In this episode, I smile, nod, laugh, and hang on every word from Vanessa Vakharia. She's a rock star, author, podcaster, and advocate for positive emotional relationships with math. She's golden. Vanessa's Podcast Vanessa's Instagram Math Therapy Vanessa's Band The Imperfect and Unfinished Math Teacher Crystal Watson Rethinking Disability and Mathematics Joe Dispenza Conversations With God Gabby Bernstein Dear Math...
Aug 15, 2025•56 min•Season 2Ep. 68
Today I chat with Catherine Smith who teaches a 3/4 combo class in New Zealand. I think many will relate to Catherine's journey and feel both inspired and seen. Enjoy! nrich Mathematical Mindsets Number Talks Make Math Moments Mathematical Tasks for the Thinking Classrooms, K-5 Build Math Minds Pam Harris Books Cathy Fosnot Number Strings Choral Counting & Counting Collections Math Fact Fluency...
Aug 01, 2025•40 min•Season 2Ep. 67
In today's episode, I share thoughts from the brilliance of Amy Chang and Dr. Becky Kennedy, who encourage us all to lead with curiosity. Amy@buildingthinkingclassrooms.com @drbeckyatgoodinside (Instagram) Good Inside Interweaving Equitable Participation and Deep Mathematics: Building Community in the Elementary Classroom...
Jul 05, 2025•12 min•Season 2Ep. 66
In today's episode, I talk with two young friends who can articulate well what it means to be good at math. I hope you enjoy this chat as much as I did.
May 30, 2025•17 min•Season 2Ep. 65
In this episode, I talk with Brendan Scribner. Brendan is a math consultant in Vermont. He's also very inspiring, talks eloquently about math instruction, and elevates educators who cross his path. Enjoy! Find Brendan at LinkedIn Brendan's email Rough Draft Math Becoming the Math Teacher You Wish You'd Had Keep Indiana Learning Illustrative Mathematics Choosing to See The Imperfect and Unfinished Math Teacher Pam Harris Deborah Peart Crayton...
May 09, 2025•39 min•Season 2Ep. 64
In today's episode, I share a bit of brilliance from Dr. Becky Kennedy and Jo Boaler. Enjoy. Instagram reel #1 Instagram reel #2 Instagram real #3...
Apr 18, 2025•10 min•Season 2Ep. 63
In today's episode I talk to Emily Jenkins, who teacher kindergarten in Illinois. It's a pleasure to hear how the thinking classroom is making a difference in the lives of her young mathematicians. It's inspiring to hear her story. Enjoy. Build Math Minds Steve Wyborney Numberless Word Problems Mike Flynn Responsive Classroom Small Changes, Big Steps...
Mar 28, 2025•46 min•Season 2Ep. 62
In this episode, I share some thoughts with the help of Vanessa Vakharia and her book, Math Therapy. Math Therapy The Imperfect and Unfinished Math Teacher Math survey Math Museum What is math? Where's the math?...
Mar 14, 2025•9 min•Season 2Ep. 61
In this episode, I share a beautiful excerpt from Rachel Lambert's Rethinking Disability and Mathematics and how it applies to the important work of the thinking classroom. Rethinking Disability and Mathematics
Feb 28, 2025•10 min•Season 2Ep. 60
In this episode, I unpack a favorite quote of mine from Becoming the Math Teacher You Wish You’d Had by Tracy Zager. Becoming the Math Teacher You Wish You’d Had
Feb 21, 2025•10 min•Season 2Ep. 59
In this episode, I get to glean so many beautiful nuggets from Kristen Acosta. She's a sixth-grade teacher in California and is also a beautiful creator of many free resources for elementary teachers. You will definitely want to check her out! Kristen's site Which One Doesn't Belong Number Talks Graham Fletcher Obvious to You, Amazing to Others video...
Feb 07, 2025•55 min•Season 2Ep. 58
In this episode, I talk with Megan Madlem. She is a kindergarten teacher in Indiana. I find it especially intriguing to peek into the world of teachers who are building thinking classrooms with our youngest learners. They are impressive pioneers and deserve a huge applause. No doubt you'll see what I mean when you listen in. Graham Fletcher 3 Act Tasks Steve Wyborney's Site Kristen Acosta's Site Tammy's task document The Anxious Generation...
Jan 24, 2025•36 min•Season 2Ep. 50
In this episode, I talk (and laugh) with James Myklebust-Hampshire who teaches fifth grade in Norway. He's also the generous genius behind Sembl, which is a tool that math teachers need in their back pocket. I hope you go check it out. I'm sure James would love to have you as part of his math community. Sembl Pam Harris Mathematics Tasks for the Thinking Classroom, Grades K-5 Wipebooks The Imperfect and Unfinished Math Teacher Think Thank Thunk...
Jan 17, 2025•50 min•Season 2Ep. 55
In today's episode, I talk to Kristin Parmenter. She teaches fourth grade in Florida. It's a joy to chat with someone who has found such joy in her new thinking classroom. She's one to watch!
Jan 10, 2025•41 min
In this episode, Ashley Smith, a first-grade teacher in South Carolina, and I talk about what worked in our thinking classrooms in 2024. I hope you enjoy our time traveling conversation. Enjoy! Emily P. Freeman Ashley's first episode Ann Elise's episode Kim Rimbey's episode What Worked in 2023 episode Amy Chang's episode Christina Tondevold: Strategies vs. Models Pam Harris: Strategies vs. Models Numicon Shapes Mathematics Tasks for the Thinking Classroom, K-5...
