Talk 81: Playful Pathways: Game-Based Math Learning for Junior Students Across Algebra and Spatial Reasoning

Let's celebrate and build on the mathematical knowledge our English Language Learners (ELLs) bring to the classroom! How can we support our ELLs in the math classroom? What might we do to make their knowledge and understanding visible? How can we help students to develop mathematical academic language? What might we do to assist our ELLs to engage fully in problem solving experiences? Diverse and inclusive math environments allow all students to share their knowledge and flourish as they engage in their mathematical journey. Join us as we explore research supported strategies, pedagogy, and accommodations that help to create a learning environment for our ELLs that supports their mathematical understanding, critical thinking, and engagement. Participants will have an opportunity to share their experiences and ask questions. Walk away from this session with a better understanding of how to program for your ELLs, implement new strategies and ideas, and confidently embed them in your classroom tomorrow. Registration for all webinars at https://oame.on.ca/mcis/ Podcast: Listen above, or subscribe or download this podcast direct from iTunes or Google Play Podcast notes: Recorded Oct 2026 - Both Sophie and Michele teach with the TCDSB

Ready to level up math learning through play? This session invites educators to explore a dynamic collection of low-prep, high-engagement math games designed specifically for junior learners. Rooted in the Ontario curriculum, each game targets key expectations in algebra, spatial reasoning, and probability and data - while offering multiple access points to support diverse learners. Participants will experience firsthand how game-based learning can spark curiosity, deepen conceptual understanding, and foster collaborative problem-solving. Registration for all webinars at https://oame.on.ca/mcis/ Podcast: Listen above, or subscribe or download this podcast direct from iTunes or Google Play Podcast notes: Recorded Sept 2026 - Kendra and AnneMarie are both Math Learning Partners with the Simcoe County DSB.

How do you begin math class? I start each class with a short problem or discussion prompt designed to get students thinking. These quick routines activate prior knowledge, strengthen conceptual understanding, and build an engaging classroom community. Drawing on ideas from James Lang's Small Teaching and classroom research on retrieval practice and connection-making, this session explores how brief, purposeful activities can make a lasting impact on mathematical learning. Together, we'll examine the pedagogy behind these routines, share examples that spark curiosity and discussion, and consider how to adapt them across different secondary math courses. Participants will leave with a collection of ready-to-use question banks featuring a variety of prompt types, along with strategies for designing their own and weaving them into daily practice. Registration for all webinars at https://oame.on.ca/mcis/ Podcast: Listen above, or subscribe or download this podcast direct from iTunes or Google Play Podcast notes: Recorded August 2026 - Erick is a Math teacher in Halifax, NS

We talked to a lot of people this season between our regular guests and our more recent guests from OAME 2026 and we asked each of them what advice they would give a new teacher who is struggling to engage students in math class? This episode compiles all of their answers. We’ll hear from our Jamie Mitchell, Chad Harris, Stacey Jacobs and Vanessa Vakharia from our regular season and from the upcoming OAME 2026 conference Dr. Pam Seda, Marian Small, Chris Luzniak, Ian Vanderburgh, Howie Hua, Ron Lancaster, Pam Harris, Alex Lawson and Cathy Marks Krpan. More information about OAME 2025 can be found at oame2026.ca and registration is at https://oame.on.ca/mcis/. Podcast: Listen above, or subscribe or download this podcast direct from iTunes or Google Play Podcast notes: Recorded December 2025 - January 2026 Jamie is a mathematics consultant with the Halton District School Board. Chad is an intermediate math teacher and small group math interventionist with the Waterloo Region District School Board. Stacey Teaches at OISE.Vanessa is a math therapist. Her new book is called Math Therapy. Pam Seda is an educational consultant working out of Atlanta, Ga. Marian is a retired teacher, author and educational consultant working out of Ottawa. Chris is an education consultant working out of Columbus, Oh. Ian is a professor of math at the University of Waterloo. Howie teaches pre service teachers, and makes math content videos and memes in Fresno, Ca. Ron is a retired teacher and avid math walker living in the GTA. Pam is an educational consultant and author working out of Austin, Texas. Alex is a retired teacher, and researcher. Cathy is a professor and researcher at OISE in Toronto. You can register for conference at https://oame.on.ca/mcis/index.php and the conference website is oame2026.ca

