The last five minutes of class might be the most powerful. In this final episode of the instructional framework series, Laneshia breaks down the Closure portion of the lesson: the moment where big ideas get consolidated, strategies are named, and learning comes full circle.

You’ll hear how teachers can use this time to:

• Revisit strategies and construct anchor charts that capture the day’s thinking
• Invite students to reflect on their progress toward the goal, individually or with a partner
• Use exit tickets to collect targeted evidence of understanding

We’ll also talk about how different curricula handle closure: some, like Open Up Resources, build in activity and lesson syntheses, while others leave teachers to create this piece themselves. Either way, skipping closure is not an option. As Brooke Powers of OUR says, “Skipping the synthesis is like skipping the end of the movie without finding out how it all came together.”

Tune in to learn how intentional closure can help you form small groups, make homework meaningful, and adjust upcoming lessons with clarity and confidence.

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

• YouTube
• TikTok

Last week, we broke down the Instruct phase — how to plan lessons like a chef curating a recipe, balancing tasks, facilitation, and engagement to make learning stick.

This week, I’m serving up the next course: what Instruct actually sounds like in action. I’m sharing a real lesson I planned, facilitated, and reflected on using the Thinking Through a Lesson Protocol (TTLP) — a “Build a Pizza” task that pushed students to reason about relationships, not race toward answers.

You’ll hear how purposeful planning and lesson study gave me the space to pause instead of rescue, to question instead of tell, and to help students uncover structure on their own. I also reflect on how these moments connect directly to the Standards for Mathematical Practice and the Effective Teaching Practices that develop confident, independent thinkers.

🎧 Listen in to learn how to:

• Use questioning to cultivate reasoning instead of guessing.
• Turn productive struggle into a tool for understanding.
• Plan with enough intention to respond, not react.

This episode brings last week’s Instruct framework to life — a behind-the-scenes look at what it means to teach math through curiosity, connection, and care.

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

• YouTube
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Anchor charts aren’t just classroom décor—they’re tools for making learning visible, guiding students toward deep understanding, and accelerating achievement. In this episode of Make Math Happen, Laneshia connects anchor chart planning to research-backed strategies like note-taking, summarization, and study skills. Building on ideas from Season 1, Episode 18 (Math Isn’t Magic—It’s Patterns Made Visible), this episode dives into how anchor charts can be planned, created, and leveraged to support surface, deep, and transfer learning. Whether your anchor charts live year-round or evolve with each unit, you’ll leave with practical ways to use them to amplify student success.

Check out Visible Learning Plus 252 Influences on Student Achievement.

Subscribe to the Math Collective to gain access to the updated lesson planning document, a sample anchor chart, and an anchor chart planning document.

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

• YouTube
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If we want to end the year strong, we have to start strong—and that means getting intentional about both our environment and our instruction from Day 1. In this episode, Laneshia unpacks Phase 2 of Get Better Faster—where the management trajectory focuses on rolling out and monitoring routines, and the rigor trajectory zeroes in on building effective independent practice.

You’ll learn how these moves connect directly to the P.L.A.N. to Make Math Happen framework, a practical process for building high-quality Tier 1 instruction through purposeful, vertically aligned planning. Plus, discover the Daily Power Hour strategy—your one-hour, no-fluff system to stay ahead on lesson internalization all year long.

Whether you’re setting the bar for excellence, scripting ideal responses, or fine-tuning your routines, this episode will help you prepare with purpose, teach with confidence, and make math happen for every learner.

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

• YouTube
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Welcome to a brand-new season and a brand-new name—Make Math Happen! In this first episode of August, we're diving into five strategic moves you can make right now to start the school year with clarity, confidence, and impact.

Inspired by Phase 1 of Get Better Faster, this episode focuses on the pre-teaching moves that lay the foundation for a year of powerful instruction and student growth. From planning and practicing routines to internalizing lessons and standing with purpose, these high-leverage strategies will help you build a classroom where learning is intentional and success is shared.

You'll hear about:

• How to design and roll out routines that empower students
• The power of posture, presence, and purposeful communication
• Why lesson planning—not classroom decorating—deserves your focus
• A planning schedule designed to help teachers work at work and rest at home
• What it means to internalize your plan and define success with students

🎁 Subscribe to the Math Collective to receive the free companion resource to help you apply each move in your own context.

You’ve got what it takes to make this year the one that matters most—let’s make math happen.

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

• YouTube
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Dear Educator,

In this episode, we delve into the essence of strategic planning with a focus on proactive and thoughtful approaches. Laneshia emphasizes the importance of designing lessons for students on the margins, highlighting that these students are not a detour but the map itself. By planning with intention and clarity, educators can create a ripple effect that benefits all learners. Join us as we explore how to protect prep time, strategize teacher moves, and ensure every student feels seen and supported. Tune in to discover how thoughtful planning can transform educational outcomes.

Grab your Season 2 Listening Journal & Coloring Companion to reflect as you listen, linked in the show notes.

And remember: Starting August 1, this show becomes the Make Math Happen podcast—keeping clarity, community, and action at the center.

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

• YouTube
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Dear Educator,

What does it mean to truly prepare students for what lies ahead—not just academically, but emotionally, socially, and intellectually?

In this episode of PD for the Soul, we’re building Bridges to Belonging with instructional leader Tara McCormick. Together, we unpack how to create the kind of math classrooms where students not only master the content—but feel seen, capable, and ready to take on the challenge of high school.

Tara reminds us that belonging doesn’t begin in high school—it’s built in middle school, with every opportunity we take to model success, celebrate mistakes, and raise expectations. We explore how intentional planning, clarity around behaviors of success, and collaborative work across grade levels can strengthen the bridge between middle and high school math.

If you're ready to stop assuming students know and start training them in what they need to thrive, this conversation is for you.

🖊️ Grab your Season 2 Listening Journal & Coloring Companion to reflect as you listen, linked in the show notes.

 📣 And remember: Starting August 1, this show becomes the Make Math Happen podcast—keeping clarity, community, and action at the center.

Because when we build bridges with care, students cross with confidence.

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

• YouTube
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Dear Educator,

What happens when we stop treating disability, race, and learning needs as separate conversations—and start seeing the whole child?

