

Chalk & Talk
Anna Stokke
Everyone wants to see children and young adults succeed in math, but it can be difficult to sort myths from facts in education. Join math professor, Anna Stokke, for conversations with leading educators and researchers about the importance of math, effective teaching methods, and debunking common myths about math and teaching. Chalk & Talk is a podcast for anyone interested in education, including educators, parents, and students.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 25, 2023 • 1h 2min
Ep 15. Modern relevance in the math curriculum with Brian Conrad
Join math professor Brian Conrad as he discusses modern applications of math, debunking myths about the math curriculum, and the importance of a strong math background in quantitative fields. He also highlights issues found in a draft of the California Math Framework and emphasizes the need for better material to convey the relevance of math to students. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in math or education.

5 snips
Aug 11, 2023 • 55min
Ep 14. Stress and learning with Dan Rosen
Join Anna Stokke in discussion with Dr. Dan Rosen, a teacher and school leader, as they explore the impact of stress on learning. They discuss the biology of stress, misconceptions about stress, and strategies for minimizing stress in high-stakes assessments. They also address the relationship between stress and test-taking, the drawbacks of student participation methods, and the role of stress in learning and exam preparation.

6 snips
Jul 28, 2023 • 58min
Ep 13. Powerful teaching with Patrice Bain
In Episode 13, Anna Stokke discusses teaching with Patrice Bain, who is a co-author of the book Powerful Teaching: Unleash the Science of Learning. Patrice was one of the first K-12 teachers to partner with cognitive scientists so that research could be conducted in a classroom setting. This episode is all about using research-based power tools to transform teaching. They discuss retrieval practice, spacing, interleaving and metacognition. Along the way, they give practical teaching tips, with a special focus on math. The strategies discussed apply to teaching any field and to both K-12 and post-secondary. In addition to a familiarity with research-based teaching strategies, Patrice brings a wealth of practical teaching experience to the conversation. This episode is a must listen for anyone who is interested in evidence-informed teaching!
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
https://www.annastokke.com/ep-13-transcript
EPISODE RESOURCES
https://www.annastokke.com/ep-13-resources
MUSIC
Intro and Outro: Coma Media – Catch it
Podington Bear – Proliferate, Kitten
Blue Dot Sessions – Partly Sage, Cases to Rest, No Squirrel Commotion
Purple Planet – Bright Ideas
Website: www.annastokke.com
Twitter: @rastokke

Jul 9, 2023 • 47min
Ep 12. California’s math controversy with Jelani Nelson Part II
Professor Jelani Nelson discusses the controversy around the California Math Framework, acceleration in math, and the impact of acceleration reforms in San Francisco. They also explore the CMF writing team, citation misrepresentation, and the importance of quantitative courses and algebra as a foundation for math education.

Jul 8, 2023 • 1h 11min
Ep 11. California’s math controversy with Jelani Nelson Part I
Dr. Jelani Nelson, a professor at UC Berkeley, discusses the controversy surrounding the proposed California Math Framework (CMF). The discussion focuses on the promotion of data science, changes to math requirements in the UC system, and the emergence of data science courses as substitutes for Algebra II. They also address concerns about equity and the importance of a strong math foundation for STEM careers.

22 snips
Jun 29, 2023 • 58min
Ep 10. Maximizing learning through explicit instruction with Zach Groshell
Dr. Zach Groshell, an instructional coach and advocate for evidence-informed teaching, discusses expanding working memory, characteristics of successful explicit instruction, effective feedback, and teaching math through open-ended problems. They explore preparation for learning versus explicit instruction, the shift towards evidence-based instruction, and provide resources for further learning.

25 snips
Jun 15, 2023 • 1h 4min
Ep 9. The tweet that roared with Tom Bennett
Join math professor, Anna Stokke, in conversation with Tom Bennett. He is a teacher, author and founder of the grass roots, non-profit organization ResearchED. Tom has a captivating sense of humour, making this a great listen. They discuss many things in this episode, such as education research, group work, cell phones in schools and evidence-informed teaching. But the conversation begins with the story of ResearchED, which has started an evidence revolution in education. It all started with one tweet – as Tom Bennett calls it “The Tweet that Roared.” Anyone interested in education will enjoy this episode!
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
https://www.annastokke.com/ep-9-transcript
EPISODE RESOURCES
https://www.annastokke.com/ep-9-resources
MUSIC
Intro and Outro: Coma Media – Catch it
Podington Bear – Sunset Stroll, Camp, Proliferate
Blue Dot Sessions – Cases to Rest, Partly Sage
OYStudio – Light Comedy
Website: www.annastokke.com
Twitter: @rastokke

7 snips
Jun 1, 2023 • 53min
Ep 8. Lessons from around the world with Lucy Crehan
In this episode math professor, Anna Stokke, interviews Lucy Crehan, who is a teacher and an author. In her book, Cleverlands, she presents her first-hand observations of the education systems in different countries.
They discuss teacher qualifications in Finland and Singapore, teacher professional development in Japan and math lessons in Shanghai. They cover some commonalities in high-performing countries, such as the use of high-quality textbooks, and the role of practice and memorization in East Asian countries. The conversation then shifts to cultural differences, some of which may impact educational outcomes. If you are curious about education systems in different parts of the world, you won’t want to miss this episode!
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
https://www.annastokke.com/ep-8-transcript
EPISODE RESOURCES
https://www.annastokke.com/ep-8-resources
MUSIC
Intro and Outro: Coma Media – Catch it
Podington Bear – Lakeside Path
Blue Dot Sessions – Tall Harvey, Hundred Mile
Lexin Music - Upbeat Documentary
OYStudio – Light Comedy
Website: www.annastokke.com
Twitter: @rastokke

May 18, 2023 • 59min
Ep 7. How to excel in math and other tough subjects with Barbara Oakley
Join Anna Stokke as she interviews Dr. Barbara Oakley, an engineering professor whose work focusses on the relationship between neuroscience and social behaviour. She is an expert on learning tough subjects and has written several books for teachers and students that detail science-based techniques for learning.
They cover learning techniques such as chunking and deliberate practice. They explore why being a slower learner may not necessarily be a drawback and consider whether it’s possible to catch up on math skills later in life. Dr. Oakley shares some effective study techniques and offers strategies for overcoming procrastination.
Post-secondary educators and teachers will not want to miss this episode. The learning tips discussed will also be invaluable for students, parents and anyone who wants to become better at learning math.
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
https://www.annastokke.com/ep-7-transcript
EPISODE RESOURCES
https://www.annastokke.com/ep-7-resources
MUSIC
Intro and Outro: Coma Media – Catch it
Podington Bear – Lakeside Path, Kitten, Camp
Blue Dot Sessions – Cases to Rest, Thannoid
OYStudio – Light Comedy
SoulProdMusic – Upbeat and Happy Music
Website: www.annastokke.com
Twitter: @rastokke

May 4, 2023 • 56min
Ep 6. Math teaching tips with Barry Garelick and JR Wilson
Experienced math teachers Barry Garelick and JR Wilson share teaching strategies including getting students excited about math, using the 'I do, we do, you do' method, teaching word problems, challenging advanced students, and helping struggling students. They discuss the importance of understanding in math teaching, effective strategies for teaching word problems, building confidence in weaker students, teaching factoring methods, and advice for new teachers.