The Build Math Minds Podcast
The Build Math Minds podcast is for my fellow Recovering Traditionalists out there. If you don’t know whether or not you are a Recovering Traditionalist, here’s how I define us. We are math educators who used to teach math the traditional way. Flip lesson by lesson in the textbook, directly teaching step-by-step how to solve math problems. But now, we are working to change that to a style of teaching math that is fun and meets our students where they are at, not just teaching what comes next in the textbook. We want to encourage our students to be thinkers, problem solvers, and lovers of mathematics..we are wanting to build our students math minds and not just create calculators. If that is you, then this podcast is for you.
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 10 minutes
- Episodes
- 100
- Years Active
- 2021 - 2025
Episode 203 - Number Sense with Christina Tondevold and Mona Iehl
In this cross-posted episode from Math Chat, host Mona Iehl interviews Christina Tondevold about developing number sense in elementary students. Christina shares her journey from a "procedural" math …
Episode 202 - Going Beyond the Task When Building Thinking Classrooms with the Special Guests in Our Book Study
In Episode 202: Going Beyond the Task When Building Thinking Classrooms, we reveal the exciting lineup of special guests for our summer book study on 'Mathematics Tasks for the Thinking Classroom Gra…
Episode 201 - Our Summer Book Study - Exploring Tasks for the Thinking Classroom
In Episode 201, I share two exciting summer learning opportunities for fellow Recovering Traditionalists as we prepare to pause the podcast until August. First, enroll in The Flexibility Formula onli…
Episode 200 - The Three Essential Math Experiences: Number Routines, Word Problems, and Games
In this milestone 200th episode of The Build Math Minds Podcast, I share the three essential math experiences every classroom needs: Number Routines, Word Problems, and Games. Drawing from research-b…
Episode 199 - The Many Ways to Show Numbers with Fingers
In this episode, I explore the fascinating world of finger use in math and specifically how we represent numbers differently. After noticing that Dan Finkel and I show the number 3 with completely di…
Episode 198 - Tips for Using Games to Build Math Minds with Dan Finkel
In this episode, Christina Tondevold welcomes special guest Dan Finkel, founder of Math for Love and creator of popular games like Prime Climb and Tiny Polka Dot. Dan shares his three essential princ…
Episode 197 - Upleveling Missing Part Games
In this final episode of our three-part series on upleveling missing part activities, I share ways to transform two popular math games: Salute and Number Sandwiches. Learn how to modify these traditi…
Episode 196 - Repackaging Style Word Problems: Transforming Missing Part Word Problems
In this second installment of our three-part series on Missing Part Activities, we explore 'repackaging tasks' - a powerful approach to traditional missing part word problems. While educators are fam…
Episode 195 - Upleveling Missing Part Activities to Build Deeper Mathematical Thinking
In this episode, we explore how to elevate your 'Missing Part' math activities beyond the basic type like 5 + __ = 12' into more problems that help students develop a deeper understanding of mathemat…
Episode 194 - The Truth About Mental Math - It's Not Just In Your Head
In this episode, we explore the common misconception about mental math in mathematics education. Featuring insights from Pam Harris' newly published book 'Developing Mathematical Reasoning: Avoiding …
Episode 193 - Beyond the Template - Making the Lesh Translation Model Meaningful
In this episode, I follow up on last week's introduction to the Lesh Translation Model with an important caution. While I previously shared a template for The Translation Task, today I explore concer…
Episode 192 - A Math Task All Teachers Should be Doing
In Episode 192, "A Math Task All Teachers Should be Doing," I discuss the Lesh Translation Model, a powerful framework that was frequently featured at the 2025 Virtual Math Summit. This model, which …
Episode 191 - Math Teaching Strategies: Highlights from the 2025 Virtual Math Summit Live Sessions
Get a look into the 2025 Virtual Math Summit's six live sessions that are transforming mathematics instruction in classrooms across the country. This epis…
Episode 189 - Making Math Irresistible: 4 Expert Strategies for Student Engagement in Elementary Math
Get four powerful strategies for making mathematics engaging and accessible for elementary students from expert presenters at the 2025 Virtual Math Summit. Dr. Raj Shah reveals the psychology of enga…
Episode 188 - The Science of Making Math Stick: Using Brain Research to Combat the NAEP Score Crisis
How can we help our students retain what they learn in mathematics? The latest 2024 NAEP scores show that only 39% of 4th grade students and 28% of 8th grade students are performing at or above the P…
Episode 187 - Problem Solving Success: 3 Experts’ Ideas from the 2025 Virtual Math Summit
In this episode, get an inside look at three powerful sessions from the 2025 Virtual Math Summit focused on transforming math problem solving in elementary classrooms. Listen to clips from John SanGi…
Episode 186 - Live Elementary Math PD Sessions You Won't Want to Miss: 2025 Virtual Math Summit Preview
In this episode, get a sneak peek at the live sessions happening at the 2025 Virtual Math Summit. Learn about sessions from renowned math educators including Pam Harris on moving beyond algorithms, S…
Episode 185 - Tasks for Building Thinking Classrooms - Virtual Math Summit 2025 preview
In Episode 185, we dive into Building Thinking Classrooms (BTC), one of the most transformative approaches in mathematics education. Learn why this popular teaching method is more than just vertical …
Episode 184 - Don’t Discount the Use of Games in Your Classroom
Transform both your math AND reading instruction with two powerful game-based resources! In this episode, discover how to implement engaging games that provide meaningful practice without the typical…
Episode 183 - The Count - Uncovering Mathematical Structure in Elementary Classrooms
The Count is an activity from John SanGiovanni's book that turns simple counting into a deep mathematical exploration. In this episode, learn how this routine helps elementary students engage with Ma…