In this episode, I sit down with Leroy Smith, founder of Realize Curriculum Solutions and a passionate advocate for equity in education, to explore what it means to teach at the intersection of identity and ability.

Together, we challenge outdated notions of who belongs where and what success should look like. We talk about the power of culturally responsive pedagogy, why high expectations must be rooted in relationship, and how we shift from managing classrooms to cultivating community.

If you’ve ever wondered what it really means to support Black boys with disabilities,  or how to transform your own practice without waiting for systems to change first—this episode is for you.

• Every mind matters.
• Every moment counts.

Let’s make them both visible in our practice.

🖊️ Grab the Season 2 Listening Journal & Coloring Companion to reflect as you listen.

 🔗 Follow, share, rate and keep the conversation going—because the time is now.

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

• YouTube
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Dear Educator,

What if the question that transforms your entire approach to teaching isn’t “What am I teaching?”—but “Who am I teaching for?”

In this episode, we center a powerful truth: when we design our lessons for the margins, we don’t lose anyone—we reach everyone. Imagine yourself standing at the center of a circle. If your reach extends all the way to the edge, then everything in between is included. That’s the power of intentional design.

We explore:

• What it looks and sounds like to reach the margins—through planning, anticipating, assessing, and adapting
• Why proximity, movement, and visibility are just as critical as content
• How our teacher moves, student seating, feedback loops, and room scans can be small shifts with big impact
• A grounding reminder that learning is change in long-term memory, and real learning requires consolidation and transfer

This episode is both a challenge and an invitation: to move intentionally, plan methodically, and teach with your full radius in mind. Because when we teach from the center outward with care, clarity, and strategy—every learner gets what they need.

💡 Download the Season 2 Listening Companion + Journal Coloring Book to reflect and act as you listen.

🎧 And remember: Starting August 1, this podcast becomes Make Math Happen, a name that’s clearer, bolder, and a constant reminder to act on behalf of our students.

Let’s go make it happen.

With care,
Laneshia

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

• YouTube
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Dear Educator,

What if the most powerful tool you have in your teaching practice… is you?

In this episode of PD for the Soul, we’re joined by Dr. Tami Dean of Dragonfly Rising to explore the deep and transformative power of identity-aligned practice. Teaching from within isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity for sustaining joy, equity, and authenticity in your work.

Dr. Dean shares her journey as a liberatory educator, inviting us to consider how our personal experiences, core values, and lived identities shape the way we show up for students. Together, we talk about how alignment between who we are and how we teach creates more meaningful connections, especially for students who’ve been historically marginalized or misunderstood.

If you’ve ever felt out of sync with your role, your school, or even yourself—this conversation offers grounding questions and practical ways to reconnect with your purpose.

Whether you’re in the classroom, coaching others, or leading change, this episode reminds you:

• Your identity is not a side note. It’s your compass.

Let this be your permission to reflect, reclaim, and realign.

With you in the work,
Laneshia

P.S. Download the companion podcast journal to dive deeper—and give yourself space to process the parts that hit home. The link’s in the show notes.

Learn from and connect with Dr. Dean:

• Awareness Resource 
• Diverse Text Resource
• Webinar Series

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

• YouTube
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Dear Educator,
You’ve been told to protect your peace. To set boundaries. To rest.
But no one talks about how—especially when the work is demanding, the days are long, and the stakes feel high.

In this episode, we’re unpacking three powerful truths:

• Capacity isn’t fragile—it’s flexible. Growth doesn’t come from doing less; it comes from doing what matters, in a way that builds you rather than breaks you.
• Boundaries are not walls. They are invitations—to check in, not check out. To honor your rhythm, not avoid your responsibility.
• Rest only restores when it’s real. We’re calling out procrastination, perfectionism, and performative busyness—and replacing them with planning, intention, and peace.

I’ll share what I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) about working with your rhythm instead of against it, and how preparing with purpose can unlock the rest you’ve been craving—not just sleep, but stillness. Restoration. You.

If you’ve ever felt guilty for resting or questioned your ability to keep showing up—this episode is your reminder:
 You don’t have to prove your worth through exhaustion.
 You just have to stay aligned with your purpose.

Because when you protect your energy, you protect your impact.

With clarity and care,
Laneshia 

P.S. - Grab the summer podcast companion journal here :)

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

• YouTube
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Dear Educator,

Discomfort isn’t a sign to detour—it’s often the doorway to growth.

Whether it’s an unfamiliar math concept, a challenging conversation, or a new instructional shift, we are constantly navigating spaces that stretch us. And in those moments, our first instinct may be to push it away, label it as “hard,” or find someone or something to blame. But what if we didn’t?

What if we sat with it instead?

This episode is an invitation to explore what it means to feel, without reacting. To pause before we project. To stop outsourcing our discomfort and start reflecting on what it might be trying to teach us.

In classrooms and coaching spaces alike, emotions run high, and they should. But emotional literacy isn’t just for our students. As educators, our ability to name, process, and manage our emotions is central to the way we show up, for others and ourselves.

Join me for a soulful pause and a necessary reflection on how learning to sit with discomfort is actually the beginning of transformative growth.

You are doing sacred work—and reflection is part of the rhythm.

With care and clarity,
Laneshia

Learn more about the Capacity Expert, Raquel Hopkins!

P.S. - Grab the summer podcast companion journal here :)

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

• YouTube
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Every strong math lesson has a recipe — the right balance of tasks, facilitation, and engagement that brings learning to life.

In this episode, Laneshia walks you through the Instruct portion of the lesson cycle like a master chef planning a meal. You’ll learn how to:

• Choose and sequence tasks that align with standards and build coherence across lessons.
• Facilitate learning through intentional routines that get students talking, reasoning, and doing the math — not just filling in boxes.
• Keep engagement high with movement, discussion, and student voice.

You’ll also hear strategies for classes where everyone needs acceleration — how to use conceptual connections to move the whole group forward without lowering the bar.

🎧 Listen in to learn how to:

• Turn “fill-in-the-box” tasks into invitations for thinking.
• Use routines like Notice & Wonder, Which One Doesn’t Belong, and Stronger and Clearer Each Time to build deeper reasoning.
• Reclaim your curriculum as a recipe for engagement, not compliance.

