Claim OwnershipMake Math Happen
Subscribed: 3Played: 16
Subscribe
© 2025 Make Math Happen
Description
Make Math Happen (formerly known as PD for the SOUL) is the podcast for educators ready to move with intention and teach with impact. Hosted by math coach and equity-focused educator Laneshia Boone, each episode bridges practice and purpose to help you design instruction that centers students, builds capacity, and makes learning stick—especially for those pushed to the margins.
Every week, you’ll get strategies that work in real classrooms, grounded reflections that challenge the status quo, and conversations with educators who are making bold moves in math education. From planning with purpose to using charts that anchor learning, from building strong routines to disrupting expired rules, this podcast is where meaningful math instruction comes to life.
You’ll walk away with ready-to-use tools, fresh insight, and the confidence to make every lesson count.
Because when we move with care, plan with clarity, and teach with courage, we make math happen.
51 Episodes
Reverse
Six weeks into the school year, the cracks start to show — the fatigue, the frustration, and the quiet slide into low expectations. In this episode of Make Math Happen, Laneshia gets real about the dangerous drift toward deficit thinking and the power of collective teacher efficacy to turn it around. Drawing from John Hattie’s Visible Learning research — where collective teacher efficacy ranks at an effect size of 1.57, the most influential factor on student achievement — this episode challen...
In this episode of Make Math Happen, I get real about the weight of the work we do as educators. From the progress my team has made in planning, to the hard truths about classroom management, to the reflection that leadership demands—I’m unpacking it all. Too often, planning feels like control, but in reality, it’s our power to shape the learning experience for students. Structure and consistency aren’t constraints; they’re the foundation for freedom in the classroom. And when challenges aris...
What does your educational landscape look like, and what role do you play in it? In this episode, I share what I’ve been noticing in classrooms just three weeks into the school year: disengagement. Students with heads down, hesitant to participate, off-task behaviors — a reality many teachers are facing. But instead of getting stuck in frustration, we need to ask: What can we do about it? I’ll walk through three key areas that shape how students experience our classrooms: Relationships – why ...
In this conversation with Toni Hardy, we dig into what it really means to build capacity in math classrooms—one intentional move at a time. Toni shares how small, purposeful shifts in lesson planning and delivery create long-term impact for students and teachers alike. From structuring lessons for clarity to anticipating misconceptions, she reminds us that the best math instruction isn’t about doing more, but about making the right moves consistently. We explore the balance between content kn...
Organization isn’t about perfection—it’s about impact. In this episode of Make Math Happen, Laneshia breaks down three truths every educator needs to hear: don’t put off what can be done today, stop making things harder than they need to be, and watch out for the trap of optimistic bias. From creating a daily power hour to ditching the habit of reinventing the wheel, this episode shows how small, intentional steps can save you hours of stress later. Laneshia calls out the hidden time-wasters ...
Anchor charts aren’t just classroom décor—they’re tools for making learning visible, guiding students toward deep understanding, and accelerating achievement. In this episode of Make Math Happen, Laneshia connects anchor chart planning to research-backed strategies like note-taking, summarization, and study skills. Building on ideas from Season 1, Episode 18 (Math Isn’t Magic—It’s Patterns Made Visible), this episode dives into how anchor charts can be planned, created, and leveraged to suppo...
If we want to end the year strong, we have to start strong—and that means getting intentional about both our environment and our instruction from Day 1. In this episode, Laneshia unpacks Phase 2 of Get Better Faster—where the management trajectory focuses on rolling out and monitoring routines, and the rigor trajectory zeroes in on building effective independent practice. You’ll learn how these moves connect directly to the P.L.A.N. to Make Math Happen framework, a practical process for build...
Welcome to a brand-new season and a brand-new name—Make Math Happen! In this first episode of August, we're diving into five strategic moves you can make right now to start the school year with clarity, confidence, and impact. Inspired by Phase 1 of Get Better Faster, this episode focuses on the pre-teaching moves that lay the foundation for a year of powerful instruction and student growth. From planning and practicing routines to internalizing lessons and standing with purpose, these high-l...
Dear Educator, In this episode, we delve into the essence of strategic planning with a focus on proactive and thoughtful approaches. Laneshia emphasizes the importance of designing lessons for students on the margins, highlighting that these students are not a detour but the map itself. By planning with intention and clarity, educators can create a ripple effect that benefits all learners. Join us as we explore how to protect prep time, strategize teacher moves, and ensure every student feels...
