Send us a text

The Problem with “Yet”

We’ve all said it: “They just can’t do it… yet.”
But what if that tiny word is quietly lowering the bar?

In this episode, Mona shares her 🔥hot take and breaks down why “yet” isn’t always as empowering as we think and how it can unintentionally mask low expectations. You’ll hear stories from Mona’s own classroom, what a visiting teacher helped her realize, and what to say (and do!) instead of leaning on “yet.”

💡 Perfect for teachers who believe in growth mindset, but want to put it into real, actionable practice.

📲 Let's Stay Connected:

• Follow on Socials @hellomonamath
• Visit www.monamath.com

🎷 Love this episode? Please subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Your support helps more elementary teachers find the show and helps me keep bringing you the best tips and inspiration for teachers like us!

Thanks for tuning in to Math Chat Podcast!

⭐️ Coaches and Presenters!!

Request your free set of Wipebooks NOW at wipebook.com/mathchat.
If approved, you’ll receive a 5-sheet flipchart pack to use during your event, plus a raffle
giveaway for one of your participants to win a pack too!

Don't miss out—apply HERE!

📒 Word Problem Workshop BOOK coming later this year!

Create a classroom of problem solvers with this 5 step daily routine. Through diving deeply into one problem each day you can increase student engagement, problem solving, & math proficiency!

You don't have to wait for the book...

Word Problem Workshop Online Course is avaliable now!

I'll show you how to...

• engage every student in daily problem solving
• utilize a proven routine that allows students to collaborate, reflect, take risks, and use mistakes as opportunities.
• confidently facilitate a students lead problem solving workshop

Join today right HERE!

Send us a text

Today’s episode is all about counting—but not just any kind of counting. We’re diving deep into how kids think about numbers, quantity, and patterns… and we’ve got the perfect guest to guide us.

I’m thrilled to welcome Christopher Danielson to the show. If you’ve ever stumbled across Which One Doesn’t Belong or How Many?, you already know Christopher’s work gets students—and adults—thinking more deeply about math in ways that feel playful, thoughtful, and refreshingly human.

We are chatting about:

• What is counting
• Why does counting matter
• How to support students through counting

Links mentioned in this episode:

• 📘 Which One Doesn't Belong?
• 📘 How Many? A Counting Book
• 📘 How Did You Count?
• Christopher's Website
• Math on a Stick
• Visual Patterns

⭐️ Coaches and Presenters!!

Request your free set of Wipebooks NOW at wipebook.com/mathchat.
If approved, you’ll receive a 5-sheet flipchart pack to use during your event, plus a raffle
giveaway for one of your participants to win a pack too!

Don't miss out—apply HERE!

📒 Word Problem Workshop BOOK coming later this year!

Create a classroom of problem solvers with this 5 step daily routine. Through diving deeply into one problem each day you can increase student engagement, problem solving, & math proficiency!

You don't have to wait for the book...

Word Problem Workshop Online Course is avaliable now!

I'll show you how to...

• engage every student in daily problem solving
• utilize a proven routine that allows students to collaborate, reflect, take risks, and use mistakes as opportunities.
• confidently facilitate a students lead problem solving workshop

Join today right HERE!

Send us a text

Today, we’re diving into a tough but important topic: Why are we so afraid to give kids hard math problems? If we’re being honest, it can feel uncomfortable to watch students struggle. We want them to feel successful, and sometimes it's tempting to step in and help too soon. But when we rescue students from struggle, we rob them of the chance to build resilience and problem-solving skills.

In this episode, we’ll talk about why hard problems are essential for deep learning, what holds us back from giving students these challenges, and how we can create a classroom where students see struggle not as something to avoid but as part of the learning process. I'll also share strategies you can use tomorrow to help your students grapple with tough problems while feeling supported. Let’s get started!

We are chatting about:

• Why do we avoid giving hard problems
• Why hard problems are essential
• How to support students through hard problems

Links mentioned in this episode:

• 📘 Principles to Actions

📒 Word Problem Workshop BOOK coming later this year!

Create a classroom of problem solvers with this 5 step daily routine. Through diving deeply into one problem each day you can increase student engagement, problem solving, & math proficiency!

You don't have to wait for the book...

Word Problem Workshop Online Course is avaliable now!

I'll show you how to...

• engage every student in daily problem solving
• utilize a proven routine that allows students to collaborate, reflect, take risks, and use mistakes as opportunities.
• confidently facilitate a students lead problem solving workshop

Join today right HERE!

Send us a text

Today, we're talking about 5 quick math talk strategies that will spark math conversations and increase engagement!

As math teachers, we often feel like we're talking at our students. As you know it is easy to fall into the cycle of telling students what to do and how to do it in math. But, deep down what we really want is more engagement. If we’re being honest with ourselves talking and telling our students doesn’t lead to more engagement. What we really want is to get our students talking with each other about math?

In this episode, I’ll share a few simple strategies you can use tomorrow to get your students talking, thinking, and collaborating on math problems.

We are chatting about:

• What are Quick Math Talk Strategies
• Why Spark Math Conversations
• How to Spark Math Conversations

Links mentioned in this episode:

• 📘 Principles to Actions

⭐️ Coaches and Presenters!!