📎 Resources Mentioned

• Stronger and Clearer Each Time Routine – Understanding Language, pg 9
• Notice & Wonder Explained – YouCubed Video
• Which One Doesn’t Belong? – Article by Juliana Tapper
• Five Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematics Discussions – Smith & Stein (NCTM)

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

• YouTube
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Dear Educator,

This one’s for you.

You’ve poured yourself out this year—lesson after lesson, meeting after meeting, heart first, always. And now? You’re spent. But before you jump into the planning, prepping, and PD… pause. You deserve rest. Not earned. Not justified. Just deserved—because you're human.

In this episode, we explore the mindset shift required to embrace rest not as a reward, but as a right. We talk about why teachers—especially those who care deeply—must build in space to reset, reflect, and reconnect to what really matters. Because when you rest, you don’t lose momentum—you regain clarity.

📖 Check Out the Journal:
Your permission slip to pause is right here:
👉 Grab the Season 2 Journal & Coloring Book
Part reflection space, part creativity outlet, part soul-care strategy.

💡 Featured in this episode:

• What teacher exhaustion is really signaling
• How to create rhythms of rest (even in busy seasons)
• My personal journal reflection on releasing pressure
• Why capacity-building starts with care for the self
• The myth of “earning” your rest—and how to unlearn it

🔗 Want to see how I’m using the journal?
Read my reflection example here.

🎨 Follow, Rate + Share:
Don’t keep this pause to yourself. Share it with a teacher who needs a moment to breathe.

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

• YouTube
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Dear Educator,

You’ve given your all this year—lesson plans, data meetings, behavior logs, after-school duties, and more. And somewhere in the mix, you’ve tried to hold space for your own needs, your family, your friends, and your dreams outside the classroom.

If you’ve ever whispered to yourself, “Something has to give…”—you’re not alone.

In this episode of PD for the Soul, we’re naming what so many educators feel but rarely say out loud: Work-life harmony isn’t a myth. It’s a mindset.

It’s not about perfection or finding some magical balance. It’s about choosing how you want to show up in the various areas of your life—and creating a plan that honors that desire. It’s about boundaries, alignment, and recognizing that you are just as worthy of care, intention, and support as the students you pour into every day.

We’re kicking off this season with reflection and a gentle reminder: You get to decide what this next season of your life feels like.

🎨 And if you’re ready to make space for that reflection with intention and a little joy, join the waitlist for the Season 2 Digital Journal + Coloring Book—a soulful tool to help you reflect, reset, and re-engage with purpose. It's more than a journal; it's a pause button with pages.

👉 [Join the waitlist here] 

You deserve a rhythm that sustains you. Let this episode be your first step toward creating it.

With care and belief in your brilliance,
 —Laneshia

P.S. check out the resources shared during the show:

• Guided Visualization
  • sample 1
  • sample 2
• The 6 forces That Fuel Friendships
• 2025 Reclaim and Thrive Toolkit
• Atomic Habits x James Clear

Also, connect with Carmen here.

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

• YouTube
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Dear Educator,

What if the most powerful tool in your classroom isn’t a strategy, a curriculum, or a tech platform—but your belief?

In this episode of PD for the Soul, I sit down with James Oneal for a timely and transformative conversation on unlocking student potential through the power of high expectations. James brings clarity, wisdom, and firsthand experience that will leave you both challenged and deeply inspired.

Too often, we’re told to meet students “where they are”—but what if we also saw where they could be? What if we chose to believe that every student—regardless of background, behavior, or beginning—has brilliance waiting to be uncovered? That belief is not soft. It’s not naïve. It’s revolutionary. And it changes everything.

This episode is a call to action: to look at our students through a different lens, to reflect on the expectations we hold, and to commit to doing the work that helps every learner rise.

Because when you believe in your students, they start to believe in themselves.
And when that happens, everything becomes possible.

With purpose and partnership,

Laneshia

P.S. Don’t forget to download your free copy of the PD for the Soul  Podcast Companion Journal! It’s designed to help you process insights, reflect deeply, and apply what you learn in each episode—starting with today’s powerful conversation on unlocking potential. Let your reflections fuel your growth. 💡📓 

Connect with Mr. James Oneal!

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

• YouTube
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Many educators believe talent is the ticket to math success, but the true driver is high-quality instruction. In this powerful solo episode—the final one of Season 1—we dive into Visible Learning and explore how surface, deep, and transfer learning come together to create meaningful, lasting math understanding. I reflect on missteps I’ve made and share the transformational shift toward precision teaching and clear success criteria. This is the episode that sets you up to teach with clarity and impact.

📝 Download the Season 1 Reflection Journal to go deeper.

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

• YouTube
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Dear Educator,

What kind of space are you creating in your classroom?

In this episode of PD for the Soul, we’re challenging ourselves—and you—to take a deeper look at the unequal weight of failure in our schools. While some students are praised for “failing forward” or “learning from their mistakes,” others—particularly those from marginalized communities—face a very different reality. The same missteps that are framed as growth opportunities for some can lead to consequences, lowered expectations, or even punishment for others.

The hard truth is this: failing doesn’t mean the same thing for every student. And when race, language, and socioeconomic status come into play, the way mistakes are perceived and handled can either open doors or quietly close them.

This episode is an invitation—not just to listen, but to reflect.

• Are your students truly free to take risks in your classroom?
• Do they feel safe to make mistakes and learn from them?
• Or are there unspoken rules, reinforced by systems, that make some students’ failures feel like personal flaws?

Together, let’s reimagine what it means to create learning spaces that honor the humanity of every child—spaces where growth is encouraged, not penalized, and where failure is treated as a stepping stone, not a strike.

You have the power to shape that environment. Let’s do the work—with equity, care, and intention.

With deep respect,

Laneshia

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

• YouTube
• TikTok

In this episode, we dig into one of the biggest hurdles students face in math learning: the forgetting curve. With so many distractions today, knowledge retention is harder than ever, making it crucial for us as educators to create opportunities for students to explore mathematics deeply, not just widely. I share how building generalizations — not just memorizing facts or shortcuts — strengthens mathematical understanding and helps students connect ideas across time. We’ll talk about how to design classroom experiences that slow forgetting, deepen reasoning, and set the stage for students to thrive. Plus, I’ll share practical ways you can start making these shifts right now.

Spoiler: it’s less about covering everything and more about going deeper where it counts.

