Best Chris Luzniak Podcasts (2024)

1
Hot Seat #3 - Are Problem-Based Lessons Essential? 45:04

5d ago45:04

45:04

Do you know what Problem-Based Lessons are? And more importantly, do you think they are important? For this Hot Seat, we hear from educators Kyle Pearce and Jon Orr on why they think: Problem Based Lessons are Essential. Follow the Make Math Moments Podcast Check out Problem-Based Lessons on: makemathmoments.com Take the report at makemathmoments.c…

1
Hot Seat #2 - Is It OK to Quit Teaching? 57:15

1M ago57:15

57:15

For this next Hot Seat debate, we talk about the complicated decision to leave education. With many teachers leaving or considering leaving the profession, we brought on two former educators–Laila Nur & Justin Aion–to debate the question: Is it OK to quit teaching? Follow Laila on Twitter: @mslailanur or check out her website: www.mslailanur.com Fo…

1
Hot Seat #1 - Is Math Dead? 37:04

2M ago37:04

37:04

Welcome to our very first Hot Seat debate! In this debate we hear from Sunil Singh and explore his idea that: Math is Dead! Follow Sunil on Twitter: @Mathgarden Check out Sunil’s Website: www.mathsings.com Listened to the episode? Now, it’s your turn to share! Go to our Twitter: @DebateMathPod to share your thoughts. Don’t forget to check out the v…

1
Debate 28 - A 4-Day School Week? 49:46

2M ago49:46

49:46

You may have heard news of schools and districts that are switching to a 4 day school week. There are claims of improved teacher retention or reduced costs. However, this is a highly debated topic. So we invited four guests to share their thoughts on the debate: Let's Switch to a 4-Day School Week! Resources Referenced in this Episode Follow Jodie …

1
We are born to love math w/ Dan Finkel 42:44

3M ago42:44

42:44

Dan Finkel is an author/educator who believes that humans are wired to be curious from birth, and that play is the secret to maintaining that joy of learning throughout childhood. On today’s season 6 finale, he and Vanessa discuss how teaching kids about math can be so much more fun than we think; it can mean playing board games, counting on their …

1
Grit is your superpower w/ Dr. India White 41:05

3M ago41:05

41:05

Dr. India White learned grit and resilience the hard way: facing down obstacles throughout her life and deciding she wouldn’t back down. Now she coaches teachers and students on developing their own gritty superpowers, and she joins Vanessa today for wide-ranging and inspiring conversation. They discuss her journey from a homeless shelter to a coll…

1
How to change someone's mind w/ Chris Luzniak 38:48

3M ago38:48

38:48

What if the secret to winning a debate was actually listening to your opponent? What if you could build confidence and overcome anxiety through the practice of public speaking? And HOW does someone go from dreams of Broadway fame to teaching debate in math class?! Find out today as Vanessa chats with math educator/coach Chris Luzniak, host of The D…

1
Math doesn't cause trauma, people do w/ Sean Nank 39:04

3M ago39:04

39:04

When Vanessa saw today’s guest deliver a deeply personal talk at a recent math conference, she was left with more questions than answers; all she knew for certain was she had to get him on the podcast. Sean Nank is a math educator who believes that the power of our students' stories is the most valuable tool we can harness in our math classrooms, a…

1
Turns out some folks hate math w/ Jon Orr & Kyle Pearce 40:37

3M ago40:37

40:37

Today’s another one for the teachers, featuring Jon Orr & Kyle Pearce of the Make Math Moments empire - they have a podcast, a framework, workshops & courses & virtual summits galore, and who knows probably even a cooking show at this point?! They join Vanessa today to discuss the SHOCKING realization early in their career that not all students wou…

1
Debate 27 - The Science of Math? 1:03:29

4M ago1:03:29

1:03:29

Have you heard of the Science of Math? It is a movement in the math education world, which aims to use research to inform best practices. However, there has been some push back to this movement. Critics question what and how research was quoted and used. This controversy sounded like a topic for the Debate Math Podcast. Come hear out both sides! Re…

