Mix and Math

There’s a lot of talk these days about “new math” and questioning why educators want to change how math is taught. Parents, colleagues, and even the general public often push back, wondering why we can’t just teach math the way they learned it. That’s why I was so excited to sit down with Mike Flynn, a national leader in math education, a former second-grade teacher, and the founder of Flynn Education Inc. Mike has spent his career helping teachers navigate change, and in this conversation, we dig deep into understanding and addressing resistance to change in math education. In this episode, we explore why resistance happens—whether it’s from parents, colleagues, or even within ourselves—and how we can navigate it productively. We discuss productive vs. unproductive beliefs about math, how to create a math community where it’s safe to take risks, and why approaching resistance with curiosity instead of judgment makes all the difference. If you’ve ever struggled with pushback in your teaching, this episode will give you the mindset shifts and strategies to move forward. Let’s jump in! Connect with Mike Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flynneducation Website: https://flynneducation.com/ Connect with Brittany Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mixandmath Website: https://www.mixandmath.com

If we want every student to see themselves as capable math learners, we have to think critically about the way we teach, the tasks we choose, and the messages we send—both spoken and unspoken. I recently had a chance to talk to Dr. Pamela Seda who is a leader in math education and co-author of Choosing to See: A Framework for Equity in the Math Classroom. She is committed to changing how students experience math so that all students develop into mathematical thinkers and problem-solvers. We had a very actionable and down to earth discussion about what equity in math really is and how small shifts in our practice can help all students get what they need in math. We also talked about empowering students to take control of their learning and how to modify tasks in a way that helps every student see math as a tool for creating change. Connect with Pam Website: https://www.sedaeducationalconsulting.com/ Book: https://www.sedaeducationalconsulting.com/product-page/choosing-to-see-book Connect with Brittany Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mixandmath Website: https://www.mixandmath.com

How do we move student thinking forward in a way that’s meaningful, inclusive, and still hits all the demands of teaching math? I had an opportunity to chat about all of this and so much more with today's guest, Graham Fletcher. Graham is a former classroom teacher and instructional lead and is currently a math specialist. He is the coauthor of Building Fact Fluency and shares so many fantastic resources on his website. In this episode, we dive into everything from choosing rich tasks that provide multiple entry points, to the art of assessing where students are within a learning progression. We also talk about balancing conceptual understanding with the pressure put on us by pacing guides. This conversation is full of actionable ideas to move students' thinking forward. Connect with Graham Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gfletchy Website: https://gfletchy.com/ Connect with Brittany Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mixandmath Website: https://www.mixandmath.com

In this conversation with Vanessa Vakharia, author of Math Therapy and host of the Math Therapy podcast, we had a great discussion about how math anxiety impacts students' relationships with math and how our own experiences in math play a role in our work with students. We talked about teaching practices we need to think more critically about and Vanessa shared some wonderful ideas for how we can help students become more aware of and navigate their feelings around learning math. Connect with Vanessa Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themathguru/ Website: https://www.maththerapypodcast.com/ Math Therapy: https://us.corwin.com/books/math-therapy-288168 Connect with Brittany Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mixandmath Website: https://www.mixandmath.com

I had the chance to talk to Georgina Rivera about ways that we can support multilingual learners in math and how we can shed light on the brilliance that every single child in the classroom has within them. Georgina is currently the principal of a school in Connecticut but before that, she was a math teacher, coach, and STEM supervisor. She is active in many professional organizations including NCSM where she served as the Vice President. One of the things I love about talking to Georgina is just how practical the tips and strategies she provides are. I think you'll find yourself reaching for a pen and paper to jot down all the ideas she shares in this episode! Connect with Georgina  Twitter: https://x.com/Mathcoachrivera/  Connect with Brittany  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mixandmath/  Website: https://www.mixandmath.com

If you joined us for last summer's book study, then you're in for a treat because I had the opportunity to interview Peter Liljedahl, author of Building Thinking Classrooms. We had a fantastic discussion about overcoming the roadblocks that keep us stuck when creating a thinking classroom, as well as why we should shift the lens through which we read and implement the book. He also shared some new insights he's had since releasing the book and seeing it implemented in thousands of classrooms. Connect with Peter  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkingclassrooms/  Twitter: https://x.com/pgliljedahl  Website: https://buildingthinkingclassrooms.com/ Connect with Brittany  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mixandmath/  Website: https://www.mixandmath.com

We know as math educators that the beliefs students have about math and the past experiences they bring with them impact how they approach and engage in math lessons. Even our own experiences play a part in what teaching and learning look like in the classroom. I recently had a chance to catch up with Chase Orton, author of The Imperfect and Unfinished Math Teacher, to talk about how we can develop stronger classroom communities for students that change their math stories. We also talked about creating more collaborative professional communities for ourselves so that our own math stories continue to evolve. Connect with Chase  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imperfectunfinished/  Twitter: https://x.com/mathgeek76  Website: https://www.chaseorton.com Connect with Brittany  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mixandmath  Website: https://www.mixandmath.com

As educators, it's often our learners who struggle the most that keep us up at night. We believe they can thrive in math, but we aren’t always sure how best to support them. I had the pleasure of talking to Juli Dixon who is a professor at the University of Central Florida and co-author of the Making Sense of Teaching Mathematics series. Her work with students and teachers has led to numerous publications, including textbooks, articles, and her new Fact Tactics Fluency Program. In this interview, Juli talks about everything from the types of lessons we should be focusing on when working with learners who struggle to ideas for developing fact fluency even when it feels like there just isn't enough instructional time. Connect with Juli Twitter: https://www.x.com/thestrokeofluck  Website: http://www.dnamath.com/ Connect with Brittany  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mixandmath/  Website: https://www.mixandmath.com

Brain-based learning is somewhat of a hot topic in many schools. If you're new to what the research says and how it applies to teaching math, you'll want to tune into this incredibly actionable interview. I had the pleasure of talking to Christy Harper who is currently a math specialist but has been an upper elementary math teacher for over 15 years in Sonoma County, California. Christy started as a teacher in our professional development program and then became a member of our team in the last couple of years in addition to her work in the classroom. In this interview, Christy shares what she has learned about the structure of the brain and how learning is impacted when students are under stress. We chat about simple ways we can create a safe learning environment so that our students' math brains can truly thrive.   Connect with Christy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mathwithmsharper/  Connect with Brittany Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mixandmath/  Website: https://www.mixandmath.com

Problem-solving is one of the most important skills we teach in math classrooms. But even though we know just how valuable it is, developing students' problem-solving skills can be challenging! I sat down with Robert Kaplinsky, co-founder of the Open Middle website and author of Open Middle Math: Problems That Unlock Student Thinking. He's also the founder and president of Grassroots Workshops and an incredible keynote speaker to educators around the world. In this interview, we talk about everything from getting started with problem-based lessons to supporting students who appear unengaged or unwilling to give problems a try. We also talk about how to approach our professional growth in a way that is achievable rather than overwhelming.  Connect with Robert Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robert_kaplinsky/  Website: https://robertkaplinsky.com Connect with Brittany Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mixandmath/  Website: https://www.mixandmath.com