Get ready to rethink your planning with purpose. (And stay tuned — next episode, we’ll connect this to engagement and classroom management strategies that make deep learning possible!)

🔹 Resources Mentioned:

• The Math Pact: Achieving Instructional Coherence Within and Across Grades by Bush, Karp, and Dougherty
• Desmos Activity: Generalizations vs Overgeneralizations vs Rules 

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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Dear Educator,

Math and literacy—two core subjects, often taught in silos, but deeply intertwined in practice.

In this episode of PD for the Soul, titled “Reading Between the Numbers: How Literacy Powers Math Success,” we’re breaking down the invisible wall between words and numbers. Joined by the brilliant Latoya King, English and Language Arts Curriculum Specialist, we explore how reading comprehension, vocabulary, and literacy practices shape a student's ability to reason mathematically, solve problems, and communicate their thinking with clarity.

We often say math is its own language—but how often do we actually teach it that way?

If students are struggling to understand the words in a problem, they can’t access the math behind it. That’s why this conversation is essential—not just for math teachers, but for every educator committed to closing learning gaps and creating confident, capable problem solvers.

Here’s what you’ll walk away with:

• A deeper understanding of the foundational connection between literacy and math
• Collaboration ideas for ELA and math teachers to support students together
• Strategies for breaking down word problems, developing vocabulary, and using literacy practices like annotation and summarizing in the math classroom
• Ideas for schoolwide shifts that center literacy across content areas

We challenge you to look at your next math lesson through a new lens:

• What are the reading demands?
• Where might students be stuck not because of the math, but because of the language?
• What small adjustments can help them navigate both with confidence?

Whether you're in the classroom, leading professional development, or building bridges between departments, this episode is for you.

Let’s keep the conversation going—because when we strengthen literacy, we amplify math success.

With gratitude and purpose,
Laneshia Lamb-Boone
Host of PD for the Soul
Keep making math happen!

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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As the school year winds down, this episode invites educators to pause and reflect: Are the rules we’re teaching setting students up for long-term success—or long-term confusion?

From “keep, change, flip” to “move the decimal,” we explore the rules that expire—the shortcuts that might get students through today’s lesson but leave them stuck tomorrow. More importantly, we talk about what it looks like to shift toward teaching deep understanding over speed, and how to start that shift—even with just one small move before the year ends.

This episode is for any educator who’s ever wondered:
👉 Is this rule really helping all my students?
👉 What would it mean to slow down in order to build stronger sense-making?

Whether you're closing out your year or already planning for the next, this conversation is your springboard for more intentional, equity-centered math instruction.

🔗 Connected Episodes for a Stronger Foundation:
📘 Words Matter: How Consistency in Language Builds Math Understanding
✍️ Do No Harm: Why Precision in Notation Is a Non-Negotiable
🧮 Making Math Stick: The Power of Consistent Representations

💡 Big Idea:
Teaching for the long game means letting go of tricks that don’t transfer—and committing to the kind of math instruction that builds lasting confidence, clarity, and connection.

🎧 Listen now and share with your team:
 #PDOnTheGo #MathCoaching #MoveAndMakeMathHappen #EquityInMath #InstructionalLeadership #MiddleSchoolMath

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Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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Dear Educator,

As we enter the final stretch of the school year, this episode of PD for the Soul invites you to shift from information to transformation.

You’ve gathered benchmark data, you've seen your students grow—and now it’s time to make every instructional moment count. In this episode, we explore how to finish strong by using data to drive targeted instruction, balance pacing with purposeful reteaching, and build student confidence as they approach end-of-year assessments.

We also introduce a powerful, practical routine to support your math block: the Three Reads Strategy. This routine helps students develop deeper understanding and problem-solving stamina when approaching word problems. Here's a quick overview:

• Read 1: What is the situation about?
  Guide students to identify context and relationships—not just race to the numbers.
• Read 2: What is countable or measurable?
  Encourage them to annotate, discuss quantities, and clarify units and values.
• Read 3: What strategy should I use to solve?
  Listen for their reasoning and references to strategies learned in class.

As you implement this in your classroom, observe how your students annotate and explain their thinking. For those who’ve struggled with problem-solving, encourage them to lean into one strategy and really master it. Depth over breadth builds the kind of confidence that lasts.

Whether you're reteaching, remediating, or ramping things up for rigor, this episode is here to support you in closing the year with clarity, impact, and purpose.

You’ve done so much this year—let’s finish strong, together.

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most overlooked yet powerful elements of effective math instruction: consistent representations. Too often, in the rush to prepare students for tests, we skip over the very tools that help them understand, retain, and apply what they’ve learned. The result? Students who forget concepts days—or even hours—after they’re taught.

Drawing on insights from The Math Pact and Visible Learning, we explore why consistency in language, visuals, and manipulatives isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. From unpacking common misconceptions to rethinking how we use concrete models, you’ll walk away with practical ideas to help your students make connections that stick.

Whether you’re a classroom teacher, coach, or leader, this episode is your reminder that how we represent math is just as important as what we teach.

🎯 Topics covered:

• Why students forget and how to counter it
• Moving from C-R-A to connected models
• What makes a representation “stick”
• Unpacking math myths that hurt instruction
• Strategies for planning with purpose and coherence

Hit play and let’s talk about how to make math meaningful—and memorable.

🔁 Ready to do better now that you know better? Let’s Make Math Happen

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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Before you ever step into a lesson, your planning determines how far students can go. In this episode, Laneshia breaks down what it means to zoom out to zoom in—strategically mapping upcoming units, identifying potential roadblocks, and pre-teaching (or accelerating) just enough to keep every learner in the fast lane.

You’ll hear how Suzy Pepper Rollins’ concept of acceleration aligns with research by Burns (2004), Nelson (2022), and the What Works Clearinghouse (2021)—all pointing to one truth: when we plan ahead, students don’t just catch up; they keep up.

Learn how to use your calendar, intervention blocks, and bell work to make pre-teaching part of your rhythm, not an extra task.

💡 What You’ll Learn

• The difference between pre-teaching and acceleration—and why the mindset matters.
• How to identify upcoming “friction points” using your calendar and data.
• Simple, low-lift ways to fit acceleration into existing class time.
• How research validates the impact of front-loading and readiness-building.

