thisâ? You might wonder, why do they give up so easily? But hereâs the truth â itâs not laziness. Itâs not a lack of confidence. Itâs anxiety.Be...
â˘
Episode 183
â˘
12:06
182: What Matters Most in Math Classrooms? With John SanGioVanni
Math education is changing fast â 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...
â˘
Episode 182
â˘
29:03
181: Book Launch Day - A Classroom of Problem Solvers Starts Here
Itâs here â the Word Problem Workshop book is officially out in the world! Every teacher knows the struggle â students disengaged, confused, or quick to say, âIâm not a math person.â This book was born out of that challenge...
â˘
Episode 181
â˘
8:03
180: Kassia - Behind the Dedication - My Editorâs 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 ...
â˘
Episode 180
â˘
22:40
179: Behind the Scenes of Writing Word Problem Workshop
So, Iâm sitting here with my coffee, reflecting on how surreal it feels that Word Problem Workshop is finally a real book â something teachers can actually hold in their hands. Before it hits shelves, I wanted to take you behind the sc...
â˘
Episode 179
â˘
24:35
178: Mark Golden - Behind the Dedication - Hot Takes From a Teacher Whoâs Lived WPW for Years
Imagine walking into a classroom where math doesnât just happen on the board, but is a lively conversation in every corner. Mark Goldenâs math classroom, especially during Word Problem Workshop (WPW), is where students actively engage, ask ques...
â˘
Episode 178
â˘
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, weâre shifting the focus to how students will en...
â˘
Episode 177
â˘
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 sheâs made in her teaching practice, and how...
â˘
Episode 176
â˘
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...
â˘
Episode 175
â˘
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 classroomâespecially in math. Meghan shares insights from nearly two de...
â˘
Episode 174
â˘
31:47
173: Step 4 Word Problem Workshop - Discuss
Talking is my thingâI love it! But in the classroom, Iâve learned itâs not just about giving students time to talk. Itâs about teaching them how to discuss math in ways that deepen understanding, build confidence, and move learning forwa...
â˘
Episode 173
â˘
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...
â˘
Episode 172
â˘
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? Youâre not aloneâmany teachers face this challenge. In todayâs episode...
â˘
Episode 171
â˘
10:14
170: Jimmy - Behind the Dedication - A Real Teacherâs Story of How WPW Shifted Learning in his Classroom
What happens when we stop teaching math as a set of steps to memorize and instead create space for students to explore, question, and discover? In this episode, we dig into how shifting our approach to math instruction can transform classroomsâ...
â˘
Episode 170
â˘
26:15
169: Step 2 Word Problem Workshop - Grapple
Weâve all heard about the importance of productive struggle in mathâbut what does it actually look like in practice? In this episode, I share why Grapple Time is one of the most powerful parts of Word Problem Workshop, how to prepare stu...
â˘
Episode 169
â˘
18:40
168: Step 1 Word Problem Workshop - Launch
Itâs a common belief: âMy students canât read, so they need to master simple math first before tackling word problems.â But what if this thinking is actually holding students back? In this episode, we challenge the unproductive idea th...
â˘
13:42
167: Go Slow to Go Fast - How Word Problem Workshop Transforms Math Proficiency
Youâve probably heard the saying âGo slow to go fastâ â but what does that actually look like in a math classroom? In this episode, weâre tackling one of the biggest challenges teachers face: balancing the pacing guide with the reality of diver...
â˘
Episode 167
â˘
23:16
166: Kickstarting Problem Solving from Day One
Itâs back-to-school season, and if youâre running on caffeine and sheer willpower, this episode is for you. The copy machine is acting up, your prep time is shrinking, and yetâyouâre slowly building something amazing with your new class. <...
â˘
Episode 166
â˘
20:55
165: Changing the âIâm Bad at Mathâ MindsetâOne Task at a Time
If youâve ever had a student say, âIâm just not a math personâ, you know how powerful that belief can be. Math identityâhow students see themselves in relation to mathâcan either open the door to learning or slam it shut. In thi...
â˘
Episode 165
â˘
17:32
164: Classroom Routines Made Easy
Starting the school year can feel overwhelmingâbut what if teaching routines didnât have to be boring? In this episode, Iâm showing you how to set up essential classroom routines and build a strong classroom community right from day on...
â˘
Episode 164
â˘
16:25