1
Teachers have trauma too w/ Brittany Hege 36:38

4M ago36:38

36:38

We’re often talking about trauma from the student perspective: how it happens in the classroom, and how it follows them into adulthood. But one group is often overlooked in this discussion - teachers! Today Vanessa chats with educator Brittany Hege about the challenges teachers often face in keeping up with changing pedagogies, while already being …

1
More clickbait in the classroom! w/ Howie Hua 26:52

4M ago26:52

26:52

Of the truly infinite things Vanessa likes to rant about, few top the list like math’s marketing problem - which is why she was elated to chat with social media mathstar Howie Hua! Today Howie shares how his own experiences with math anxiety sucked the joy out of math when he was a student, and how he started to bring it back for both himself and h…

1
The spiritual side of math w/ Francis Su 37:49

4M ago37:49

37:49

When you picture a mathematician, what comes to mind? Now … what about a “mathematical explorer”? Well, that’s what Francis Su calls himself, and when Vanessa picked up his book Mathematics for Human Flourishing, she couldn’t put it down. On today's episode they explore how mathematical discovery can unleash the wonder and curiosity innate within u…

1
Tell your students you trust them w/ Zak Champagne 42:14

5M ago42:14

42:14

Longtime listeners (like today’s guest, as you’ll discover…) will recall one name popping up in almost every interview last season, so Vanessa needed to find out for herself: who is Zak Champagne & why do people like him so much?! Through today’s rollercoaster episode she discovered a teacher with boundless enthusiasm for the joys of teaching, grou…

1
The difference between equity & equality w/ Dr. Pamela Seda 43:18

5M ago43:18

43:18

On the Season 6 premiere of Math Therapy, Vanessa chats with Dr. Pamela Seda, an expert in all things education and inspiration! They dive deep into hot topics like how teachers can build trust in the classroom by modelling vulnerability, the benefits of cultivating community over competition, and a fascinating metaphor that illustrates what equity…

1
Debate 26 - 2 LIVE Debates! 50:26

5M ago50:26

50:26

This month's episode is a special recording of two LIVE debates at the OMCA 2024 Retreat. Listen as thoughtful math leaders discuss two topics and answer questions from the audience! The first topic is: We need to have common evaluations. The second debate topic is: Teachers spend too much time on direct instruction. Follow up with our debaters: Fo…

1
Season 6 Trailer 4:07

5M ago4:07

4:07

Season 6 drops March 28th - here’s a sample of who and what you’ll hear!By Vanessa Vakharia

1
Refresher: Pi Day in Prison 48:48

5M ago48:48

48:48

It's March 14th, aka 3.14 ... so Happy Pi Day! To help you get in the zone, we're re-airing an episode from last year recounting the Math Therapy team's Pi Day 2023 trip to Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility in Michigan. This stemmed from Vanessa's Season 3, Episode 10 interview with Christopher Havens, an inmate serving a 25-year sentence for mur…

1
The Awkward Return?! (S6 is coming) 2:47

6M ago2:47

2:47

The rumours are true! (The rumours that Vanessa has been spreading herself.) Season 6 of Math Therapy launches March 28th! To get you hyped while we get this batch of episodes ready for you, here are some brief thoughts she recorded immediately after we finished a marathon 10 interviews over 4 days. What themes did she cover? Will she or her guests…

1
Debate 25 - Should You Follow the Textbook? 1:02:31

6M ago1:02:31

1:02:31

Let’s talk about textbooks! Some teachers are handed a textbook and are instructed to follow it. Others may have never had a textbook offered to them. If you are given a textbook, should you be following it? And how much? And if you don’t have one, should you start? Tune in as four thoughtful educators debate the resolution: Teachers should follow …

1
Episode 300 - What to Expect in Season 3! 10:49

7M ago10:49

10:49

Welcome to Season 3! Listen in as Chris & Rob talk about the upcoming season! Listened to the episode? Now, it’s your turn to share! Go to our Twitter: @DebateMathPod to share your thoughts. Don’t forget to check out the video version of this podcast on our YouTube channel! Keep up with all the latest info by following @DebateMathPod or going to de…

1
Debate 24 - Bringing Joy to Math Class! 1:01:28

9M ago1:01:28

1:01:28

We wanted to end the year by bringing together a few of our guests from past debates for a roundtable to reflect on the past debates and also engage in a discussion around the question: How do we bring joy to math class? With politics around education and teaching so often turning negative in the news, we wanted to talk more about joy with our gues…