📎 Resources Mentioned

• 🧩 Download the Pre-Teaching / Acceleration Planner – Click here to join the math collective and get the free PDF. Use this doc map upcoming lessons, identify pre-teach opportunities, and reflect on impact. Perfect for PLCs or individual planning.
• 📚 Research Articles Shared in This Episode:
  • Burns (2004): Pre-Teaching Unknown Key Words with Incremental Rehearsal
  • Nelson (2022): Early Mathematics Interventions and Readiness for Grade-Level Work
  • What Works Clearinghouse (2021): Assisting Students Struggling with Mathematics
  • Rollins (2014): Learning in the Fast Lane: 8 Ways to Put All Students on the Road to Success

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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Dear Educator,

Teaching is more than a profession—it’s a calling, a passion, and, at times, an all-consuming responsibility. We pour so much of ourselves into our students, our classrooms, and our craft that we often forget to check in on ourselves. But here’s the thing: we can’t pour from an empty cup.

In this episode, From Surviving to Thriving: How Maslow’s Hierarchy Shapes Teacher Well-Being, we’re taking a moment to reflect—not just on what we do, but on how we feel. Our thoughts shape our emotions, and our emotions influence our actions. When we acknowledge this cycle, we gain the power to shift from merely surviving the demands of teaching to truly thriving in our work and our lives.

Let this be a reminder that prioritizing your well-being isn’t selfish—it’s necessary. Because when you take care of yourself, you show up as the best version of yourself for your students, your colleagues, and your community.

With care,

Laneshia

Check out the resources mentioned in today's episode below:

• Self-Care Assessment
• Mastering Sleep Hygiene

Connect with Dr. Poole-Jones on facebook.

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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Join the Math Collective!

Hey Educators, welcome back to the podcast! In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through The Math Pact: Achieving Instructional Coherence and Visible Learning for Mathematics. Last time, we discussed the impact of language on student understanding. Today, we’re shifting our focus to notation—a seemingly small detail that can make or break comprehension in math classrooms.

Are the symbols we use actually reducing cognitive load for students, or are they unintentionally adding confusion? We’ll explore critical topics like:
✅ The true meaning of the equal sign and why so many students misunderstand it
✅ Why it’s time to ditch the “alligator mouth” when teaching inequalities
✅ The importance of consistency in notation—like using italics for x and properly writing units of measurement
✅ The impact of mathematical precision on student confidence and long-term success

Mathematics is a gateway to opportunity, and our students deserve clarity. By refining our language and notation, we can empower them to truly understand math—not just do it.

🔗 Check out this helpful resource on metric area measurement: https://www.mathsisfun.com/measure/metric-area.html

📌 Standards for Mathematical Practice:
1️⃣ Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them
2️⃣ Reason abstractly and quantitatively
3️⃣ Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others
4️⃣ Model with mathematics
5️⃣ Use appropriate tools strategically
6️⃣ Attend to precision
7️⃣ Look for and make use of structure
8️⃣ Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning

Let’s commit to doing better—because now, we know better. Keep making math happen, and I’ll see you next time!

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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Dear Educator,

We’ve all felt the pressure—the pacing guides, the curriculum maps, the looming deadlines. It’s easy to get caught up in the rush, covering as much content as possible in the shortest amount of time. But here’s the truth: depth matters more than speed.

In this episode, Teacher Moves: How Planning with Clarity and Purpose Leads to Impact and Growth, we’re taking a step back to reflect on our role as educators—not just as instructors, but as scientists. Every day, we observe our classrooms, analyze student needs, and make intentional decisions that shape learning experiences. The most effective teaching isn’t about checking off topics; it’s about strategically choosing what will lead to real, lasting understanding.

So, let’s lean into the power of planning with purpose. Let’s commit to going a mile deep instead of a mile wide. Because when we teach with clarity and intention, we don’t just cover material—we build knowledge that sticks, skills that transfer, and confidence that lasts.

With purpose,

Laneshia Boone

Connect with Coach Kasha below:

• Website 
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

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Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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Join the Math Collective!

The words we use in math classrooms shape how students think about and understand mathematical concepts. In this episode, we explore how inconsistent language—like saying “reducing” fractions instead of “simplifying” or using “plug in” instead of “substituting”—can create unnecessary confusion. We’ll break down common missteps, discuss the power of precise terminology, and share strategies for reinforcing clear, consistent language that deepens comprehension. Tune in to learn how small shifts in the way we talk about math can lead to big gains in student understanding!

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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Dear Educators,

We all want our students to thrive, but what does it really take to bridge academic gaps and ensure equity in our classrooms? In this episode, we’re diving into the power of intentional teaching—because success in our classrooms isn’t just about delivering content; it’s about making sure students know how to be successful.

Too often, we assume students already understand what it takes to excel in our classrooms. But have we truly taken the time to train them on what success looks like? Have we made our expectations explicit and provided the structure they need to rise to the challenge?

Beyond setting expectations, we also have to ask ourselves: How do we know that they’re learning? Assessment isn’t just about grades—it’s about gathering the right data, interpreting it meaningfully, and using it to adjust our instruction. And feedback? It’s not just something we give—it’s something students deserve in a timely manner. How long does it take us to respond to their efforts? How quickly do we close the loop between struggle and success?

At the heart of it all, students want to be seen and heard. Relationships fuel engagement, and engagement fuels achievement. If we want students to show up for the learning, we have to show up for them first. That means making space for their voices, acknowledging their efforts, and creating an environment where they feel safe to take risks and grow.

PD for the SOUL is introducing our own version of the Hippocratic Oath—we pledge to do no harm in our instruction. Every decision we make, from our grading policies to the way we deliver feedback, has the power to either uplift or discourage. Are we making choices that empower students? Are we designing instruction that builds them up rather than shuts them down?

Join me for this essential conversation on Bridging Academic Gaps: Strategies for Equity and Engagement, where we unpack the moves that create real impact in the classroom. Because when we teach with clarity, purpose, and care, we don’t just close gaps—we open doors.

Let’s make math happen!

To connect with Dr. Lamb, visit:

• Facebook 
• Instagram
• Website

Book a Call with Dr. Lamb

P.S. Dr. Lamb talked about students being able to work independently towards their goal. If you'd like to receive a copy of the 7th grade digital tool that I taught my students to use to meet their own needs, click here.

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Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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Join the Math Collective!