Jan 03, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 54
In this episode, I had a lovely chat with Lindsay Watts, who teaches second grade in California. She's in the early stages of her thinking classroom and is open, honest, and reflective about her journey in a way that is sure to inspire others who are in a similar position. I'm looking forward to you all listening in. The Mathematics Playbook
Dec 27, 2024•45 min•Season 2Ep. 53
In this episode, I get to talk to two lovely little people who are so thoughtful about their answers to my questions. I loved this conversation. I hope you do too.
Dec 20, 2024•16 min•Season 2Ep. 14
In this episode, I talk to Alison Fox Mazzola. She's a math coach in California. We talk about NCTM's Effective Teaching Practices, zooming in on two of them and how they play out in the thinking classroom. This is an important conversation. I'm so glad you're listening. Alison's site Alison's Instagram Effective Teaching Practice #3 Model Principles to Actions NCTM's Effective Teaching Practices Episode 11 with Alison Tammy's planning tool The Five Practices in Practice Mastering Math Manipulat...
Dec 14, 2024•56 min•Season 2Ep. 51
In today's episode, I talk to two young mathematicians who know what they're talking about, and they're pretty sweet too. Enjoy!
Dec 06, 2024•12 min•Season 2Ep. 50
In this episode, I chat with Nova Katz. She's a math coach in London and shares a buffet of pedagogically beautiful thoughts about being in the thinking classroom and welcoming others in too. Please listen. This is good stuff. BTC Seattle Conference
Nov 29, 2024•51 min•Season 2Ep. 49
In this episode, Melisa McCain and Mandy Ramey, both instructional coaches from Indiana, talk about some of the brilliant things they learned while watching Peter in classrooms. There's so much goodness in this chat. Stop what you're doing and listen in. Keep Indian Learning Numicon Seattle BTC Conference...
Nov 22, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 48
In this episode, I chat with Stacey Hoch. She teaches a math specials class at her elementary classroom in Pennsylvania. It's interesting to hear how she integrates the thinking classroom into this work. Enjoy! Kristen Acosta 3 Act Tasks Graham Fletcher 3 Act Tasks Mathematics Tasks for the Thinking Classroom, Grades K-5...
Nov 15, 2024•36 min•Season 2Ep. 47
In this episode, I talk with Shannon Burns. She teaches kindergarten in Oklahoma. It's fun to get a peek into her thinking classroom. Little minds are big thinkers too.
Nov 08, 2024•53 min•Season 2Ep. 46
In this episode, I talk to Darren Scott. He teaches grade one at an international school in Beijing, China. This is my very first international conversation, and it was a pleasure to have it with Darren. The Unfinished and Imperfect Math Teacher Tammy's rubric folder...
Nov 01, 2024•59 min•Season 2Ep. 45
In today's episode, I talk with Amber Gilbert, who teaches third grade in the Boise Valley. She's doing such great work in her classroom and school and her passion for it all is inspiring. I feel blessed to know her and learn alongside her. Tammy's planning template The Five Practices Principles to Actions Math-ish The Imperfect and Unfinished Math Teacher Productive Math Struggle Mastering Math Manipulatives Where's the Math Photo Challenge...
Oct 25, 2024•50 min•Season 2Ep. 44
In this episode, I chat with Olivia Strazewski, a first-grade teacher in the St. Louis area. She has a thinking classroom but also uses Reggio Emilia principles. It's enjoyable to hear how she uses both to build a community of mathematicians who will lead this world one day. Numicon Opening Minds Reggio Emilia Resources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7n2hCebmT4c https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvwpLarbUD8 https://spielgaben.com/why-reggio-emilia-education-works/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFtijxleHRuA2FlbQ...
Oct 18, 2024•41 min•Season 2Ep. 43
In this episode, I talk with Chelsea McClellan. She's a math specialist in Sacramento and is doing many amazing things to support teachers who are building their thinking classrooms. She shares a word problem strategy called Three Listens Launch that I believe elementary teachers will appreciate learning about. Enjoy! The Imperfect and Unfinished Math Teacher Numberless word problems...
Oct 11, 2024•45 min•Season 2Ep. 42
In this episode, I chat with Teri Gaston. She teaches second grade in the Vermont/New Hampshire area. I know you'll enjoy listening in as Teri shares her story. She's a gem. The Imperfect and Unfinished Math Teacher Tammy's collection of rubrics...
Oct 05, 2024•37 min•Season 2Ep. 41
In this episode, I talk about some of my favorite mathematical reads that have made the most impact on my thinking classroom so far. I hope your Amazon wish list is ready to grow a bit. Productive Math Struggle The Five Practices in Practice The Imperfect and Unfinished Math Teacher Rethinking Disability and Mathematics Mastering Math Manipulatives Sum of It All Podcast Lesson plan modified from The Five Practices Math Survey...
Sep 27, 2024•31 min•Season 2Ep. 40
In this episode, I talk with Gayane Hanyaloglu, who teaches first grade in Massachusetts. We started our BTC journeys around the same time, so it feels like we're old pals. I think you'll feel like she's your friend as well by the end of this conversation. Regulation and Co-Regulation: Accessible Neuroscience and Connection Strategies That Bring Calm Into The Classroom Positive Behavior Principles Growing Up Mindful Behavior Interventions: Strategies for Educators, Counselors, and Parents Kids F...
Sep 20, 2024•50 min•Season 2Ep. 39
