The Mindful Math Podcast

In this episode, I talk with Winnie Stevenson, Assistant Principal of a small, K-8 elementary school in Chicago. Be a fly on the wall as we discuss our work together over the course of the 22-23 school year to: (a) successfully roll out a new curriculum, and (b) increase math discourse in daily instruction. Walk away with ideas to try in your own school, insights about what moves the needle, and inspiration to keep going! LISTEN TO HEAR: 1. Our strategic planning process + key priorities for the school year 2. The 5 main buckets of work we took on, in collaboration with the school principal, teachers, and grade-band leads 3. Results and outcomes (spoiler >> they’re good!) ON-DEMAND COURSES & WORKSHOPS: < Shifting the Lift to Students > < Bridge to Grade-Level Math > COACH THE COACH OPPORTUNITIES: < Math Coach Collective > < Math Coach Mentorship > CONNECT WITH CHRISSY: < Mindful Math Coach Website > < Instagram > < LinkedIn >

I had to hear about this book from 5 different people before I started reading it… and trust me, it was worth it! Luckily, my friend and fellow math coach, Tom Redmon, was persistent, and *finally* convinced me to pick it up. He wasn’t wrong – Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl is SO GOOD! I can’t say enough positive things about it. Seriously. In this episode, Tom and I share our biggest takeaways and discuss why the book had such an impact on us. If you’re looking for a simple way to engage students during math class so THEY are the ones doing the thinking (instead of you), then do yourself a favor and make Building Thinking Classrooms your next read. Purchase Your Copy: Building Thinking Classrooms by Peter Liljedahl Mindful Math Coach Website: www.mindfulmathcoach.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmathcoach/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissy-allison-b4987838/

This episode is even better with the visuals! Get immediate access to the edited version of this killer video training, 3 Math Improvement Mistakes You Don't Want to Make by going to: https://www.mindfulmathcoach.com/improvement Or if you're on the go, press play now and listen in to the audio recording of my latest and greatest free webinar: Math Improvement Mistakes You Don't Want to Make where I share 3 math improvement strategies that commonly fail and 3 alternatives to help you succeed. Mindful Math Coach Website: www.mindfulmathcoach.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmathcoach/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissy-allison-b4987838/

In this episode, I’m helping you reflect on the question: Is my leadership style too hot, too cold, or just right? Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the characteristics of the most effective school and district leaders I’ve worked with, plus my own leadership style as a math coach. I recognized a trend: that the best leaders have all found a *just right* rhythm, which in turn leads to fast and consistent progress. If you’re a math coach, principal, or district leader who wants better teaching, better learning for kids, and a better professional environment where people are happier and more engaged, you can’t afford to get this wrong. Click play to listen now. Mindful Math Coach Website: www.mindfulmathcoach.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmathcoach/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissy-allison-b4987838/

In this episode, Chrissy brings clarity to the elusive idea of Math Rigor, explaining what it is and dispelling common misunderstandings about what it’s NOT. Using non-math examples from our day-to-day lives, such as learning to ride a bike or tie your shoes, Chrissy illustrates how the nature of a skill or task influences our instructional approach as parents – and how that connects to math rigor. Listen to better understand the 3 aspects that comprise mathematical rigor and how they work together to prepare students for their futures, no matter what path they choose. Teachers, coaches, and instructional leaders will hear practical ways to uncover where math standards fall within the categories of rigor and how to strategically plan lessons with the aspects of rigor in mind. Blog Post: The Magic is in the Mess Mindful Math Coach Website: www.mindfulmathcoach.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmathcoach/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mindful123Coach

When was the last time you looked at your pacing guide? Did your stomach drop when you saw where you were “supposed” to be – and then compared that to where you actually ARE? I know, I know. You’ve been heads down teaching your students, taking it one day at a time, and moving on to the next lesson *only* when your students were ready. But as the end of the year draws closer, it’s becoming harder and harder to ignore the fact that you’re running out of time. You’re coming to terms with the reality that if you continue at this pace, there’s NO WAY you’re going to finish. So what should you do now? Follow the 5-Step Process outlined in this episode to catch up on pacing and get back on track. Resource: Catching Up On Pacing In Math (5-Step Process) Mindful Math Coach Website: www.mindfulmathcoach.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmathcoach/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mindful123Coach

Sauda Porter is a master of time management. She’s a mom of 3, works full time, runs an online business – and yet she STILL finds time for dates with her husband, daily exercise, and 1-on-1 time with her daughters. (WHAT?!?!? Who IS this time magician?) Knowing how busy our lives are as teachers, coaches, and administrators, I brought Sauda onto the podcast to share her wisdom + systems and time hacks with us. Wish you had more strategies to prioritize personal relationships and carve out time for self care? I’ve got ‘em for you inside this episode – so hit play now. Episode Show Notes: https://www.mindfulmathcoach.com/episode65 Mindful Math Coach Website: www.mindfulmathcoach.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmathcoach/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mindful123Coach