In this episode, we’re diving into the final three strategies of The Formative 5: Show Me, Hinge Questions, and Exit Tasks—three powerful techniques that can transform how we assess and respond to student learning in real time. I’ll share insights from my own observations, practical ways to implement these strategies, and the impact they can have on student engagement and understanding.

We’ll explore:
✅ How Show Me helps students demonstrate their thinking and deepens conceptual understanding.
✅ Why Hinge Questions are pivotal moments that guide instructional decisions.
✅ The role of Exit Tasks in measuring student learning and planning next steps.

These small yet intentional moves can make a huge difference in student outcomes. Tune in, take notes, and let’s keep making an impact!

📩 Don't forget! Our first monthly newsletter drops on March 1, packed with resource links, book recommendations, and cross-grade connections to strengthen your instruction. Stay tuned!

P.S. here's a copy of my observation planning and facilitation document. Let me know what you think.

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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Dear Educators,

I see you. I see the dedication, the energy, and the passion you bring to your students each day. But I also see the weight of the work—the challenge of balancing instruction, engagement, and student growth while making sense of the data that tells their stories.

In this episode of PD for the Soul, we’re diving deep into the power of data—not as a burden, but as a tool for transformation. Principal Lisa Gillespie shares how her team uses data strategically, from weekly dives to post-benchmark reflections, ensuring that every teacher is equipped to make informed instructional decisions. But here’s the key: data isn’t just for leadership teams. It’s for you, in your classroom, every single day.

So today, I’m inviting you to shift your perspective. Instead of letting data overwhelm you, let it guide you. Go granular—choose one specific piece of data, focus on the component that matters most, and let it shape your next steps. Reflect on last year’s experiences, the lessons learned, and how they can inform the moves you make this year.

Because being a reflective educator isn’t just about looking back—it’s about moving forward with purpose.

Take a deep breath, tap in, and let’s build something great together.

With appreciation,
Laneshia
Host of PD for the Soul

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Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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Go Straight to Part 2!

In this episode, we’re diving into two powerful formative assessment strategies from The Formative 5 by Francis (Skip) Fennell, Beth McCord Kobett, and Jonathan Wray: observations and interviews. These tools go beyond simply gathering data—they allow us to truly understand how our students think and process math. Whether it’s recognizing proportional relationships or uncovering student misconceptions, you’ll learn actionable ways to bring these strategies to life in your classroom.

Looking for more tools to transform how you teach math in the middle? Download my guide to, "Transforming Math in the Middle," for practical tips on connecting domains, building conceptual bridges, and empowering students through meaningful instruction.

🎧 Tune in to learn how you can use formative assessments to deepen your understanding of student thinking and take your teaching to the next level.

📥 Download the free guide here!

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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Dear Educator,

If you’ve ever felt the tension between where your students are and where they need to be, you’re not alone. Teaching grade-level content to students who aren’t quite there yet is one of the greatest challenges we face as educators. But here’s the truth: it’s possible. And not only is it possible—it’s necessary.

Closing foundational gaps while moving students forward requires a mindset shift. A growth mindset, not just for our students, but for ourselves. When we believe that students can learn, that gaps can be closed, and that every small step forward is worth celebrating, we create a classroom where progress thrives.

It also requires leveraging technology effectively—not as a crutch, but as a tool that amplifies our instruction. The right tech can provide just-in-time scaffolds, targeted practice, and data that informs our next move. But no program replaces the power of a skilled, intentional teacher.

And let’s talk about the pacing guide. Yes, it’s there for a reason. Yes, it matters. But it should never weigh you down to the point that you’re rushing through content just to “cover” material. Teaching is about ensuring understanding, not just exposure. When we prioritize depth over speed, we set students up for long-term success.

Finally, we can’t pour from an empty cup. Seeking out professional development that sharpens our skills, deepens our content knowledge, and equips us with strategies that actually work is an investment in both our students and ourselves. The best teachers never stop learning.

So as you listen to today’s episode, I hope you walk away feeling seen, encouraged, and equipped. You are doing the work that matters most, and I’m honored to be on this journey with you.

With gratitude,
Laneshia

P.S.

Check out the YouTube Channels for today's guest, and show them some love by liking, following, and sharing the content that resonates with you.

• Young Gurus Math Tutoring
• All This Math

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Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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Join the Math Collective!

In this episode, we dive into the groundbreaking research of Inside the Black Box by Black and William (1998) and explore why improving formative assessments can lead to significant and substantial student growth.

As a math coach, I see firsthand how formative assessment opportunities often go unseized—not out of neglect, but due to the challenges teachers face with time and providing meaningful feedback. We'll discuss:

• Why knowing whether students are proficient isn’t enough,
• The role of feedback in moving students forward, and
• The importance of building a classroom culture where students can self-assess and chart their own pathway to success.

I’ll also share insights from my district’s framework and how it supports teachers in thinking about pathways to proficiency, as well as the challenges of individualized feedback in today’s classrooms.

Join me as we unpack the "sweet spot" of formative assessment—knowledge of the goal, knowledge of current performance, and knowledge of how to close the gap. This episode is packed with practical ideas and strategies to help you enhance your practice.

Ready to dig into what’s happening inside the black box of your classroom? Tune in now!

Resources Referenced:

• Inside the Black Box by William & Black (1998)
• Visible Learning by John Hattie
• How to Give Effective Feedback to Your Students by Susan Brookhart

Oh, and don't forget to register for my upcoming webinar here!

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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Before students ever dive into a new concept, the Activate portion of your lesson determines whether they’re truly ready to think. In this episode, Laneshia models what an intentional Activate sounds like—from synthesizing a spiral warm-up to launching a new problem about dividing fractions with and without models. You’ll hear how she uses questioning, routines, and strategic sequencing to make sense-making visible and connect to the day’s learning goal.

Then, she links classroom moves to the ELEOT “High Expectations” component—exploring what it means for learners to demonstrate and describe high-quality work. Learn how creating exemplars, comparing student samples, and elevating student voice build a culture where excellence is the norm, not the exception.

Tune in to reflect, refine, and reimagine the way you activate learning in your math classroom.

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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Join the Math Collective!

In this episode, I introduce myself and share a bit about my journey as an educator, coach, and lifelong learner. You’ll hear about my work experience, my passion for math education, and why I’m so excited to create this space to discuss what’s really happening in classrooms.