Dear Educator, What does it mean to truly prepare students for what lies ahead—not just academically, but emotionally, socially, and intellectually? In this episode of PD for the Soul, we’re building Bridges to Belonging with instructional leader Tara McCormick. Together, we unpack how to create the kind of math classrooms where students not only master the content—but feel seen, capable, and ready to take on the challenge of high school. Tara reminds us that belonging doesn’t begin in high s...
Dear Educator, What happens when we stop treating disability, race, and learning needs as separate conversations—and start seeing the whole child? In this episode, I sit down with Leroy Smith, founder of Realize Curriculum Solutions and a passionate advocate for equity in education, to explore what it means to teach at the intersection of identity and ability. Together, we challenge outdated notions of who belongs where and what success should look like. We talk about the power of culturally ...
Dear Educator, What if the question that transforms your entire approach to teaching isn’t “What am I teaching?”—but “Who am I teaching for?” In this episode, we center a powerful truth: when we design our lessons for the margins, we don’t lose anyone—we reach everyone. Imagine yourself standing at the center of a circle. If your reach extends all the way to the edge, then everything in between is included. That’s the power of intentional design. We explore: What it looks and sounds like to r...
Dear Educator, What if the most powerful tool you have in your teaching practice… is you? In this episode of PD for the Soul, we’re joined by Dr. Tami Dean of Dragonfly Rising to explore the deep and transformative power of identity-aligned practice. Teaching from within isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity for sustaining joy, equity, and authenticity in your work. Dr. Dean shares her journey as a liberatory educator, inviting us to consider how our personal experiences, core values, and lived ide...
Dear Educator, You’ve been told to protect your peace. To set boundaries. To rest. But no one talks about how—especially when the work is demanding, the days are long, and the stakes feel high. In this episode, we’re unpacking three powerful truths: Capacity isn’t fragile—it’s flexible. Growth doesn’t come from doing less; it comes from doing what matters, in a way that builds you rather than breaks you.Boundaries are not walls. They are invitations—to check in, not check out. To honor your...
Dear Educator, Discomfort isn’t a sign to detour—it’s often the doorway to growth. Whether it’s an unfamiliar math concept, a challenging conversation, or a new instructional shift, we are constantly navigating spaces that stretch us. And in those moments, our first instinct may be to push it away, label it as “hard,” or find someone or something to blame. But what if we didn’t? What if we sat with it instead? This episode is an invitation to explore what it means to feel, without reacting. T...
Dear Educator, This one’s for you. You’ve poured yourself out this year—lesson after lesson, meeting after meeting, heart first, always. And now? You’re spent. But before you jump into the planning, prepping, and PD… pause. You deserve rest. Not earned. Not justified. Just deserved—because you're human. In this episode, we explore the mindset shift required to embrace rest not as a reward, but as a right. We talk about why teachers—especially those who care deeply—must build in space to reset...
Dear Educator, You’ve given your all this year—lesson plans, data meetings, behavior logs, after-school duties, and more. And somewhere in the mix, you’ve tried to hold space for your own needs, your family, your friends, and your dreams outside the classroom. If you’ve ever whispered to yourself, “Something has to give…”—you’re not alone. In this episode of PD for the Soul, we’re naming what so many educators feel but rarely say out loud: Work-life harmony isn’t a myth. It’s a mindset. It’s ...
In this episode, I talked to Dana W. Harris who began his journey as an educator in 2005. His superb communication skills and ability to connect with learners of all ages has allowed him to achieve success in the content area of mathematics. He is a highly motivated, passionate, educator that thrives on not only helping his students achieve success in mathematics, but also inspiring them to achieve personal success in their lives. Driven by a desire to reach students beyond the walls of his c...
In chapter 3 of “Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter,” 50 talks about the importance of having the right people around you. He opens the chapter with “a successful entrepreneur's greatest skill is being an astute judge of character.” He talks about the streets and how the lowest level in that game is the steerer - they were responsible for directing customers. By far one of the riskiest positions to manage in that type of work because they didn’t make much money, had no real investments, and they w...
In chapter 2 of Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter, 50 Cent talks about the heart of a hustler. He states that a strong work ethic is the one trait that all successful people share. Despite not being the most talented, best-looking or most experienced, Curtis Jackson aka 50 Cent continues to find success because he works as hard as he can. Before I get into how this relates to education, allow me to address the elephant in the room. I am well aware that 50 makes several times what most educators m...
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States