How do your values influence your coaching style? In this episode, Chrissy shares her biggest values when it comes to supporting math coaches, school leaders, and district specialists – PLUS real-life examples of how they show up in 1-to-1 coaching conversations. Hear 3 problems of practice from Chrissy’s ACTUAL mentorship clients, along with her responses, insights, and suggestions. Curious about the work happening behind-the-scenes of Mindful Math Coach? Click play and start listening now. Mindful Math Coach Website: www.mindfulmathcoach.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmathcoach/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissy-allison-b4987838/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mindful123Coach

In this episode, Chrissy interviews Dr. Kim Melgar, department chair for mathematics at the Relay Graduate School of Education, to discuss two related topics – math trauma and math identity. Dr. Kim is on a mission to help educators first reflect on their own math experiences and then empower them to replace math trauma with positive math identities. Hear examples of traumatic math events and how they negatively impact students. Plus, gain insight into how you can stop math trauma and create students who see themselves as mathematicians – even if you experienced math trauma yourself. Episode Show Notes: https://www.mindfulmathcoach.com/episode63 Mindful Math Coach Website: www.mindfulmathcoach.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmathcoach/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissy-allison-b4987838/

Despite our best efforts as leaders, sometimes we don’t see the kind of change in teacher practice that we set out to achieve. Perhaps you’ve been coaching your heart out or spending late nights designing the most epic PDs, yet you STILL walk into classrooms and observe the same instructional practices you’ve been trying to shift. What’s going on? Why the lack of progress? In this episode, I’m sharing 3 common mistakes you may be making that keeps teacher growth stagnant. Episode Show Notes: https://www.mindfulmathcoach.com/episode62 Bridge to Grade-Level Math Course: https://symmetrycircles.com/bridge-orderform Mindful Math Coach Website: www.mindfulmathcoach.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmathcoach/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mindful123Coach

You deserve support. It’s as simple as that. Whether you’re a teacher or leader, new to your role or not, you should not have to go it alone! Listen in to this episode and hear two game-changing relationships you’ll want to get lined up for next year. Give yourself the gift of support so you can be at your best and go further faster – TOGETHER. I guarantee that having these two things in place will help you feel good and find even more success in your day to day work! SURVEY LINK: Interested in joining my community of math coaches, specialists, and leaders? Complete this short survey to add your name to the waitlist. Episode Show Notes: https://www.mindfulmathcoach.com/episode61 Mindful Math Coach Website: www.mindfulmathcoach.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmathcoach/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mindful123Coach

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to witness school improvement efforts in schools and districts across our country. Some have led to improved instructional practices and student growth, while others have made little (or no) impact. In this episode I’m sharing three common initiatives that by and large do NOT move the needle with student achievement (or teacher effectiveness) – and three that absolutely DO. Be forewarned… I’m not mincing words in this episode! Instead, I’m sharing my unfiltered viewpoint, based on 20 years working in math education. Streamline Your Math Strategy: https://symmetrycircles.com/streamline-orderform Streamline Your Math Strategy is an on-demand workshop series for math coaches, district specialists, and school leaders. Strategic Planning Workshop: https://symmetrycircles.com/nextyear-orderform-1 This is a 3-hour live experience where you’ll draft your vision, identify priorities, and think through systems to improve math teaching and learning in SY22-23, with feedback from Chrissy and other math leaders across our country. Math Instructional Leadership Course: (aka The Math Improvement Pathway) - Email chrissy@mindfulmathcoach.com for more details about this comprehensive online course for math coaches, district specialists, and school leaders. Episode Show Notes: https://www.mindfulmathcoach.com/episode60 Mindful Math Coach Website: www.mindfulmathcoach.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmathcoach/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mindful123Coach

I’ve scoured the internet, and I know for a fact that there are WAY more resources for K-8 math teachers than for secondary. So, high school teachers – this one’s for you! If you’ve ever wondered what strong math instruction at the high school level entails or what *exactly* the mathematical modeling process looks like, you’re in the right place. In today’s episode, math consultant Barbara Beske, shares guidance, tips, and advice to help teachers develop true mathematicians in their classrooms. She also sheds light on the interplay between the instructional shifts of FOCUS and COHERENCE in high school. (She should know… Barbara spearheaded the creation of Achieve the Core’s high school coherence map!) Click play now to learn from this experienced educator. Episode Show Notes: https://www.mindfulmathcoach.com/episode59 Mindful Math Coach Website: www.mindfulmathcoach.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmathcoach/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mindful123Coach

