Math Chat

Mona Iehl

Mona, of Mona Math, reveals the mysteries of how to teach elementary math even if you aren't a math person. Discover how you can develop a buzzing student led math classroom. We cover all things math identity, classroom culture, and student centered instructional practices to help you empower students to love and understanding math deeply.

  1. 2 лист.

    How to Get Every Student Thinking and Talking in Math Class

    Send us Fan Mail Grab your copy of the Participation Techniques here!  Is it always the same five kids doing all the talking (and thinking!) during math class? You ask a question, a few hands shoot up, someone shares a great answer, and you move on. But what about the rest of your students? Are they actually thinking, or just watching? Here's the thing: Participation isn't the goal. Thinking is. In this episode of Math Chat, we're digging into how to move beyond simply getting more students to participate and start creating opportunities for EVERY student to think, solve, and talk. Inspired by Total Participation Techniques, we'll explore: Why more participation doesn't always mean more thinkingHow to get every student thinking BEFORE someone shares an answerSimple ways to give students time and space to grapple with mathHow to structure math discussions so students learn from one another, not just respond to the teacherOne powerful question to ask yourself during every math lesson: Who's doing the thinking?You don't need another complicated strategy or one more thing to squeeze into your math block. You need intentional routines that distribute the thinking so every student has an opportunity to see themselves as a mathematician. Because when we change who's doing the thinking, we change who's doing the learning. Checkout the Book Club: MonaMath.com/book-club  Join me on Instagram @HelloMonaMath

  2. 26 жовт.

    Get Curious Before You Get Helpful: How to Encourage Productive Struggle in Math

    Send us Fan Mail How do you encourage productive struggle in math without leaving students feeling frustrated or stuck? And how can you help struggling students without immediately showing them what to do? In this episode of Math Chat, Mona explores what productive struggle in math really looks like and why our instinct to help students can sometimes take away the very thinking we want them to do. You'll discover how to get curious before getting helpful, differentiate math instruction in the moment, and use intentional questions to support students without taking over their mathematical thinking. In this episode, you'll learn: What productive struggle in math means and why it mattersHow to recognize when students need support without immediately rescuing themThree questions to ask before helping a student who is stuckHow to use Nudges and Nuggets to support student thinkingWhy understanding a student's learning trajectory helps you differentiate in the momentHow to build students' confidence and persistence as mathematical problem solversTry this in your math classroom: The next time a student struggles with a math problem, pause and ask yourself: What does this student already understand?What are they trying to do?What's the smallest nudge or nugget I could offer to help them keep thinking?Productive struggle doesn't mean leaving students to figure everything out alone. It means providing thoughtful support while allowing students to do the mathematical thinking. Because ultimately, we want students to believe: "I can stay with hard things." Keep learning with Mona: Explore Word Problem Workshop for practical ways to get students thinking, solving, and talking in math. Buy the Book Here!  Visit monamath.com for more resources, math teaching strategies, and professional learning. Connect on Instagram: @hellomonamath

  3. 10 серп.

    Before You Teach Math, Build Belonging

    Send us Fan Mail Before You Teach Math, Build BelongingBefore students are willing to share their thinking, take risks, make mistakes, persevere through a challenging problem, or disagree with a classmate's strategy, they need to believe one thing: I belong here. That's why building a Community of Problem Solvers starts with belonging. In this episode, we're talking about how to intentionally build belonging from the very beginning of the school year, not as something separate from mathematics, but through the way students experience mathematics in your classroom. Because belonging isn't just about making students feel welcome. It's about creating a mathematical community where every student believes their ideas matter, their thinking has value, and they are capable of doing mathematics. Math Survey [download here] FREE First Week Math Plans [download here] The plans will help you intentionally build relationships, establish norms and routines, and get students thinking, solving, and talking about mathematics from the very beginning. Download your free First Week Math Plans using the link below and start building your Community of Problem Solvers from day one. Belonging isn't something we build before mathematics. We build it through mathematics.

  4. 10 серп.

    The One Thing That Makes EVERYTHING In Your Classroom Easier!

    Send us Fan Mail What if some of the chaos in your classroom isn't actually a behavior problem? What if it's a routine problem? In this episode, we're talking about one of the simplest ways to create a calmer, more confident, and more independent classroom: intentionally teaching and practicing routines. Because routines aren't just about getting students to line up quietly or put their manipulatives away. Great routines remove unnecessary decision making so students can focus their energy on what actually matters: learning. And in the math classroom, routines can do even more. When students know how to begin a problem, share their thinking, work with a partner, use materials, discuss strategies, and reflect on their learning, they spend less time trying to figure out what they're supposed to do and more time actually thinking about mathematics. In this episode, we'll talk about: • Why classroom chaos is often a signal that a routine needs to be taught or strengthened • How routines create confidence, independence, and ownership • Why routines need to be modeled, practiced, reflected on, and practiced again • How Thinking Routines help students focus on how they're thinking rather than what the teacher wants them to do • Why the predictable structure of Word Problem Workshop allows the routine to fade into the background so mathematical thinking can take center stage • How to identify the places in your classroom where a stronger routine could make everything feel easier Resources Mentioned: Thinking Routines Collection: monamath.com/thinking-routines  Routines and Procedures Resource: Grab them Here  First Week of Word Problem Workshop: K-2 Resource,  3-5 Resource

  5. 27 лип.

