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Welcome to the DebateMath Podcast, the show where we’re redefining what it means to debate in mathematics & education, where multiple sides of ideas are explored, evidence matters, and we all grow and learn from hearing each other.
We know the world–and our classrooms–are not binary. So we lean into the gray area in our discussions. We invite on guests with differing viewpoints on the way math is taught, and listen in as they debate with each other.
Come dig into any debate, where we listen to learn, not to prove someone wrong, but to deepen our understanding.
58 Episodes
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Text us your thoughts! As we’ve done in the past, we wanted to end the year by bringing together a few of our guests from past debates for a roundtable to reflect on the past debates and also engage in a discussion around a central question. With all the stress put on teachers and all the content we have to teach (not to mention the greater political environment we are currently in), we want to hear from our past guests and discuss: How do we properly support math teachers? Learn more about J...
Text us your thoughts! What are your thoughts about teaching how to read analog clocks? In this month’s debate we’re diving into a question that might seem small at first, but actually gets at some big ideas about education, tradition, and the skills we think are essential for the next generation, especially in light of all the technology available. Since digital clocks can be found all over (including in our pockets), should students still learn how to read an analog clock? (That’s a clock w...
Text us your thoughts! Imagine you had a magic wand and could add an extra 30–40 minutes to the school day. How would you use it? Would you dedicate that time to Reading or to Math—and why? That’s the debate we dove into, with two teams facing off in this live debate, answering the big question: Should schools spend more time on Reading or on Math? *This is a recording of a LIVE debate from the Hamilton County ESC Explore Mathematics Conference* You read more about the work of Carolyn Turner ...
Text us your thoughts! This is the seventh (and final) episode with our guests demonstrating various classroom debate routines. In this episode, we put everything together: using a discourse routine, modeling listening skills, and preparing both sides of a debate. Tune in as guest debaters Mike and Zak dive into a final example with us! Follow Mike Flynn on social media: @mikeflynn55Follow Zak Champagne on social media: @zakchampAnd check out the FlynnEducation website: flynneducation.c...
Text us your thoughts! This is the sixth of seven episodes where our guests demonstrate various classroom debate routines. In this episode, we see another example of the routine where students have to prepare both sides of an argument ahead of time: a Point-Counterpoint Debate. Tune in as guest debaters Mike and Zak dive into an example of this! Follow Mike Flynn on social media: @mikeflynn55Follow Zak Champagne on social media: @zakchampAnd check out the FlynnEducation website: flynneducatio...
Text us your thoughts! This is the fifth of seven episodes where our guests demonstrate various classroom debate routines. In this example, we explore a routine where students have to prepare both sides of an argument ahead of time: a Point-Counterpoint Debate. Tune in as guest debaters Mike and Zak dive into an example of this! Follow Mike Flynn on social media: @mikeflynn55Follow Zak Champagne on social media: @zakchampAnd check out the FlynnEducation website: flynneducation.comListened to ...
Text us your thoughts! This is the fourth of seven episodes where our guests demonstrate various classroom debate routines. In this example, we dig further into the listening routine of Circle Debates. Tune in as guest debaters Mike and Zak dive into an example of this! Follow Mike Flynn on social media: @mikeflynn55Follow Zak Champagne on social media: @zakchampAnd check out the FlynnEducation website: flynneducation.comListened to the episode? Now, it’s your turn to share! Go to our BlueSky...
Text us your thoughts! This is the third of seven episodes where our guests demonstrate various classroom debate routines. In this example, we extend the routine from the previous episodes to really encourage listening. Tune in as guest debaters Mike and Zak dive into an example of this! Follow Mike Flynn on social media: @mikeflynn55Follow Zak Champagne on social media: @zakchampAnd check out the FlynnEducation website: flynneducation.comListened to the episode? Now, it’s your turn to share!...
Text us your thoughts! This is the second of seven episodes where our guests demonstrate various classroom debate routines. Tune in to this very brief example, where guest debaters Mike and Zak dive into a more mathy example! Follow Mike Flynn on social media: @mikeflynn55Follow Zak Champagne on social media: @zakchampAnd check out the FlynnEducation website: flynneducation.comListened to the episode? Now, it’s your turn to share! Go to our BlueSky: @DebateMath to share your thoughts. Don’t ...