I’ll also share what you can expect from this podcast, including weekly episodes every Sunday at 9:00 AM, practical strategies for teachers, and insightful conversations with guests who bring fresh perspectives.

If you’re looking for ideas that are actionable, not overwhelming, and want to connect with a community of like-minded educators, this podcast is for you.

Click the link to join the Math Collective and connect with me directly. 

Let’s make math happen—together!

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Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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Six weeks into the school year, the cracks start to show — the fatigue, the frustration, and the quiet slide into low expectations. In this episode of Make Math Happen, Laneshia gets real about the dangerous drift toward deficit thinking and the power of collective teacher efficacy to turn it around.

Drawing from John Hattie’s Visible Learning research — where collective teacher efficacy ranks at an effect size of 1.57, the most influential factor on student achievement — this episode challenges educators to examine how their words, tone, and team mindset shape student outcomes.

Laneshia breaks down the difference between describing student struggles and defining their potential, reminding us that belief is not a feeling — it’s a decision. You’ll hear practical shifts for moving from isolation to collaboration, from “they can’t” to “they haven’t yet,” and from blame to blueprint.

If you’ve ever caught yourself lowering the bar to survive the moment, this episode will help you recalibrate — because students don’t just learn what we teach; they learn what we believe.

Listen to reset your mindset, reframe your language, and remember: our collective belief isn’t just powerful — it’s predictive.

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

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In this episode of Make Math Happen, I get real about the weight of the work we do as educators. From the progress my team has made in planning, to the hard truths about classroom management, to the reflection that leadership demands—I’m unpacking it all.

Too often, planning feels like control, but in reality, it’s our power to shape the learning experience for students. Structure and consistency aren’t constraints; they’re the foundation for freedom in the classroom. And when challenges arise, it’s easy to point outward, but the real growth begins when we look inward and ask: What role did I play?

This episode isn’t light, but it’s necessary. Teaching is more than decor and viral moments—it’s heart work. It’s opening doors, creating “aha” moments, and preparing students for the future.

Listen with a reflective ear, not a deflective one, and ask yourself: What will your educational legacy be?

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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What does your educational landscape look like, and what role do you play in it?

In this episode, I share what I’ve been noticing in classrooms just three weeks into the school year: disengagement. Students with heads down, hesitant to participate, off-task behaviors — a reality many teachers are facing. But instead of getting stuck in frustration, we need to ask: What can we do about it?

I’ll walk through three key areas that shape how students experience our classrooms:

1. Relationships – why listening, observing, and setting expectations matter more than using slang or doing dances.
2. High Expectations – how structure, consistency, and belief in student ability create conditions for engagement.
3. Preparedness – why every moment counts, from greetings at the door to purposeful transitions that build urgency and flow.

Classrooms won’t be perfect, but they can be safe, consistent, and affirming when we focus on what we can control: how we show up.

Tune in to reflect on your role in shaping the learning environment — and how you can take steps today to Make Math Happen.

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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In this conversation with Toni Hardy, we dig into what it really means to build capacity in math classrooms—one intentional move at a time. Toni shares how small, purposeful shifts in lesson planning and delivery create long-term impact for students and teachers alike. From structuring lessons for clarity to anticipating misconceptions, she reminds us that the best math instruction isn’t about doing more, but about making the right moves consistently.

We explore the balance between content knowledge and pedagogy, and why knowing math yourself isn’t the same as being able to teach it powerfully. Toni’s insights push us to reflect on our habits, our planning, and our ability to sustain strong instruction across the year.

If you’re ready to refine your practice and focus on the moves that matter most, this episode will leave you with strategies you can apply tomorrow—and a deeper understanding of how to build lasting capacity, one lesson at a time.

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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Organization isn’t about perfection—it’s about impact. In this episode of Make Math Happen, Laneshia breaks down three truths every educator needs to hear: don’t put off what can be done today, stop making things harder than they need to be, and watch out for the trap of optimistic bias.

From creating a daily power hour to ditching the habit of reinventing the wheel, this episode shows how small, intentional steps can save you hours of stress later. Laneshia calls out the hidden time-wasters that drain your energy and challenges you to face the role self-awareness plays in how well you execute.

You’ll walk away with practical strategies—like using Google Calendar, sticky notes, and proactive reminders—to clear the mental clutter and make space for what matters most: teaching, leading, and living with impact.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, behind, or convinced that “you’ll get to it later,” this is the episode you can’t afford to skip.

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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Why ratios are about how quantities move together

This episode launches our Connecting Math series by reframing ratios as relationships rather than calculations. Instead of treating ratios as fractions or procedures to memorize, we explore how ratios describe how two quantities vary together and why that way of thinking must be developed over time.

Building on December’s focus on Seeing Math and January’s work around Understanding Math, this episode connects geometric reasoning and number sense to proportional thinking. We unpack the progression from counting to additive, multiplicative, and proportional reasoning, and examine why students struggle when instruction jumps too quickly to rules.

You’ll hear how representations like number lines, tape diagrams, and arrays help students visualize relationships, how the Standards for Mathematical Practice reveal student thinking, and why carefully guided instruction is essential for developing mathematical reasoning.

This episode sets the foundation for everything that follows in ratios, proportions, slope, and functions by focusing on the thinking students need, not just the answers they produce.

Listener Reflection Questions

1. When students in your classroom struggle with ratios, what evidence do you see about their reasoning, not just their accuracy?
2. How often do students have opportunities to visualize and explain how two quantities change together before being asked to calculate?
3. Which representations are you currently using to help students connect geometry, number sense, and proportional reasoning, and where might those connections be made more explicit?

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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How strong number reasoning prepares students for ratios and algebra

Throughout January, we’ve explored rational numbers, negative numbers, distance, value, fractions, decimals, and division. On the surface, it may seem like this month was about numbers.

But this work didn’t begin in January.

In December, we focused on seeing math—using geometry to help students notice structure, reason about space, and make sense of relationships before symbols ever appeared. Those same ideas carried forward as we shifted into number systems. When students reason about distance on a number line, compare fractions and decimals, or make sense of division, they’re drawing on the same spatial thinking developed through geometry.

This episode brings those threads together.

