The Educators MathCast

15 Episodes

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15: Math Homework. Yea or Nay?

2026-04-0328:17

Zak and Mike get real with their opinions on the value of sending kids home with math homework.

14: Voices From the Field: Kaneka Turner

2026-03-1534:01

Zak and Kaneka chat about the importance of curiosity and asking questions when working with students and teachers.

13: Gen X and Math Education

2026-03-0413:38

In this episode, Mike and Zak reflect on growing up as Gen X kids, from Oregon Trail and mixtapes to encyclopedias and memorized phone numbers. Those experiences lead us into a bigger conversation about effortful learning and what it takes for ideas to really stick in math classrooms. We talk about curiosity, productive struggle, and the importance of creating math classrooms where students are willing to put in the work of thinking. In a world where answers are always a click away, how do we design learning that helps students build understanding that lasts?

12: Voices From the Field: Liesl McConchie

2026-02-1632:54

Liesl McConchie and Zak talk about how the brain learns and ways to leverage that with students in the math classroom.

11: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of AI

2026-02-0115:16

Are you using Large Language Models (LLMs) in your work as a math professional? It's a powerful tool, but that doesn't mean there aren't huge pitfalls to avoid. In this episode of the Educators MathCast Mike and Zak talk about ways they use AI to work more efficiently, shortcomings of the technology they've come across, and major drawbacks they see playing out in the field. Can you spot AI when you see it? Am I an AI? Bleep bloop bleep?

10: Voices From the Field: Brittany Hege

2026-01-1526:57

Brittany Hege from Mix & Math joins Zak on this episode of the Educators MathCast.

9: Hot Takes on Teacher Beliefs

2026-01-0518:27

Zak and Mike tackle some commonly held teacher beliefs. Are they Always, Sometimes or Never True?

8: Voices From the Field: Christopher Danielson & Chris Nho

2025-12-1230:55

Zak chats with Christopher and Chris about the importance of keeping math playful at home and in the classroom.

7: Be Curious and Judgemental

2025-12-0117:10

Mike and Zak make a case for encouraging curiosity and judgement in the math classroom. Do you have opinions on what may or may not be a vehicle? Chime in on Chris Nho's Instagram series.

6: Voices from NCTM 2025

2025-11-1715:17

Zak reports live from the 2025 NCTM conference floor in Atlanta, GA on what is bringing attendees joy this year.

5: The Words We Use

2025-11-0316:20

What are the unintended consequences of how we talk to students? In this episode of the Educators MathCast Mike and Zak talk about how to frame math manipulatives as a powerful tool instead of a stigma.

4: Voices From the Field: Deborah Peart Crayton

2025-10-2030:57

In this conversation Zak chats with Deborah about building students' comfort by bridging the gap between literacy and mathematics.

3: Real World Math

2025-10-0117:23

What does it mean to teach real world math in the classroom? Mike and Zak dig into their perspectives on this concept in this episode of the Educators MathCast.

2: Voices From the Field: Vanessa Vakharia

2025-09-1637:19

In this edition of Voices From the Field Zak Champagne talks to Vanessa Vakharia about broadening the definition of math in the classroom.

1: Building Math Communithy

2025-09-0316:52

Start the school year off right by taking steps to create a strong math community in your classroom. In this inaugural episode of the Educators MathCast Zak and Mike dig into strategies you can use to make students comfortable being vulnerable in their math thinking.

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