Room to Grow - a Math Podcast
Room to Grow is the math podcast that brings you discussions on trending topics in math education in short segments. We’re not here to talk at people. We’re here to think and learn with others — because when it comes to mathematics there’s always room to grow!
Episodes
43 episodes
Asset-Based Teaching to Transform Math Class
In this episode of Room to Grow, Joanie and Curtis speak with Mike Steele and Joleigh Honey, authors of the recently released book transform your math class using asset-based teaching for grades 6-12. The book and the conversa...
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Season 4
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Episode 9
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57:41
Teaching and Learning Math: Students’ Perspectives - Part 2
In this episode of Room to Grow, Joanie and Curtis continue their conversations with middle and high school students to gain their perspectives on learning math. Our hosts interviewed six students from grades 7-12 in three different se...
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Season 4
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Episode 8
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50:22
Teaching and Learning Math: Students’ Perspectives - Part 1
In this episode of Room to Grow, Joanie and Curtis have conversations with middle and high school students to gain their perspectives on learning math. They interviewed six students from grades 7-12 in three different sessions. Because...
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Season 4
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Episode 7
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22:07
Part 2: Wisconsin Math Council’s CALL to Action
In this episode of Room to Grow, Joanie and Curtis continue their conversation from the Wisconsin Math Council’s annual conference. Wisconsin mathematics education leaders Mary Mooney and Lisa Hennessey share additional th...
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Season 4
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Episode 6
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35:44
Part 1: Wisconsin Math Council’s CALL to Action
In this episode of Room to Grow, we join our hosts at the Wisconsin Math Council’s annual conference. Wisconsin mathematics education leaders Mary Mooney and Lisa Hennessey join Curtis and Joanie for a discussion focused on the confere...
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Season 4
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Episode 5
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25:05
Making Sense of Mathematics
In this episode of Room to Grow, our hosts discuss ways to support student sense-making in teaching and learning mathematics. Building out on the ideas shared in
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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40:42
Balancing Instructional Modalities
In this episode of Room to Grow, our hosts look for the balance between instruction that is teacher-driven, traditional lecture-style, and inquiry-based, discovery-style lessons. They recognize the value of both types of teaching, unde...
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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37:02
A conversation with the National Teacher of the Year
In this episode of Room to Grow, our hosts share conversation with Rebecka Peterson, the 2023 National Teacher of the Year (NTOY). Rebecka is a high school math teacher at Union High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on leave for the 2023-24 ...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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48:50
Uncovering Student Thinking
In this episode of Room to Grow, Curtis and Joanie consider ways to uncover how students are actually thinking about the mathematics they are learning. Using a real-life, recent incident between Curtis and his sixth grade son, our host...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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33:38
Deep Mathematical Thinking Using Math Milestones Tasks
In this episode of Room to Grow, special guests Sandra Lightman and John Staley help Joanie and Curtis understand the Math Milestones. These one-page resources include 12-14 math tasks that provide a visualization of and engagement wit...
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Season 3
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Episode 12
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42:28
Impacting Teaching Practice with Routines for Reasoning
In this episode of Room to Grow, Curtis and Joanie continue their conversation with Grace Kelemanik and Amy Lucenta. In follow-up to our previous episode, this conversation shifts to a focus on teachers and how the Reason Routines help...
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Season 3
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Episode 11
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43:38
Routines for Supporting Student Thinking
In this episode of Room to Grow, Grace Kelemanik and Amy Lucenta join Curtis and Joanie to talk about how routines can provide the “opportunity and support for each and every student develop mathematical thinking and reasoning.” Althou...
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Season 3
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Episode 10
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40:26
How Important is Teacher Content Knowledge?
In this episode of Room to Grow, Joanie and Curtis host special guest Dr. Katey Arrington to discuss the importance of teacher content knowledge. Dr. Arrington is the Associate Director of the UTeach Institute at the Unive...
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Season 3
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Episode 9
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32:27
Learning Experiences Aligned to Post-Secondary Goals
In this episode of Room to Grow, Joanie and Curtis talk about an important role of math education: preparing students for the life they want to pursue after high school. Whether it’s college, trade school, the military, or directly int...
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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36:12
We Don’t Just Teach Math, We Teach Students
In this episode of Room to Grow, Joanie and Curtis explore ideas around the emotional side of learning and how it impacts students in their academic growth. Because we and our students are humans - and humans have emotions - it is impo...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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33:01
Don’t Lose the Mathematics
In this episode of Room to Grow, Joanie and Curtis talk about teaching strategies for remembering in mathematics, such as mnemonic devices, tricks, and gimmicks. They challenge the notion that teaching with tricks is inher...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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31:03
Hot Takes on Important Math Topics
In this episode of Room to Grow, Joanie and Curtis share a friendly debate about which math topic is the most important for students to learn. There are many math topics that could be argued as the most important, and we’d love...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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22:55
Unleashing the Mathematical Brilliance of All Students
In this episode of Room to Grow, Joanie and Curtis talk with Rachel Lambert, known for her research on teaching mathematics to students with disabilities. Rachel’s passion and enthusiasm is matched by her knowledge, and th...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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37:46
Teaching and Learning Math from an Assets Perspective
In this episode of Room to Grow, Joanie and Curtis discuss and asset-based approach to teaching and learning mathematics. They emphasize that all students bring strengths to learning mathematics, whether it be from a c...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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29:11
Tapping Into Identity and Equity in Mathematics
In this episode of Room to Grow, Joanie and Curtis share a powerful conversation with Dr. Julia Aguirre, co-author of the book The Impact of Identity on K-8 Mathematics: Rethinking Equity-Based Practices. This publicat...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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40:47
Math Puns, Memes, and GIFs, Oh My!
In this episode of Room to Grow, Joanie and Curtis take some time to have fun with math. We share some of the puns, memes, and GIFs about math that make us laugh, make us think, and have been or would be great to share with students.
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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31:58
Ensuring Access to Mathematics for ALL Students
In this episode of Room to Grow, Joanie and Curtis build the conversation from NCTM's description of access, described as "ensuring that all students routinely have opportunities to experience high-quality mathematics instruction, lear...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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32:14
What’s the Deal with Data Science?
In this episode of Room to Grow, Curtis and Joanie dig into a conversation about data science. They start by trying to define what data science is, describing it as the intersection of content, statistics, computer science, problem sol...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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35:02