Chalk & Talk

Anna Stokke•chalkandtalkpodcast.podbean.com

Everyone wants to see children and young adults succeed in math, but it can be difficult to sort myths from facts in education. Join math professor, Anna Stokke, for conversations with leading educators about the importance of math, effective teaching methods, and debunking common myths about math and teaching. Chalk and Talk is a podcast for anyone interested in education, including educators, parents and students.

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Episodes

Reclaiming learning time to boost literacy and numeracy with Ross Fox (Ep 46)

In Episode 46, Anna Stokke chats with Australian education leader Ross Fox. As the former Director of Catholic Education for the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn, Ross led a major shift in teaching practices that led to significant gains in both literacy and numeracy. The episode begins with an overview of the Australian education system. They then explore Ross’s implementation of the Catalyst program—an initiative grounded in the science of learning. Ross discusses how high-impact teaching ...

Apr 25, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 46

A decade of decline: Examining falling test scores with Mike Petrilli (Ep 45)

In this episode, host and math professor Anna Stokke interviews Mike Petrilli, President of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, about the role of standardized testing in K–12 education. They discuss the benefits and criticisms of standardized tests, the methodologies behind tests like NAEP, international comparisons with PISA and TIMSS, long-term trends in student performance, and the consequences of declines in student achievement. Highlights include a discussion of Mississippi's educational succe...

Apr 11, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 45

Mailbag: Building Thinking Classrooms, number talks & more with Zach Groshell (Ep 44)

Dr. Anna Stokke and guest Dr. Zach Groshell answer listener questions in a special mailbag episode. They cover strategies for managing varying levels of math proficiency in the classroom, critique the Building Thinking Classrooms approach, and discuss whether number talks should be prioritized for developing math fact fluency. This discussion provides practical insights and critiques on current educational practices to help teachers improve math instruction. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction 02:44 L...

Apr 02, 2025•49 min•Ep. 44

How advocacy is changing reading instruction with Jamie Metsala (Ep 43)

Join Anna Stokke in conversation with Dr. Jamie Metsala, one of two content area experts on the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s Right to Read public inquiry. Jamie shares her expertise on the importance of strong early instruction in foundational reading skills, the pitfalls of balanced literacy, and the urgent need for evidence-based practices in education. They explore the role of parent advocacy and the far-reaching implications of the Right to Read report, not just for Ontario, but for edu...

Mar 21, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 43

Math Academy: Optimizing student learning with Alex Smith and Justin Skycak (Ep 42)

Join Anna Stokke in conversation with Dr. Alex Smith, Director of Curriculum, and Justin Skycak, Director of Analytics, from Math Academy. Math Academy is an AI-powered online learning platform designed around science of learning principles. They discuss Bloom's 2 sigma problem and explore how Math Academy aims to address it. They also explain how the platform leverages knowledge graphs to support mastery learning and highlight key instructional strategies such as worked examples, spaced practic...

Feb 28, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 42