Request your free set of Wipebooks NOW at wipebook.com/mathchat.
If approved, you’ll receive a 5-sheet flipchart pack to use during your event, plus a raffle
giveaway for one of your participants to win a pack too!

Don't miss out—apply now! Just make sure to send in your request at least 2 weeks before
your event!

👉🏼 Apply

📒 Word Problem Workshop BOOK coming later this year!

Create a classroom of problem solvers with this 5 step daily routine. Through diving deeply into one problem each day you can increase student engagement, problem solving, & math proficiency!

You don't have to wait for the book...

Word Problem Workshop Online Course is avaliable now!

I'll show you how to...

• engage every student in daily problem solving
• utilize a proven routine that allows students to collaborate, reflect, take risks, and use mistakes as opportunities.
• confidently facilitate a students lead problem solving workshop

Join today right HERE!

Send us a text

In today’s episode, we’re talking about comparison problems: what they are, why they’re tricky, and how we can help students build strategies to solve them.

We’re gonna start today’s episode with a problem. Omar made 22 baskets during practice. He made 9 more baskets than Eli. How many baskets did Eli make?

This is a comparison problem and there are 3 types of comparison problems we can use with students. And they are all hard!

We are chatting about:

• Different types of comparison problems
• Student strategies
• Tips for planning and facilitating this work in your classroom

Links mentioned in this episode:

• 📘 Waitlist for Word Problem Workshop Book

📒 Word Problem Workshop BOOK coming later this year!

Create a classroom of problem solvers with this 5 step daily routine. Through diving deeply into one problem each day you can increase student engagement, problem solving, & math proficiency!

You don't have to wait for the book...

Word Problem Workshop Online Course is avaliable now!

I'll show you how to...

• engage every student in daily problem solving
• utilize a proven routine that allows students to collaborate, reflect, take risks, and use mistakes as opportunities.
• confidently facilitate a students lead problem solving workshop

Join today right HERE!

Send us a text

Imagine a student looking at you, frustrated, saying, 'I don’t get it.' It’s tempting to step in and rescue them, right?

Today, we’re talking about productive struggle—why it’s a game-changer for math classrooms and how to make it happen without letting kids flounder.

We are chatting about:

• What productive struggle is
• Why it's important to let students struggle in the math classroom
• How to foster productive struggle

Links mentioned in this episode:

• 📘 Principles to Actions

📒 Word Problem Workshop BOOK coming later this year!

Create a classroom of problem solvers with this 5 step daily routine. Through diving deeply into one problem each day you can increase student engagement, problem solving, & math proficiency!

You don't have to wait for the book...

Word Problem Workshop Online Course is avaliable now!

I'll show you how to...

• engage every student in daily problem solving
• utilize a proven routine that allows students to collaborate, reflect, take risks, and use mistakes as opportunities.
• confidently facilitate a students lead problem solving workshop

Join today right HERE!

Send us a text

Welcome back to Math Chat! Today’s episode is all about how we can break free from the script and let our students lead.

Today’s episode is going to require a shift in teacher mindset. So, if you are like me and a bit of a control freak, Type A if you will… then I’m talking to you. Letting go of control can actually help students learn more in math. I know it’s hard, but it is essential to day’s big idea.

We are chatting about:

• What student-centered learning in math is
• Why this approach to teaching math works
• How to do this and do it well

Links mentioned in this episode:

• 📘 Connecting the NCTM Process Standards and the CCSSM Practices
• Word Problem Workshop

Have Questions? 📱 My DMs on IG are always open @hellomonamath

📒 Word Problem Workshop BOOK coming later this year!

Create a classroom of problem solvers with this 5 step daily routine. Through diving deeply into one problem each day you can increase student engagement, problem solving, & math proficiency!

You don't have to wait for the book...

Word Problem Workshop Online Course is avaliable now!

I'll show you how to...

• engage every student in daily problem solving
• utilize a proven routine that allows students to collaborate, reflect, take risks, and use mistakes as opportunities.
• confidently facilitate a students lead problem solving workshop

Join today right HERE!

Send us a text

If you've ever seen the spark in a student's eyes when they really get the joy of solving a tough problem, you know what I mean when I say math can be joyful. It’s all about creating the right environment.

Today, Pi day, we're serving up a slice of math joy by diving into how we can make problem-solving the most joyful part of our math classrooms.

We are chatting about:

• What makes problem solving joyful
• Why use problem solving in math class
• How can we create joyful problem-solving in our classrooms

Links mentioned in this episode:

• 📘 Principles to Actions
• Word Problem Workshop
• When Sophie Thinks She Can't...

Have Questions? 📱 My DMs on IG are always open @hellomonamath

📒 Word Problem Workshop BOOK coming later this year!

Create a classroom of problem solvers with this 5 step daily routine. Through diving deeply into one problem each day you can increase student engagement, problem solving, & math proficiency!

You don't have to wait for the book...

Word Problem Workshop Online Course is avaliable now!

I'll show you how to...

• engage every student in daily problem solving
• utilize a proven routine that allows students to collaborate, reflect, take risks, and use mistakes as opportunities.
• confidently facilitate a students lead problem solving workshop

Join today right HERE!