Embracing mistakes isn’t just for students; we must adopt a growth mindset (ourselves!) in order to model mathematical mindsets for students. That’s the focus of this conversation between two recovering perfectionists, myself and experienced middle school math teacher, Lisa Westholder. Learn how perfectionism shows up in Lisa’s day to day as an educator and why she’s focused on “perfecting” not being perfect – anymore. Finally, hear changes Lisa’s making to prioritize her wellbeing, while remaining committed to her ultimate goal of positively impacting students. Episode Show Notes: https://www.mindfulmathcoach.com/episode58 Mindful Math Coach Website: www.mindfulmathcoach.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmathcoach/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mindful123Coach

Want to know a secret? I recorded this episode way back in November 2020 when I first decided to package my biggest tips and best tools on the topic of Unfinished Learning and share them with secondary math educators. I’d just overcome a challenging season in my business with the help of a coach and community of peers. That transformational experience provided a vision for the Bridge to Grade-Level Math Workshop Series – specifically how to create a multi-faceted program for secondary math educators, coaches, and leaders online. Learn why I waited until now to launch the founding cohort and how you can be part of it (for free). Episode Show Notes: https://www.mindfulmathcoach.com/episode57 Mindful Math Coach Website: www.mindfulmathcoach.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmathcoach/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mindful123Coach

Did you know that between 40% and 50% of teachers leave the classroom within their first 5 years? Is this inevitable, or is there a way to prevent teacher burnout? Tim Schwarz, founder of Sustain Teachers, helps both teachers and leaders find the answer to the question, “What would it look like and feel like to work at your school in the exact role you have now but not feel stressed and tired?” You don’t need to quit teaching or work 60+ hours a week to be an effective educator and serve your students whole-heartedly. This episode is perfect if you are a: (1) leader who wants to prioritize educator wellness and stop having a revolving door of teachers at your school, or (2) teacher who is ready to set strong boundaries in order to thrive while juggling your myriad responsibilities. Episode Show Notes: https://www.mindfulmathcoach.com/episode56 Mindful Math Coach Website: www.mindfulmathcoach.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmathcoach/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mindful123Coach

Culturally responsive teaching is a hot topic in education these days… but maybe the concept is still a little fuzzy to you. (Raising my hand over here!) That’s exactly the reason I invited Dionne Aminata, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Illustrative Mathematics (IM), to break it all down for us in this episode. Dionne was a lead author on the Illustrative Mathematics K-5 curriculum Writing team, and in that role she led the team to deliberately design materials to support culturally relevant and responsive pedagogy. Listen to hear the 3 specific design choices they made and examples of each. This episode is jam-packed with mic drop moments, lots of laughter, and “ah-has” at every turn. Click play now to hear from Dionne. Episode Show Notes: https://www.mindfulmathcoach.com/episode55 Mindful Math Coach Website: www.mindfulmathcoach.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmathcoach/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mindful123Coach

If you are a white educator working with students of color, this episode is a must-listen. I only WISH it existed 20 years ago when I entered the classroom! In the episode, Jessica Marshall, a Ph.D. student at Northwestern University makes a compelling case for why teachers should spend more time getting to know students’ WHOLE selves – and less time trying to control or “fix” them. Listen to hear how Jessica’s personal experiences growing up in Chicago, coupled with 12 years as an educator, has led her to seek answers to how we can better attend to issues of race and equity, centering the lived experiences of marginalized youth. Episode Show Notes: https://www.mindfulmathcoach.com/episode54 Mindful Math Coach Website: www.mindfulmathcoach.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmathcoach/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mindful123Coach

Ever wish your students were better problem solvers? My guests on this episode of podcast, Jon Orr and Kyle Pearce, wanted the same thing for their own math students. They realized their current instructional practices were preventing students from becoming more resilient problem solvers, so they made a significant change to their teaching methods. When they decided to stop spoon-feeding math to their students, and (instead) to focus on designing lessons that spark curiosity and fuel sense-making – everything changed. Now their students have “math epiphanies” on the regular, and they create opportunities for every student’s voice to be heard, and valued, in math class. Listen in to hear the three essential components needed to make math moments that matter in YOUR math classroom. Episode Show Notes: https://www.mindfulmathcoach.com/episode53 Mindful Math Coach Website: www.mindfulmathcoach.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmathcoach/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mindful123Coach

Ever feel like the parents of your students don’t like math? Or had a negative experience as a student in math class? If so, they may be unintentionally passing their OWN math anxiety along to their KIDS. That was the case with podcast guest, Dr. Kimya Barden. But after making a few missteps with her first child, Dr. Barden made the conscious choice to change her language while supporting her youngest three kids with math. Now she wants to make sure other parents don't make the same mistake, and she has some great ideas about how teachers can help parents (help their kids). Listen to learn how Embracing A Pedagogy Of Love makes all the difference and the #1 thing teachers must NOT do if they're going to teach children of color. I was captivated listening to Dr. Barden's words of wisdom (as well as her soothing voice!). Wanna give yourself the same gift? Click play now. Episode Show Notes: www.mindfulmathcoach.com/episode52 Mindful Math Coach Website: www.mindfulmathcoach.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindfulmathcoach/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mindful123Coach