Chalk & Talk

Ep 12. California’s math controversy with Jelani Nelson Part II

This is the second episode of a two-part series featuring Dr. Jelani Nelson.  He is a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at UC Berkeley.  Dr. Nelson, and other STEM leaders, have publicly raised concerns about the proposed California Math Framework (CMF).   
In this episode, Anna Stokke and Jelani Nelson discuss whether students should have the option of accelerating in math in middle school.  First, Jelani describes how he founded the non-profit AddisCoder.  Jelani shares his thoughts on acceleration and discusses the impact of acceleration reforms in San Francisco. They also discuss the makeup of the CMF writing team, citation misrepresentation in the CMF, among other topics.
For better or worse, California tends to lead the way when it comes to changes in education, so this episode is an important listen!
The next episode of Chalk & Talk will be published on July 28. 
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
https://www.annastokke.com/ep-12-transcript
EPISODE RESOURCES
https://www.annastokke.com/ep-11-12-resources
MUSIC
Intro and Outro: Coma Media – Catch it
Podington Bear – Sunset Strolle, Kitten, Lake Victoria, Coulis Coulis
Blue Dot Sessions – Tall Harvey
 
Website: www.annastokke.com
Twitter: @rastokke
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Ep 11. California’s math controversy with Jelani Nelson Part I

This is the first episode of a two-part series featuring Dr. Jelani Nelson.  He is a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at UC Berkeley.  Dr. Nelson, and other STEM leaders, have publicly raised concerns about the proposed California Math Framework (CMF).   In this episode, much of the discussion surrounds the CMF’s promotion of data science and changes to math requirements in the University of California system.
Anna Stokke and Jelani Nelson discuss what sort of math is needed for a data science degree and the crucial role of Algebra II in preparing students for careers in STEM.  Jelani explains the circumstances surrounding the emergence of two high school data science courses that have been marketed as substitutes for Algebra II, despite containing minimal math content.   He also addresses the claim that the CMF is equity-based.  They wrap up the episode by discussing what happened when he retweeted a post about a prominent math educator charging a school district $5000 an hour in consulting fees. 
For better or worse, California tends to lead the way when it comes to changes in education, so this episode is an important listen!
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
https://www.annastokke.com/ep-11-transcript
EPISODE RESOURCES
https://www.annastokke.com/ep-11-12-resources
MUSIC
Intro and Outro: Coma Media - Catch it
Purple Planet Music -  Bright ideas
MusicTown - Inquisitive Orchestra
Yevhen Onoychenko - Comedy Detective
Blue Dot Sessions - Cases to Rest
Podington Bear - Coulis Coulis, Squirrel Commotion
OYStudio - Light Comedy
 
Website: www.annastokke.com
Twitter: @rastokke
 

Ep 10. Maximizing learning through explicit instruction with Zach Groshell

Join math professor, Anna Stokke, as she chats with Dr. Zach Groshell.  He is an instructional coach and a passionate advocate for evidence-informed teaching.  They discuss whether it’s possible to expand working memory, the characteristics of a successful explicit instruction lesson, effective approaches for delivering feedback and more.  They also tackle a question sent in by a listener who asked whether teaching math through open-ended problems is effective.  This episode will resonate with  teachers, parents and anyone interested in education.
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
https://www.annastokke.com/ep-10-transcript
EPISODE RESOURCES
https://www.annastokke.com/ep-10-resources
MUSIC
Intro and Outro: Coma Media – Catch it
Podington Bear – Kitten, Camp
Blue Dot Sessions – Tall Harvey, Thannoid, Squirrel Connection
OYStudio – Light Comedy
Lexin Music – Upbeat Documentary
Website: www.annastokke.com
Twitter: @rastokke
 

Ep 9. The tweet that roared with Tom Bennett

Join math professor, Anna Stokke, in conversation with Tom Bennett.  He is a teacher, author and founder of the grass roots, non-profit organization ResearchED.  Tom has a captivating sense of humour, making this a great listen.  They discuss many things in this episode, such as education research, group work, cell phones in schools and evidence-informed teaching.  But the conversation begins with the story of ResearchED, which has started an evidence revolution in education. It all started with one tweet – as Tom Bennett calls it “The Tweet that Roared.”   Anyone interested in education will enjoy this episode!
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
https://www.annastokke.com/ep-9-transcript
EPISODE RESOURCES
https://www.annastokke.com/ep-9-resources
MUSIC
Intro and Outro: Coma Media – Catch it
Podington Bear – Sunset Stroll, Camp, Proliferate
Blue Dot Sessions – Cases to Rest, Partly Sage
OYStudio – Light Comedy
Website: www.annastokke.com
Twitter: @rastokke

Ep 8. Lessons from around the world with Lucy Crehan

In this episode math professor, Anna Stokke, interviews Lucy Crehan, who is a teacher and an author.  In her book, Cleverlands, she presents her first-hand observations of the education systems in different countries.
They discuss teacher qualifications in Finland and Singapore, teacher professional development in Japan and math lessons in Shanghai. They cover some commonalities in high-performing countries, such as the use of high-quality textbooks, and the role of practice and memorization in East Asian countries.  The conversation then shifts to cultural differences, some of which may impact educational outcomes. If you are curious about education systems in different parts of the world, you won’t want to miss this episode! 
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
https://www.annastokke.com/ep-8-transcript
EPISODE RESOURCES
https://www.annastokke.com/ep-8-resources
MUSIC
Intro and Outro: Coma Media – Catch it
Podington Bear – Lakeside Path
Blue Dot Sessions – Tall Harvey, Hundred Mile
Lexin Music - Upbeat Documentary
OYStudio – Light Comedy
Website: www.annastokke.com
Twitter: @rastokke

