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 80 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

CMC Central hosts Math on the Rocks, a education show with 80 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Math on the Rocks

  Ep 78 - Mike Flynn is making math more accessible with micro moves

  Sep 22, 202658 min

  Mike Flynn invites us to rethink accessibility in mathematics by shifting the focus from fixing students to redesigning the learning environment. Drawing on Universal Design for Learning and his own experience as both an educator and parent, Mike shows how small instructional changes can dramatically change how students experience math. In this episode, Mike shares practical “micro moves” teachers can use with the curriculum they already have, including adding visuals, slowly revealing information, temporarily removing formal mathematics, offering multiple input choices, approximating quantities, and allowing students to represent their thinking in different ways. You’ll also experience what it feels like to encounter a math task without full access and see how thoughtful teacher moves can open the door without lowering the rigor. Mike reminds us that accessibility and challenge are not opposites, and that sometimes a small change in how we launch or structure a task can completely change who gets to see themselves as a capable mathematician. Resources Slides: bit.ly/MikeFlynnSlides Friends of Flynn: https://flynneducation.com/resources/ Email mike@flynneducation.com 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

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Math on the Rocks

  Ep 77 - Joanie Funderburk is shifting the cognitive lift to students

  Aug 25, 202653 min

  Joanie Funderburk challenges us to think about who is doing the mathematical thinking in our classrooms. Even when we believe students should make sense of mathematics for themselves, our instinct to help can sometimes lead us to take over the very thinking we want students to do. In this episode, Joanie shares three practical ways to shift the cognitive lift to students: start with a quick win that gives every learner an entry point, get students talking so they can practice being mathematical thinkers, and choose cognitively demanding tasks while protecting that demand throughout the lesson. You’ll hear classroom-ready ideas for opening routines, mathematical discourse, sentence frames, productive struggle, and responding when students get stuck without rescuing them. Joanie reminds us that every student deserves an opportunity to be heard doing mathematics and, ultimately, mathematics worth thinking about. Resources Resources for follow up Session feedback Email: jfunderburk@mathedleadership.org 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

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  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

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  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

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  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

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on Math on the Rocks. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.