Text us your thoughts! This is the first of seven episodes where our guests demonstrate various classroom debate routines. Tune in to this very brief debate on pizza, where guest debaters Mike and Zak dive into an example! Follow Mike Flynn on social media: @mikeflynn55Follow Zak Champagne on social media: @zakchampAnd check out the FlynnEducation website: flynneducation.comListened to the episode? Now, it’s your turn to share! Go to our BlueSky: @DebateMath to share your thoughts. Don’t for...
Text us your thoughts! Today we’re diving into one of the most talked-about—and often misunderstood—topics in math education: memorization vs from-memory thinking. At first glance, they might sound like the same thing. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find a growing divide among educators, researchers, and even students. Should we be drilling multiplication tables and formulas until they’re automatic? Or should we be building understanding without having to “memorize” in the traditio...
Text us your thoughts! Discourse routines are a big part of many classrooms (and debates). However, what role does listening play and is there a way to teach it? Our “Hot Seat” guest today is here arguing for the statement: Schools Should Teach Listening Skills You can find out more about The Listening Path. You can contact Christine Miles on her website. And check out her book: What is It Costing You Not to Listen? Listened to the episode? Now, it’s your turn to share! Go to o...
Text us your thoughts! It’s time for another round of Summer Hot Seats! You may have heard talk about math anxiety and helping students to build confidence in math skills. But our guests today want to focus on the idea of math identity. What is it? And how do we foster it? So for this Hot Seat debate, we have two educators here to share why they think: Teachers MUST cultivate a positive math identity. Brian mentioned the book: The Impact of Identity in K-8 MathematicsYou can find Rolanda Bald...
Text us your thoughts! Let’s talk about curriculum resources! Whether you are using a textbook that you chose or your district chose for you, many of you have been asked to use the resource with fidelity. But what exactly is fidelity, and is it a problem to create our own lessons? How much should teachers be expected to use what is included in a curriculum resource? Well that sounds like a great question for debate! So we have a panel of 3 guests today to share their thoughts on the question:...
Text us your thoughts! Is teaching math the same as teaching reading? Have you ever attended a PD or read about a strategy that works for teaching both reading and were asked to use it in math as well? There are times when these two pedagogies can overlap…but should they? Today, we have a very special “family” episode for you. We are going to hear a husband and wife debate it out on this very topic, answering the question: Should We Be Comparing the Teaching of Reading to the Teaching o...
Text us your thoughts! Math is full of algorithms. These are generalized procedures or sets of rules to be followed in solving problems of a given type. From the standard algorithms for subtraction and long division in elementary school all the way to the distance formula and the quadratic formula in high school, algorithms are a part of the mathematics curriculum. However, some may ask: should we be teaching students these methods, or should we Dump the Algorithms? Pam Harris’s website: math...
Text us your thoughts! How narrow should we make the grade bands for teacher certification? When teachers get their certification in a state, it is usually for a specific subject and/or grade band. For instance, a teacher may get a certification in K-8 Elementary Teaching or 7-12 Math Instruction. These bands vary by state and change over time. So what is the ideal set of grade bands? Listen in as our debaters take on the resolution: Should We Narrow the Grade Bands? Gabriel menti...
Text us your thoughts! As we’ve done in the past, we wanted to end the year by bringing together a few of our guests from past debates for a roundtable to reflect on the past debates and also engage in a discussion around a central question. This year’s question is: How do we help students feel that they belong in math class? Follow Melissa Dean on Twitter & Instagram: @Dean_of_mathCheck out Melissa’s Blog: Dean of Math BlogFollow Liesl McConchie on Twitter (and Bluesky): @LieslMcco...
Text us your thoughts! At the time of this recording, we are in an election year and political ads are everywhere. As we get closer to November 2024, it is harder and harder to avoid. Now, while you may not think of math as a course that intersects with political topics, teachers may find it coming up in many ways. So for this episode we gathered a panel of educators to give us advice on this, addressing the question: Should politics be avoided in math class? Follow Dee Crescitelli on Social ...
Text us your thoughts! The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, or NCTM, is the world's largest mathematics education organization. While many math teachers are members of this organization and may attend its national conference, others do not. Maybe you are someone who has wondered whether or not to join? We wanted to explore this idea more in our latest debate: Is an NCTM membership worthwhile? Follow Desiree Harrison on all platforms: @KidsmathtalkFollow Bobson Wong on Twitte...
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