Math Therapy

Kevin Dykema, President of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and seasoned 8th-grade math teacher, shares his inspiring journey and the challenges he has faced, including imposter syndrome. He discusses how educators can adapt to evolving teaching methods and the importance of prioritizing students' emotional well-being, especially regarding math anxiety. Dykema also emphasizes the need for meaningful professional development and collaboration among teachers, advocating for a more inclusive and adaptable approach to math education.

Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)HUGE news - Math Therapy is now a book!  Vanessa has taken everything she's learned in her career helping students overcome math trauma, and all the insights from the 6 seasons of this podcast, and formulated a 5-step process to bring math therapy into classrooms and help all students develop a better relationship with math.To celebrate, Math Therapy producer David Kochberg turned the mic around and interviewed Vanessa about how Math Therapy started in the first place, what gives her hope about the future of math education, and how she really feels about the provocative term "edu celeb"...Show notes:Math Therapy the book is out now - buy from Corwin Press or AmazonS3E09: I’m not a math person, don’t @ me w/ BexVanessa's master's thesis "Imagining a World Where Paris Hilton Loves Math"Contact us: Vanessa Vakharia: Instagram, TikTok, Email Math Therapy: Text the Podcast More Math Therapy: Get the book: Corwin, Amazon Audiobook: Audible, Spotify Merch store: Shop here

Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)Dan Finkel is an author/educator who believes that humans are wired to be curious from birth, and that play is the secret to maintaining that joy of learning throughout childhood.  On today’s season 6 finale, he and Vanessa discuss how teaching kids about math can be so much more fun than we think; it can mean playing board games, counting on their fingers, anything that helps them develop an intuitive sense that there are patterns and structures in the world for them to discover. They also discuss how play-based approaches can even help grown-ups heal from math trauma!About Dan (Website, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn)Dan Finkel is the Founder and Director of Operations of Math for Love, a Seattle-based organization devoted to transforming how math is taught and learned. Dan is an author and game designer, develops curriculum, leads teacher workshops, and gives talks on mathematics and education. He contributes regularly to the New York Times Numberplay blog and hosts Seattle’s Julia Robinson Math Festival annually.Show notes:Dan’s TED Talk: Five Principles of Extraordinary Math TeachingMartin Gardner’s “Mathematical Games” column in Scientific Americanearlyfamilymath.orgDan’s book: Pattern BreakersUpscale pattern blocksContact us: Vanessa Vakharia: Instagram, TikTok, Email Math Therapy: Text the Podcast More Math Therapy: Get the book: Corwin, Amazon Audiobook: Audible, Spotify Merch store: Shop here

Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)Dr. India White learned grit and resilience the hard way: facing down obstacles throughout her life and deciding she wouldn’t back down.  Now she coaches teachers and students on developing their own gritty superpowers, and she joins Vanessa today for wide-ranging and inspiring conversation. They discuss her journey from a homeless shelter to a college dorm, how equity is about so much more than just race, and the power of lifting each other up as an antidote to fear.About India:(Website, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn)As a TEDx speaker, I motivate students who are disadvantaged and at-risk of dropping out! As an educational consultant,  I help teachers understand equity and grit in a math classroom! As a speaker coach, I help leaders grow their speaking business! As a co-author for Big Ideas Learning, I provide a diverse lens on teaching math for all learners! As a #1 best-selling Published Author, I help aspiring authors thrive and finish writing their book!Show notes:India’s TEDx Talk “The Power of Grit”Contact us: Vanessa Vakharia: Instagram, TikTok, Email Math Therapy: Text the Podcast More Math Therapy: Get the book: Corwin, Amazon Audiobook: Audible, Spotify Merch store: Shop here

Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)What if the secret to winning a debate was actually listening to your opponent? What if you could build confidence and overcome anxiety through the practice of public speaking?  And HOW does someone go from dreams of Broadway fame to teaching debate in math class?!  Find out today as Vanessa chats with math educator/coach Chris Luzniak, host of The DebateMath Podcast!About Chris (Website, Twitter, Instagram)Chris Luzniak is an international math consultant and instructional coach. While teaching in New York City public schools he founded the Speech and Debate team, and through this combination of teaching and coaching Chris has developed debate routines that bring student voice and discussion into the math classroom. He coaches teachers in both math and science to develop real-world debate activities for students, hosts The DebateMath Podcast (Subscribe, Twitter, YouTube), and explores these themes further in his book Up for Debate!Contact us: Vanessa Vakharia: Instagram, TikTok, Email Math Therapy: Text the Podcast More Math Therapy: Get the book: Corwin, Amazon Audiobook: Audible, Spotify Merch store: Shop here

Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)When Vanessa saw today’s guest deliver a deeply personal talk at a recent math conference, she was left with more questions than answers; all she knew for certain was she had to get him on the podcast.  Sean Nank is a math educator who believes that the power of our students' stories is the most valuable tool we can harness in our math classrooms, and he illustrates this by sharing his own journey of growing up in an abusive environment, learning to understand and embrace his OCD, and the fateful day that math, for real, saved his own life.On that note, a heads up that today’s episode involves a brief discussion early on about abuse and suicide.About Sean (Website, Twitter)Sean Nank, PhD, is an award-winning math educator and author.  He has worked in various positions with the United States Department of Education, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, National Science Foundation, and the California Department of Education.  Sean currently serves on the Executive Board at the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics (NCSM) and is the Associate Editor of their Journal of Mathematics Education Leadership (JMEL), and works at Amplify as a math content designer.Show notes:Sean’s 2022 ShadowCon talk: “Mathematics saved my life”Contact us: Vanessa Vakharia: Instagram, TikTok, Email Math Therapy: Text the Podcast More Math Therapy: Get the book: Corwin, Amazon Audiobook: Audible, Spotify Merch store: Shop here

Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)Today’s another one for the teachers, featuring Jon Orr & Kyle Pearce of the Make Math Moments empire - they have a podcast, a framework, workshops & courses & virtual summits galore, and who knows probably even a cooking show at this point?!  They join Vanessa today to discuss the SHOCKING realization early in their career that not all students would be as excited about math as they were … which propelled them to adapt their teaching methods to fuel curiosity in kids so they don’t just get the right answers, but rather develop a true understanding of what they’re learning in class and beyond.About Make Math Moments:(Website, Podcast, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn)Make Math Moments is on a mission to provide an opportunity for all mathematics educators around the world to access professional learning opportunities that will elevate their teaching practice and promote an equitable learning experience for all students. Show notes:https://growyourmathprogram.comJon Orr on TwitterKyle Pearce on TwitterVanessa’s episode on Make Math Moments podcastContact us: Vanessa Vakharia: Instagram, TikTok, Email Math Therapy: Text the Podcast More Math Therapy: Get the book: Corwin, Amazon Audiobook: Audible, Spotify Merch store: Shop here

Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)We’re often talking about trauma from the student perspective: how it happens in the classroom, and how it follows them into adulthood.  But one group is often overlooked in this discussion - teachers! Today Vanessa chats with educator Brittany Hege about the challenges teachers often face in keeping up with changing pedagogies, while already being strapped for time and often struggling with math traumas of their own!  This is an honest and heartfelt discussion about how education can evolve without leaving either students or teachers behind, how shame in the classroom can lead to anxiety for both, and how curiosity and community can lay the path to healing.About Brittany: (Website, Insta, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter)Brittany Hege is a math educator who has worked with students and teachers in both upper elementary and middle grades. She holds a master's degree in Elementary Mathematics Education and is passionate about helping teachers grow their understanding of the math concepts they teach. Brittany believes in the power of experiencing math through hands-on work and uses her platform, Mix and Math, to equip upper elementary teachers with the knowledge and confidence to inspire a generation of empowered math learners.Show notes:mixandmath.com/ Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/c/MixandMath/aboutContact us: Vanessa Vakharia: Instagram, TikTok, Email Math Therapy: Text the Podcast More Math Therapy: Get the book: Corwin, Amazon Audiobook: Audible, Spotify Merch store: Shop here

Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)Of the truly infinite things Vanessa likes to rant about, few top the list like math’s marketing problem - which is why she was elated to chat with social media mathstar Howie Hua! Today Howie shares how his own experiences with math anxiety sucked the joy out of math when he was a student, and how he started to bring it back for both himself and his students when he became a teacher.  He’s built a massive following on TikTok and beyond by sharing quick and fun explainer videos and math memes, and his enthusiasm for learning is a true delight - enjoy!About Howie (Website, Linktree, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube)Howie Hua is a math instructor at Fresno State teaching math to future elementary school teachers. He has built a large following online, sharing short teaching tips, memes, and math explainer videos on TikTok and other social media platforms in a mission to make math more fun and accessible to all.Show notes:The birthday paradoxContact us: Vanessa Vakharia: Instagram, TikTok, Email Math Therapy: Text the Podcast More Math Therapy: Get the book: Corwin, Amazon Audiobook: Audible, Spotify Merch store: Shop here

Francis Su, an award-winning professor and former president of the Mathematical Association of America, delves into the transformative power of math. He defines himself as a 'mathematical explorer,' urging us to see math as a source of wonder and human flourishing. The discussion touches on why emotional reactions to math differ from other subjects, the need for educational reform, and how to cultivate virtues alongside AI advancements. Su also highlights the connection between math, spirituality, and creativity, advocating for empathy and healing in math education.