    The Problem with Most Math Classroom Norms (And What to Do Instead)

    Send us Fan Mail Every classroom has norms, but they might not be the ones hanging on your wall. In this episode we're chatting about why most math classroom norms fail... Asking ourselves, are the "norms" reflected in students' daily experiences?  If we want to build a true community of problem solvers, we have to stop focusing on what our norms say and start focusing on what students actually experience every day. In this episode, we'll chat about: Why classroom experiences always outweigh classroom postersThe difference between correcting student thinking and understanding it firstHow to hold students accountable without using shameWhy most classroom reflection falls flat and what meaningful reflection actually looks likeHow relationships are built through everyday interactions, not one-time activitiesThe simple question that reveals your classroom's real normsWhether you're planning for the first week of school or rethinking your classroom culture, this episode will challenge you to build norms you're truly willing to defend with your decisions. Resources Mentioned in the Episode: 📘 Word Problem Workshop: 5 Steps to Creating a Classroom of Problem Solvers https://monamath.com/book 🎁 Free First Week of School Math Plans https://monamath.com/firstweek Want to keep learning about math classroom norms here are a few of previous episodes on Math Norms, how to form them, and get your school on board!  🎧 Episode 12: Math Classroom Norms That Actually Matter https://monamath.com/podcast/12/ 📝 Blog: Math Classroom Norms That Build a Community of Problem Solvers https://monamath.com/math-norms/ 🎧 Episode 122: Rethinking Math Classroom Norms https://monamath.com/podcast/122/

  6. 20 лип.

    Build Belonging in Your Math Class (Part 6 of Creating a Classroom of Problem Solvers)

    Send us Fan Mail Build Belonging in Your Math Classroom  Do all your students feel like they belong in math class?  In this episode of Math Chat, we're wrapping up the Creating a Community of Problem Solvers series by exploring the foundation that holds every other instructional practice together: belonging. You'll hear why students can't become confident problem solvers until they know their ideas matter, how each part of your math block can strengthen (or weaken) classroom community, and practical ways to create a math classroom where every child feels safe to think, share, struggle, and grow. In this episode, we'll discuss: Why belonging is the foundation of student engagement and mathematical identity.How Thinking Routines, Word Problem Workshop, Purposeful Fluency, Strategic Instruction, and Student-Engaged Assessment all build belonging.Simple mindset shifts that help every student see themselves as a valued mathematician.A free first-week lesson plan to help you intentionally build a community of problem solvers from day one. MonaMath.com/FirstWeek 🎁 Grab your free First Week of School Math Plans: monamath.com/firstweek 📚 Book Mentioned: Power Up Your Math Community by Holly Burwell & Sue Chapman (Grab your Copy on Amazon Here)  Don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss next week's episode, where we'll dive into one of the most overlooked ways to build belonging in math class: creating classroom norms together.

  7. 12 лип.

    Student-Engaged Assessment: Creating a Classroom of Problem Solvers (Part 5)

    Send us Fan Mail Assessment shouldn't be something we do to students. It should be something we do with them. In this episode of the Math Chat Podcast, we're continuing our Creating a Classroom of Problem Solvers series by exploring the fifth strand of the framework: Student-Engaged Assessment. Too often, assessment data stays in teacher binders, spreadsheets, and data meetings. But what if we invited students into the process? When students understand the learning goal, reflect on their progress, and use feedback to determine their next steps, assessment becomes a powerful tool for learning, not just grading. In this episode, we'll chat about: Three simple ways to begin engaging students in the assessment processWhy this is a strand to weave in thoughtfully as your classroom community growsMentioned in this episode: Word Problem Workshop: 5 Steps to Creating a Classroom of Problem Solvers (Reflect Chapter)Leaders of Their Own Learning by Ron Berger, Leah Rugen, and Libby WoodfinThis is Part 5 of the Creating a Classroom of Problem Solvers summer series. Next week, we'll wrap up the series by exploring the strand that ties everything together: Belonging & Identity. If this episode encouraged you, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a teacher friend who is building a classroom where every student thinks, solves, and grows.

  8. 6 лип.

    Strategic Instruction: Creating a Classroom of Problem Solvers (Part 4)

    Send us Fan Mail When do you actually teach in a student-centered math classroom? Teacher friend... if you've ever wondered that, you're not alone. In Part 4 of the Creating a Classroom of Problem Solvers series, we're talking all about Strategic Instruction—the teaching moves that happen because of what your students show you. We'll unpack why student-centered instruction absolutely includes direct instruction... just not the way many of us were taught. Instead of teaching what's next because the curriculum says so, you'll learn how to notice student thinking, decide what matters most, and teach with purpose. In this episode, we'll chat about: Why strategic instruction is a response, not a lessonHow to use student thinking to guide your next teaching moveWhere direct instruction fits in a classroom of problem solversA simple framework for making your teaching more intentionalBecause here's the truth... The best lessons don't always start with your lesson plan. They start with what your students show you.  📘 Learn more about Word Problem Workshop: https://monamath.com/wordproblemworkshop 📚 Get the book, Word Problem Workshop: 5 Steps to Creating a Classroom of Problem Solvers Get it here using code WORKSHOP25 for 25% off & free shipping  🎧 Listen to more Math Chat Podcast episodes: https://monamath.com/podcast 📩 Free teacher resources: https://monamath.com/5questions Follow along for more elementary math teaching ideas: Instagram: @hellomonamath

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Опис

Mona, of Mona Math, reveals the mysteries of how to teach elementary math even if you aren't a math person. Discover how you can develop a buzzing student led math classroom. We cover all things math identity, classroom culture, and student centered instructional practices to help you empower students to love and understanding math deeply.

Інформація

  • Автор
    Mona Iehl
  • Роки діяльності
    2021 - 2026
  • Епізоди
    242
  • Категорія
    Відверто
  • Авторське право
    © 2026 Math Chat
  • Вебсайт шоу
    Math Chat

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