S3 E8 - Establishing a Liberatory Math Future For All with SL Rao

This month on Teaching That “Counts,” I welcome back one of the podcast’s original guests, my friend and colleague Elvis Salgado. Elvis teaches Integrated Math 1 and Data Science at Ceres High School. Elvis shares how his teaching has shifted over nine years, from direct instruction toward Building Thinking Classrooms, and why he now looks for the sweet spot between the two.Elvis also tells his story. He moved back and forth between the U.S. and Mexico as a child, grew up as an English learner, and was the first in his family to go to college. A study abroad trip to Cuernavaca, where he ended up tutoring university students in math, finally convinced him to switch majors. It took him seven years to earn his math degree, and he stuck with it.Elvis and I talk about:Teaching math to English learners and moving past keyword-spottingHow data science lets students analyze their own community and push for changeWhy Latino students need to see Latino math teachers and leadersElvis’s goal of becoming an elementary school administratorWhether you’re a teacher, coach, or leader, this episode is a reminder of why representation matters and that it’s never too late to find your path.

Data science isn't just for math teachers. In this episode, Marisa Tualla and Christel Bruno join me to talk about bringing data science and statistics into K-12 classrooms, and why every educator, whatever their math background, has a role to play. They share what they've learned supporting teachers across Arizona: how inquiry-based approaches draw students in, how data can connect learning across subjects, and how collaboration among teachers builds the capacity to make it all stick. If you've ever wondered where data literacy fits in your classroom, this conversation is a great place to start.Key takeawaysData science is for all educators, not just math teachersInquiry-based learning boosts student engagementData can connect learning across subjectsBuilding teacher capacity through collaboration is essentialChapters00:00 The Importance of Data Science in Education05:51 Shifting Perspectives on Math and Data12:03 Integrating Data Science Across Subjects17:55 Fostering Inquiry and Student Engagement21:43 Integrating Mathematics and Data Literacy24:24 Collaborative Approaches to Data Science27:14 Engaging Teachers in Data Science31:37 Sustaining Teacher Support and Growth34:24 Celebrating Progress and Resources38:11 Connecting with Educators and Resources

Join me as I welcome the amazing Sunil Singh for this episode of Teaching That "Counts"! Our discussion then delves into the power of storytelling in mathematics, highlighting its importance in engaging students and conveying mathematical concepts. We explore the intersection of culture and history in mathematics, emphasizing the significance of cultural and historical context in teaching mathematics. We talk about the role of history in mathematics, focusing on the impact of math history on student curiosity and understanding. Our conversation also addresses equity and inclusivity in mathematics, emphasizing the importance of cultural responsiveness and inclusivity in math education. Finally, the spiritual and universal nature of mathematics is explored, highlighting the transcendent and unifying nature of mathematics. The conversation delves into the spiritual and transformative nature of mathematics, highlighting its potential to inspire and engage students on a deeper level. We round out our conversation on the importance of empowering marginalized students and creating inclusive math education experiences and discuss the connection between music and mathematics!TakeawaysImportance of Storytelling in MathematicsMathematics Transcends All Boundaries Mathematics and spirituality are interconnectedThe purpose of mathematics should be elevated to inspire and engage studentsChapters00:00 The Spiritual and Universal Nature of Mathematics29:07 The Spiritual Journey of Mathematics35:33 Empowering Marginalized Students36:30 The Global Math Summit43:35 The Connection Between Music and Mathematics48:08 Teaching Mathematics with Equity and Inclusivity

On this episode of Teaching That Counts, join me as I welcome Jazlyn Martinez, a pre-service teacher, who shares her experience of working in an inquiry-based math classroom and reflects on her journey as a student teacher. She discusses her background, challenges, and takeaways from the experience, as well as her future plans in education.TakeawaysPre-service teacher experienceChallenges of inquiry-based teachingChapters00:00 Introduction to Jazlyn Martinez02:06 Choosing to Teach Math03:35 Challenges of Teaching Math04:15 Reflections on the Semester17:33 Inquiry-Based Approach to Teaching Math24:01 Future Plans and Reflections

Abel kicks off Season Four of Teaching That Counts, sharing his positive math mindset and excitement for the upcoming season. Join me as I reflect on my year that started as a district secondary math instructional coach and then shifted to inquiry-based instruction. I discusses my return to the classroom, the challenges of classroom management, and the use of digital curriculum. I conclude with my plans for educational consulting, book writing, and upcoming presentations.TakeawaysPositive math mindsetShift to inquiry-based instructionChallenges of classroom managementFuture plans for educational consulting and book writingChapters00:00 Season Four Kickoff18:00 Classroom Experience36:49 Professional Growth and Future Plans

Why is student-to-student discourse so important in mathematics teaching? How do we change math tasks to give students more opportunities to be problem-solvers? Join me this month as I welcome my guest, Ki Karou to the podcast. Ki is currently the Senior Director of Product and Content for MIND Education, an institute dedicated to increasing engagement and excitement in math education using research-based approaches. We discuss these questions and even talk about integrating ed tech into the math classroom to boost student discourse and engagement!

What is problem-based learning? How can a problem-based curriculum positively impact students' experiences in mathematics? These are some questions that we explore in this episode as I welcome April Mouton to the podcast this month. April is the Interim Vice President of Product Development at Illustrative Mathematics. We discuss why problem-based learning is essential for keeping students engaged in math and how shifting from memorization to problem-solving leads to deeper understanding and better outcomes. This is definitely a conversation you don't want to miss if you have been thinking about moving to a student centered approach, working with Building Thinking Classrooms, or your district is using a problem-based curriculum, like Illustrative Mathematics!

What lies ahead in math education years down the road? What can we be doing to prepare our students in mathematics for a future that is unknown? What systems need to be in place for us to create spaces for all to learn mathematics and create a "liberatory math future"? These are some of the fascinating questions that I get to discuss with the phenomenal SL Rao!If you are not familiar with SL...well, you should be! SL Rao is a strategist who co-creates new futures in education, health and climate through design inspired system transformation. They bring a system-oriented, equity-centered approach to their work and to how they build, nurture, and grow teams and organizations. They are curious, and driven by the need to find solutions to seemingly intractable problems.Join me and SL for this amazing conversation about the future of math education!

Have you been told to use your curriculum to "fidelity"? What does that mean and how can we start to move from using a curricula with fidelity to using it with "integrity"? This is the topic that we discuss in this episode. I am joined by one of the Stanislaus County Office of Education's math special projects coordinators, Christina Rubalcava. We also talk about the work around Building Thinking Classrooms that has been done throughout the county and the rollout of the new CA Mathematics Framework. This is a great conversation that I hope you will enjoy!

How can we think in an "ish" way? The phenomenal, Jo Boaler joins the podcast to have this conversation. Jo Boaler is the founder of YouCubed.org and the author of Mathematical Mindsets and Math-ish. She has devoted her entire career in education to supporting teachers in moving towards equitable and effective teaching environments. Jo and I discuss Math-ish, teaching fractions, data science and new CA Framework...something that I am looking forward to implementing! This is definitely a conversation you don't want to miss!