Ep 7. How to excel in math and other tough subjects with Barbara Oakley

Join Anna Stokke as she interviews Dr. Barbara Oakley, an engineering professor whose work focusses on the relationship between neuroscience and social behaviour.  She is an expert on learning tough subjects and has written several books for teachers and students that detail science-based techniques for learning. 
They cover learning techniques such as chunking and deliberate practice.  They explore why being a slower learner may not necessarily be a drawback and consider whether it’s possible to catch up on math skills later in life.  Dr. Oakley shares some effective study techniques and offers strategies for overcoming procrastination.
Post-secondary educators and teachers will not want to miss this episode.  The learning tips discussed will also be invaluable for students, parents and anyone who wants to become better at learning math.
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
https://www.annastokke.com/ep-7-transcript
EPISODE RESOURCES
https://www.annastokke.com/ep-7-resources
MUSIC
Intro and Outro: Coma Media – Catch it
Podington Bear – Lakeside Path, Kitten, Camp
Blue Dot Sessions – Cases to Rest, Thannoid
OYStudio – Light Comedy
SoulProdMusic – Upbeat and Happy Music
 
Website: www.annastokke.com
Twitter: @rastokke

Ep 6. Math teaching tips with Barry Garelick and JR Wilson

In this episode, Anna Stokke is joined by two experienced teachers, Barry Garelick and JR Wilson. They have recently published a book called Traditional Math: an effective strategy that teachers feel guilty using. Throughout the interview, Barry and JR share strategies and practical advice that they have used in their own classrooms with great success.
They cover topics that will resonate with teachers, including how to get students excited about math, how to effectively use the “I do, we do, you do” method of teaching and the role of understanding in math.  They also discuss critical math topics that teachers should focus on, tips for teaching word problems, how to keep advanced students challenged, and how to help struggling students, among other things.  This episode will be interesting to teachers, parents and anyone with an interest in math education.
MUSIC
Intro and Outro music by Coma Media - Catch it
Transition music by Podington Bear – Camp
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
https://www.annastokke.com/ep-6-transcript
BOOKS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE
https://www.annastokke.com/ep-6-resources
 
Website: www.annastokke.com
Twitter: @rastokke
 
 
 

Ep 5. Critical issues in education with Matt Henderson

Join math professor, Anna Stokke, in conversation with Matt Henderson, an assistant superintendent of a school division in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. They discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education, challenges with online teaching, and the pervasive use of cell phones and social media. They also discuss the implications of AI, particularly ChatGPT, on education.  The conversation then turns to math teaching, as Matt shares his insights on the challenges facing math teachers and approaches that have helped teachers in his school division. He also provides practical advice for new teachers.  This episode a must-listen for educators, parents, and anyone interested in education.MUSIC
Intro and Outro music by Coma Media - Catch it
Transition music by Podington Bear – Camp
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
https://www.annastokke.com/ep-5-transcript
Website: www.annastokke.com
Twitter: @rastokke

Ep 4. Cognitive load theory with Greg Ashman

In this episode, math professor Anna Stokke sits down with Dr. Greg Ashman, an Australian teacher, writer and researcher with a wealth of knowledge on cognitive load theory.  Dr. Ashman shares his journey into education writing and research, including some of the challenges he has faced along the way.  He shares some pitfalls of education research studies and discusses what happened when he tried to track down the references for a claim that timed tests cause math anxiety. The conversation also includes a discussion on cognitive load theory and its implications for effective teaching.  Dr. Ashman explains what good explicit instruction looks like in a math classroom and provides practical advice for new teachers.
This episode is a must-listen for teachers, parents and anyone with an interest in education.
EPISODE RESOURCES
https://www.annastokke.com/ep-4-resources
MUSIC
Intro and Outro music by Coma Media - Catch it
Transition music by Podington Bear – Camp
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
https://www.annastokke.com/ep-4-transcript
Website: www.annastokke.com
Twitter: @rastokke

Ep 3. The Science of Math with Amanda VanDerHeyden

Join math professor Anna Stokke as she interviews Dr. Amanda VanDerHeyden, a leading expert in using evidence-based methods to improve math instruction in schools.  Dr. VanDerHeyden is a co-founder of The Science of Math, a group of experts advocating for evidence-based math instruction. 
Dr. VanDerHeyden shares the origins and goals of the Science of Math movement, as well as addressing common misconceptions. Do timed tests cause math anxiety?  Do standard algorithms hinder understanding?  Is explicit instruction only helpful for struggling learners?  The discussion also covers what happens when kids fall behind in math, among other topics. 
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in education, especially teachers and parents.
EPISODE RESOURCES
https://www.annastokke.com/ep-3-resources
MUSIC
Intro and Outro music by Coma Media - Catch it
Transition music by Podington Bear – Camp
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
http://www.annastokke.com/ep-3-transcript
Website: www.annastokke.com
Twitter: @rastokke