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
226 episodes
Why Your Math Share Time Is Killing Student Engagement
If your math share time feels disengaged, the issue might not be your students… it might be the structure. In this episode, we unpack how one common routine is quietly reducing student engagement and what simple shift can help students listen, ...
207: You don’t need a new curriculum. You need a different structure.
Have you ever found yourself walking around during grapple time unsure of where to go or what to say? This episode taps into that exact moment—when students are at different stages and the instinct is to jump in and fix everything. You’ll disco...
206: What Actually Changed When One School Rethought Math Instruction
You’ve likely felt this before—leaving a PD inspired, only to return to the same classroom routines the next day. This episode opens with an honest question: if we know what works in math instruction, why aren’t we seeing real change? The answe...
205: If You Feel Like Math Isn’t Working… It’s Not You
In recent conversations, we’ve unpacked a common frustration: math instruction isn’t always producing the confident problem solvers we hope for. But what if the issue isn’t effort or ability—what if it’s structure? This episode opens the door t...
204: Why Math Class Isn’t Building Confident Problem Solvers (And It’s Not What You Think)
What if the reason students struggle with math problem solving has nothing to do with effort, curriculum, or ability? In this opening, we challenge a common assumption and reveal a powerful truth: the structure of math classrooms is ofte...
203: Why Knowing What To Do Isn’t Changing Your Math Classroom
Have you ever walked out of professional development thinking, “That makes so much sense”… only to return to your classroom and teach the exact same way? You’re not alone—and this episode dives into the real reason why knowing better d...
202: The Problem With Gamifying Math (And What Actually Helps Students Learn)
Right now, gamified math platforms are everywhere—and yes, they can feel like a lifesaver. Students are engaged, they’re excited, and for a moment, it feels like learning is happening seamlessly through technology in math classrooms. How...
201: Why Word Problems Feel Hard Even When Students Know the Math
Many teachers have experienced this exact moment. Students can add, subtract, and multiply during a lesson, but the moment they see a word problem, everything seems to unravel. In this episode, we explore why word problems in math often ...
200: I Still Believe This after 200 episodes! & 🎁 a free Gift
Reaching 200 episodes of the Math Chat is more than a milestone—it’s a movement. For two hundred conversations, we’ve challenged the idea that math is just memorizing steps and instead focused on building thinkers through meaningful math word p...
199: Instructional Nudges, Interview with Sam Otten
Dr. Samuel Otten brings deep expertise and practical insight into helping teachers strengthen mathematical practices in math classrooms. With advanced degrees from Michigan State University and roots at Grand Valley State University, his...
198: Why Math Coaches are the Key to Sustainable Change
If sustainable change in math instruction were simply about trying harder, most teachers would already be there. In this episode, Mona names a truth many educators feel but rarely say out loud: lasting instructional change doesn’t come f...
197: Math Is a Language of Power an Interview with Stephanie Marrero
In this episode, we explore what happens when math instruction moves beyond answers and procedures and into interpretation, questioning, and meaning-making. This conversation invites educators to rethink how math prepares students not just for ...
196: A Classroom Moment That Changed How I Teach Problem Solving
When students were asked to solve independently, things quickly unraveled. Behaviors surfaced, lessons derailed, and reliance on the teacher increased. This wasn’t a lack of effort — it was a lack of confidence, a common barrier in developing e...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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.
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,...
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...
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...