We examine how geometric reasoning supports number sense, why understanding must come before operations, and how giving students time to make sense of relationships prepares them for ratios, algebra, and beyond. You’ll hear why carefully guided instruction matters, how modeling ways of thinking differs from lecturing, and what classroom practices help students transfer understanding into new situations.

If you’re looking to reduce cognitive load, strengthen coherence, and help students move from seeing relationships to reasoning with them, this episode closes the chapter on Understanding Math and sets the stage for what comes next.

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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Building understanding instead of teaching tricks

Many students reach middle school able to perform fraction and decimal procedures without truly understanding what those numbers represent. In this episode, we slow down and reconnect fractions, decimals, and division to meaning.

We explore why fractions should be understood as division first, how the number line supports flexible movement between representations, and why spatial reasoning matters when students place, compare, and reason about quantities. You’ll hear how visual models like tape diagrams, hundred grids, and aligned number lines help students see equivalence, magnitude, and relationships instead of relying on memorized steps.

This episode also addresses a common instructional gap: students’ limited ability to visualize quantities. We discuss why asking students what they see when they encounter fractions and decimals matters, how number lines can be used to represent equivalent values, and how math journals can make student thinking visible and referencable for both teachers and families.

If you’re looking for ways to help students build lasting understanding of fractions and decimals—and prepare them for ratios, algebra, and beyond—this episode offers concrete strategies and a clear instructional through line.

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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Strategies that clarify the number line for every learner

Negative numbers are often taught through rules that don’t stick. In this episode, we return to meaning.

We explore how students have been reasoning about space, direction, and position on the number line since the earliest grades, and why negative numbers are an extension of that work—not a new concept. By grounding integer operations in movement and distance, this episode shows how students can reason about direction, magnitude, and value without relying on memorized rules.

You’ll hear classroom-tested routines that build understanding through visual models, rich conversation, and purposeful practice. We also connect this work forward into seventh-grade multiplication and division of integers and eighth-grade equations and expressions, showing how early sense-making supports long-term success.

This episode is designed to help teachers slow down instruction without lowering expectations and give students the tools they need to judge reasonableness, explain their thinking, and apply integer reasoning across domains.

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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When students struggle with fractions, decimals, and integers, it’s often assumed they’re missing skills. In reality, they’re missing understanding.

This episode opens our Understanding Math series by focusing on how students make sense of rational numbers as quantities that have value, direction, and position—not just symbols to manipulate. We explore how early experiences with counting, comparing, and representing numbers develop over time, why the number line is such a powerful organizer of thinking, and what students need to understand before operations make sense.

You’ll hear why rushing into procedures often leads to fragile learning, how a lack of magnitude and relational understanding impacts students’ ability to judge reasonableness, and what it looks like to slow down without lowering expectations. We also share concrete ways to help students reason about value, distance, and relationships across number systems—even when your current unit lives in another domain.

This episode is designed to spark meaningful PLC conversations and give you something you can use immediately in your classroom. It sets the foundation for the rest of the month and prepares students to connect quantities more confidently as we move toward ratios, proportions, and algebraic thinking.

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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This episode closes our geometry focus by showing how similarity and scale serve as the bridge into ratios, proportions, and later functions. We explore what makes figures similar, how scale factor represents a preserved relationship rather than a formula, and why students need visual experiences with enlargement and reduction before working with numbers.

Along the way, we address real classroom challenges, including unfinished learning, limited instructional time, and the pressure to move students forward before connections are solid. We discuss how teaching concepts in isolation often deepens gaps, and why making relationships explicit is essential for sense-making and long-term understanding.

You’ll hear practical strategies for helping students reason about similarity using representations like tape diagrams, ways to anticipate common misconceptions, and ideas for re-engagement when timing or pacing doesn’t allow for a full instructional reset. We also connect these practices to research on high-impact strategies, including microteaching, reflection, and metacognition, and discuss how short video routines can activate learning both at home and in the classroom.

This episode is designed to spark meaningful PLC conversations, support thoughtful sequencing, and help teachers position students for success across domains. It closes the geometry chapter and opens the door to our next focus: ratios and proportions—same story, new chapter.

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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This episode continues our Season 4 focus on making connections across mathematical domains and across grade levels. My goal over the coming months is to spark deeper conversations about instruction, sequencing, and sense-making, and to support teachers in taking these ideas back to their professional learning communities.

Area, surface area, and volume are often taught as a list of formulas, but students need a much richer story. In this episode, we explore how these concepts grow from simple ideas about covering and filling space, why decomposing shapes matters, and how visual reasoning developed in earlier grades is essential for success in middle school and beyond.

We connect this work to the Standards for Mathematical Practice and discuss why thoughtful sequencing is especially important for our learners. With developing prefrontal cortexes, students need us to organize learning intentionally so they can reason, make connections, and build understanding over time.

You’ll walk away with concrete ways to model area, surface area, and volume using gridded space, manipulatives, household items, and simple classroom routines. Whether you’re a teacher or a family member supporting learning at home, this episode is designed to inspire deeper thinking, stronger instruction, and more meaningful conversations about how students learn mathematics.

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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Helping students make sense of transformations and symmetry

Geometry becomes powerful when students can see how shapes move, change, and relate. In this episode, we explore angles, lines, and the three core transformations—translations, reflections, and rotations—and what students must understand long before they ever touch coordinate rules.

You’ll hear how early geometry experiences lay the groundwork for middle school expectations, why angle relationships matter more than memorized steps, and how symmetry helps students reason about structure and invariance. We also unpack common stumbling blocks that show up when transformations are taught as rules instead of relationships.

Whether you’re a teacher guiding a classroom or a family supporting learning at home, this episode offers practical strategies, language shifts, and questioning techniques that help students visualize movement, predict outcomes, and build lasting understanding. These ideas don’t just support geometry—they prepare students for ratios, equations, and functions that come next.

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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Spatial reasoning is the heartbeat of middle school mathematics. In this episode, we explore how seeing patterns, shapes, movement, and structure primes students for success across every domain they’ll encounter this year. You’ll learn why geometry is far more than formulas and how it builds the visual foundation students need for ratios, functions, number lines, and equations. This episode opens the journey we’ll take all year. By the end, you’ll walk away with simple ways to strengthen visual thinking at home and in the classroom through tasks, conversations, and quick daily routines. 

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

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