Math on the Rocks

We are three mathematics educators who love to talk about math, math education, and the politics of math...often while drinking a beer. Our podcast is an attempt to invite more people into our conversations. For the video versions of our episodes, go here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvolZqLMhJmlKZXVW-HMWHmGsXXaeH09f

Math on the Rocks is a education podcast hosted by CMC Central, with 78 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

CMC Central hosts Math on the Rocks, a education show with 78 episodes published.

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  Math on the Rocks

  Ep 76 - Heather Price shows how classroom conditions shape math learning

  Jul 28, 202651 min

  Heather Price invites us to look beyond what students learn in mathematics and consider how they experience the classroom. Drawing from research conducted in California middle schools, she explains how students’ feelings about math can shape their engagement, confidence, and achievement. In this episode, Heather explores four interconnected conditions that help students thrive: positive relationships, a sense of belonging, growth-oriented mindsets, and high-quality instruction. You’ll hear concrete examples of teachers creating emotionally safe classrooms, recognizing students’ mathematical competence, normalizing mistakes, and providing meaningful opportunities for collaboration. Heather also discusses the difference between social belonging and mathematics belonging, the value of specific and genuine praise, and why strong relationships cannot be separated from rigorous instruction. This conversation offers practical guidance for teachers, coaches, and leaders working to create classrooms where every student can feel like a capable mathematician. CONTACT / RESOURCES Heather Price Heather Price at the Learning Policy Institute Cultivating Math Mindsets: Full Report Math for Every Student: Research Brief Positive Conditions for Mathematics Learning: Full Report Register for our conferences: ✚ Check out our conferences here: https://www.cmcmath.org/conferences Learn about our monthly webinars and get on our mailing list to be notified: https://www.cmcmath.org/cmc-central/virtual-learning-series As always, we hope you visit the California Math Council website: https://www.cmcmath.org/ SUBSCRIBE! ✚ YouTube (video & audio): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvolZqLMhJmlKZXVW-HMWHmGsXXaeH09f ✚ Spotify (video & audio): https://open.spotify.com/show/7A17FvtyV8FiFJ0SWoTiQm?si=44d81611497e4c7a ✚ Apple Podcast (audio only): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/math-on-the-rocks/id1728772089

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  Math on the Rocks

  Ep 75 - Ashley Powell inspires us with problem solving

  Jul 2, 202648 min

  Ashley Powell invites us to rethink what it means to teach mathematics through problem solving. Rather than treating problem solving as something students do after they have learned a set of procedures, Ashley frames it as a powerful way students build understanding in the first place. In this episode, Ashley shares practical ways to get started with problem-based instruction, including how to adapt simple tasks, create multiple entry points, and focus on the mathematics students are actually making sense of. She highlights three key features of strong tasks: the math must be problematic, the task must be accessible, and students must be asked to justify and explain their thinking. You’ll hear classroom-ready ideas like broken-key tasks, cluster problems, proportional reasoning contexts, and prompts that help students move beyond “number plucking” toward reasoning. Ashley also reminds us to “be less helpful,” listen carefully to student thinking, and tell the right things at the right time. This conversation is a practical and encouraging starting point for teachers, coaches, and leaders who want to make problem solving central to how students experience mathematics. CONTACT / RESOURCES Ashley Powell Ashley on LinkedIn Teaching Mathematics through Problem Solving K-8, Expanded Edition Register for our conferences: ✚ Check out our conferences here: https://www.cmcmath.org/conferences Learn about our monthly webinars and get on our mailing list to be notified: https://www.cmcmath.org/cmc-central/virtual-learning-series As always, we hope you visit the California Math Council website: https://www.cmcmath.org/ SUBSCRIBE! ✚ YouTube (video & audio): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvolZqLMhJmlKZXVW-HMWHmGsXXaeH09f ✚ Spotify (video & audio): https://open.spotify.com/show/7A17FvtyV8FiFJ0SWoTiQm?si=44d81611497e4c7a ✚ Apple Podcast (audio only): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/math-on-the-rocks/id1728772089

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  Math on the Rocks

  Ep 74 - Duane and Keith talk HQIM

  Jun 29, 202627 min

  Keith steps up and joins Duane to continue our ongoing conversation about the importance of high-quality instructional materials. Sure…a school district might adopt a curriculum through a consensus-based decision-making process, but is that curriculum aligned to the framework? How would you know without having read the 1000-page framework? Also…even if your adopted curriculum is aligned to the framework, does the curriculum align with your district's ability (and willingness) to provide the tremendous amount of ongoing support teachers will need to properly implement it? Give this episode a listen. RESOURCES mentioned in this episode: ✚ Pedagogy of Poverty https://kappanonline.org/the-pedagogy-of-poverty-versus-good-teaching/ ✚ CMC resources for high-quality instructional materials https://www.cmcmath.org/resources ✚ California Mathematics Framework https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/ma/cf/ Register for our conferences: ✚ Check out our conferences here: https://www.cmcmath.org/conferences Learn about our monthly webinars and get on our mailing list to be notified: https://www.cmcmath.org/cmc-central/virtual-learning-series As always, we hope you visit the California Math Council website: https://www.cmcmath.org/ SUBSCRIBE! ✚ YouTube (video & audio): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvolZqLMhJmlKZXVW-HMWHmGsXXaeH09f ✚ Spotify (video & audio): https://open.spotify.com/show/7A17FvtyV8FiFJ0SWoTiQm?si=44d81611497e4c7a ✚ Apple Podcast (audio only): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/math-on-the-rocks/id1728772089

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  Math on the Rocks

  Ep 73 - Kevin Dykema is rethinking productive struggle

  May 28, 20261h 4mS0

  <p>Kevin Dykema invites us to rethink productive struggle as more than a math education buzzword. Instead of rescuing students with steps and answers, he shows how teachers can create the conditions for students to reason, grapple, and make sense of mathematics.</p><p>In this episode, Kevin shares practical ways to make struggle productive, including building positive math identity, creating a supportive classroom community, planning better tasks, anticipating student thinking, and asking questions that rescue thinking instead of answers.</p><p>You’ll hear classroom-ready examples involving mental math, integers, fractions, exponents, quadratics, and task design. Kevin also reminds us...

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  Math on the Rocks

  Ep 72 - Nolan Fossum is rethinking instruction through cartoon math

  Apr 28, 202656 minS0

  <p>Nolan Fossum invites us into the learner’s seat by experiencing math in an unfamiliar way. Using a “cartoon base-10” system, he creates moments of productive struggle that mirror what many students feel when they don’t yet have fluency.</p><p>In this episode, Nolan explores how counting, deriving, and reasoning through models like ten frames, number lines, and base-10 blocks can build deep understanding. Rather than relying on memorized facts, he highlights how students can develop flexible strategies by connecting ideas and using what they know.</p><p>You’ll hear how this experience shifts perspective on student st...

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