Math Chat

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In today’s episode, Mona welcomes special education teacher and SEL expert Allie Szczecinski to unpack a topic that’s often overlooked in math: social emotional learning (SEL). With over 15 years of experience and a brand-new book, Their Best Behavior, Allie shares how weaving SEL into your math instruction can build stronger thinkers, more confident students, and a calmer classroom.

🎧 This one’s a must-listen if you’ve ever thought, “My students could do the math… if only they believed they could.”

📘 Their Best Behavior by Allie Szczecinski...

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Is your math block filled with silence so thick you can hear pencils stretching? This episode is for you. Host Mona Lehl is flipping the script on what a “focused” math class sounds like—and spoiler alert: it’s not silent. Real math thinking creates a buzz, and Mona is here to help you lean into the noise.

🔧 3 Ways to Keep the Math Talk Productive 

Worried the noise will spiral into chaos? Mona shares three practical strategies that turn chatter into meaningful c...

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If you've ever scrolled past a flawless math lesson on Instagram and thought, “That could never be me,” this episode is for you. Host Mona—former teacher, math coach, and author of the upcoming Word Problem Workshop—gets real about what it actually takes to be a great math teacher. Spoiler: it’s not perfection or having all the answers. It’s creating the space for your students to think.

🎧 Ready to change the way you think about teaching math? You’ll want to hear this one.

📥 Enroll now at monamath.com/wpwt...

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Hey teacher friend! Have you ever stared at your math curriculum thinking, “This is... fine, I guess?” You don’t hate it—but it’s definitely not lighting a fire for student thinking. In this episode, Mona, a math coach and author, shares why the curriculum you already have might just be your biggest asset—if you know how to use it differently.

🛠️ The How: 3 Shifts You Can Make Right Away

1. Start with One Word Problem
Instead of overwhelming students with a page full of problems, choo...

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In this episode, we unpack a big question: What’s your vision for math classrooms? From years of visiting classrooms and leading professional development, our guest shares a powerful answer rooted in three values: joy, curiosity, and teacher sustainability. This isn’t just an ideal—it’s a framework leaders and teachers can work toward right now.

🛠️ Try These 3 Professional Learning Moves That Actually Work

Ready to lead transformative PD in your building? Here are three things you can try right away:

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Ever poured your heart into a math lesson only to hear a groan or a “Can’t you just tell us how to do it?” from your students? You’re not alone. In this episode, Mona—a former teacher turned math coach—dives into what’s really behind those reactions and how to shift them.

Ready to turn things around? Mona shares three actionable routines straight from her Word Problem Workshop that help kids engage, take risks, and actually enjoy thinking in math:

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Ever looked at your stack of printed math worksheets and thought, “There’s got to be a better way”? You're not alone. In today’s episode, we’re flipping the script on word problems—and showing you how just a few small tweaks can stretch your students' thinking without stretching your copy limit.

In this episode, I dive into how to extend student thinking using the problems you already have—no extra pages required. You’ll learn what actually makes a word problem “good,” why how you use a task matters more than what the t...

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Is your math classroom a space of empowerment—or quiet struggle? In this episode, we’re unpacking what it really means to teach math equitably, with the brilliant Dr. Pamela Seda. Whether you're new to equity work or already deep in the journey, this conversation will challenge and inspire you.

In this episode, Jenn chats with Dr. Pamela Seda, math equity leader and creator of the ICUCARE® Equity Framework. You’ll learn how math can become a space of empowerment, why releasing control as a teacher can be the most powerful shift y...

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What if the questions you ask in math class could be the key to unlocking deeper thinking and real understanding? Today, we’re diving into the one question teachers ask me all the time: “What do I ask to get my students to explain their thinking?” 

Let’s turn those blank stares into lightbulb moments.

🎧 Episode Summary

In this episode, Mona breaks down the 7 types of questions that spark rich math talk and deeper understanding during Word Problem Workshop. You’ll learn:

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Ever asked a math question and been met with total silence? Or felt like only a few kids are driving the whole conversation? You’re not alone — and today we’re fixing it.

In this episode, Mona dives into the subtle mistakes that can shut down rich math discussions — and the practical shifts that can turn things around.

 You’ll learn:
 ✅ What common habits unintentionally stifle student thinking
 ✅ Why these missteps matter more than you think
 ✅ Small, doable tweaks to spark deeper conversations

Whether you’re a <...

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You don’t need a full-on classroom overhaul to start seeing change. In this episode, we’re talking about the “pebbles” — those small irritations or roadblocks in math class — and how you can start removing them with intentional, doable steps.

🎙️ Episode Overview

In this episode, Jon and Kyle chat about what’s really getting in the way of change in the classroom. You’ll learn how to identify your “pebbles,” what steps you can take to shift your teaching, and why your system might be working exactly as it’s designed — for be...

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Struggling to get your whole school on board with stronger math instruction? You’re not alone! 

In this episode, I’m sharing the framework I developed after seeing what actually works to transform school wide math culture — without burning out your teachers.

In this episode, Mona dives into the SHAPE framework — a 5-part approach to building a consistent, student-centered math program across an entire school. You’ll learn:

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Is your school choosing a new math curriculum? Before you dive into samples, demos, and committee meetings, listen in! I’m sharing the top three mistakes schools often make—and how you can avoid them to select a curriculum that truly supports students and teachers.

🎧 Episode Summary:
In this episode, I (Mona!) dive into the nitty-gritty of math curriculum selection. You’ll learn:
✅ The #1 step most schools skip (and why it matters)
✅ How to balance content quality with usability features
✅ Why curriculum alone isn’t the magic...

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Ever feel like your students don't have number sense? In this episode, we’re unpacking number sense with our guest, Christina Tondevold. Let’s dig in—it’s about to get good.

🎙️ Episode Overview

In this episode, Christina dives into Number Sense. You’ll learn:

…so you can feel confident in teaching number sense to your students.

Whether you’re a brand new teacher or a seasoned teacher, this conversation w...

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The Problem with “Yet”

We’ve all said it: “They just can’t do it… yet.”
But what if that tiny word is quietly lowering the bar?

In this episode, Mona shares her 🔥hot take and breaks down why “yet” isn’t always as empowering as we think and how it can unintentionally mask low expectations. You’ll hear stories from Mona’s own classroom, what a visiting teacher helped her realize, and what to say (and do!) instead of leaning on “yet.”

💡 Perfect for teachers who believe in growth...

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Today’s episode is all about counting—but not just any kind of counting. We’re diving deep into how kids think about numbers, quantity, and patterns… and we’ve got the perfect guest to guide us.

I’m thrilled to welcome Christopher Danielson to the show. If you’ve ever stumbled across Which One Doesn’t Belong or How Many?, you already know Christopher’s work gets students—and adults—thinking more deeply about math in ways that feel playful, thoughtful, and refreshingly human.

We are chatting about: <...