This is the 3rd of 3 preview episodes for the OAME 2026 Conference: Let's Talk Math. We are going to hear from the featured and keynote speakers from day two of the conference. In this episode we'll hear from Dr. Pam Seda, Marian Small, Chris Luzniak and Ian Vanderburgh. More information about OAME 2026 can be found at oame2026.ca. Registration is open now for the conference at our MCIS registration site https://oame.on.ca/mcis/ Podcast: Listen above, or subscribe or download this podcast direct from iTunes or Google Play Podcast notes: Recorded December 2025 - January 2026 Pam is an educational consultant working out of Atlanta, Ga. Marian is a retired teacher, author and educational consultant working out of Ottawa. Chris is an education consultant working out of Columbus, Oh. Ian is a professor of math at the University of Waterloo.

Description: This is the second of three preview episodes for the OAME 2026 Conference: Let's Talk Math. We are going to hear from the keynote speaker from our virtual conference running tandem with the face to face conference, Howie Hua and from Ron Lancaster who is talking about the math walk he will be bringing teachers on. More information about OAME 2026 can be found at oame2026.ca. Registration is open now for the conference at our MCIS registration site https://oame.on.ca/mcis/ Podcast: Listen above, or subscribe or download this podcast direct from iTunes or Google Play Podcast notes: Recorded December 2025 - January 2026 Howie teaches pre service teachers, and makes math content videos and memes in Fresno, Ca. Ron is a retired teacher and avid math walker living in the GTA.

Description: This is the first of three preview episodes for the OAME 2026 Conference: Let's Talk Math. We are going to hear from the featured and keynote speakers from day one of the conference. In this episode we'll hear from Pam Harris, Alex Lawson and Cathy Marks Krpan. More information about OAME 2026 can be found at oame2026.ca. Registration is open now for the conference at our MCIS registration site https://oame.on.ca/mcis/ Podcast: Listen above, or subscribe or download this podcast direct from iTunes or Google Play Podcast notes: Recorded December 2025 - January 2026 Pam is an educational consultant and author working out of Austin, Texas. Alex is a retired teacher, and researcher. Cathy is a professor and researcher at OISE in Toronto.

Description: Discover how the TCDSB is building partnerships with Indigenous communities to foster reconciliation and bring Indigenous ways of knowing mathematics to students. Our initiatives include beading with Indigenous artists, professional learning on partnerships and decolonizing the curriculum, and an Indigenous Math Play Day. Join our sharing circle to explore how you can collaborate with your Indigenous community to integrate these teachings into your classroom and engage your students through 'Etuaptmumk-Two-Eyed Seeing' while deepening learning experiences. Registration for all webinars at https://oame.on.ca/mcis/ More info at talks.oame.on.ca/season-8 Podcast: Listen above, or subscribe or download this podcast direct from iTunes or Google Play Podcast Notes: Recorded Dec 2025.

Description: This session is all about the F-word that's likely holding your students back in math: F-E-A-R. If you're ready to stop talking about bandaid solutions to manage math anxiety in the moment, and start learning how to help students overcome it for good ' this session is for YOU! Get ready to learn about the dynamics of fear, understand the exact way it manifests into math anxiety and triggers math trauma in the classroom, and gain impactful strategies you can use RIGHT away to break the cycle of fear, anxiety, and avoidance. This session will totally transform your understanding of math anxiety and empower you to help ALL students build healthier relationships with math! Registration for all webinars at https://oame.on.ca/mcis/ More info at talks.oame.on.ca/season-8 Podcast: Listen above, or subscribe or download this podcast direct from iTunes or Google Play Podcast Notes: Recorded Nov 2025. Vanessa is a math therapist. Here new book is called Math Therapy and more info on that and here podcast can be found on her website www.maththerapy.com .

Description: This session will focus on how we can support the development of executive function skills in our math classrooms. A brief overview of what executive functions skills are and how they impact learning in math will be shared. We will then examine practical strategies that can be implemented to support students development of each executive function skill in a mathematical context. Registration for all webinars at https://oame.on.ca/mcis/ Podcast: Listen above, or subscribe or download this podcast direct from iTunes or Google Play Podcast notes: Recorded October 2025 - Stacey Teaches at OISE.