1
Debate 23 - What is the BEST Standard of Math Practice? 55:11

10M ago55:11

55:11

If you know the Common Core, then you have probably seen the 8 Standards of Math Practice (or SMPs as we refer to them). Here at the DebateMath podcast, we are HUGE fans of SMP#3 - Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others. But we wanted to take some time to highlight some of the other SMPs. So we reached out to educators aski…

1
The Awkward Goodbye 9:56

10M ago9:56

9:56

Don't worry, Math Therapy isn't going anywhere ... but here's a fun bonus episode as we look back on an incredible 5th season! It was a total success in every possible way, except one: for whatever reason, Vanessa lost the ability to simply say "goodbye" at the end of the interviews. This hadn't been an issue in previous seasons but she somehow got…

1
Debate 22 - Ditch Geometry 1:01:21

11M ago1:01:21

1:01:21

Earlier this season we had a lovely debate on whether or not to Ditch Algebra 2. During that debate, our four guests tangentially expressed four very different viewpoints on Geometry. We thought it would be a great idea to get these guests back together to hear more of their thoughts on Geometry. Should we keep it? Is it important? We want to dig d…

1
Debate 21 - How Do You Get Students Talking in Math Class? 46:28

12M ago46:28

46:28

Join us as we take a break from our usual format for a special Back to School episode! Here at the DebateMath podcast, we highly value discourse in math. On the podcast, we want to elevate the voices of teachers and students in our episodes, and we also want that for our classrooms. We want to encourage student discourse in math class. So for this …

1
Debate 20 - Tech & Math Class 51:31

1y ago51:31

51:31

Math class is so often associated with pencil and paper work–students working through steps of symbolic manipulation. But what role does or should technology have in math class? Our world is constantly changing, and how do we adapt to that? From calculators, to apps, to ChatGPT, the resources available keep growing. So how or what should we allow? …

1
Embracing your limitless mind w/ Jo Boaler 41:53

1y ago41:53

41:53

In Vanessa's masters thesis titled "Imagining a World Where Paris Hilton Loves Math", there was nobody quoted more frequently than today's guest, Stanford professor Dr. Jo Boaler. On the season 5 finale of Math Therapy, Vanessa sits down with her math ed hero to discuss how limiting beliefs vs a growth mindset impact the brain, how struggle and mis…

1
Teaching students to ... think?! w/ Peter Liljedahl 43:32

1y ago43:32

43:32

Peter Liljedahl is literally changing the math classroom. His book "Building Thinking Classrooms" has taken the educational world by storm with a simple message: instead of teaching students to memorize, we have to teach them to think. Sounds trite, but if you ... think about it, traditional classrooms are not designed that way! Today, Peter explai…

1
Mistakes: Villains or Heroes? 32:42

1y ago32:42

32:42

Should mistake-making be encouraged in math class? Or should mistakes be shamed because “in the real world” you can get fired from your job from making a mistake? You can probably guess how Vanessa feels, but a fellow educator recently disagreed … so of course she took to Twitter and a spirited convo ensued! On today’s episode she further outer-pro…

1
Debate 19 - Alternative Assessments 1:04:30

1y ago1:04:30

1:04:30

Math exams are the typical culminating assessment at the end of the unit or the end of a semester, but what if we didn’t give exams? What if we instead spent that time on an alternative form of assessment. What would that look like? What are the options? In this episode, we have 3 awesome educators each sharing a different way to alternatively asse…

1
Centering student voice in math class w/ Crystal Watson 43:42

1y ago43:42

43:42

Today's guest literally entered the chat wearing a t-shirt that read "TRUTH MATTERS”, and that sure set the tone for this wide-ranging episode! Crystal M. Watson is an educator who firmly believes in centering student voices in the classroom, and she also advocates for empowering students by making math practical and meaningful to their life experi…

1
Redefining "Success" 28:09

1y ago28:09

28:09

In today's episode, Vanessa explores the dangers of narrowly defining success and argues that contrary to popular belief, failure and success are actually BFF, not opposites (looking at you, Merriam-Webster!). She also shares a practical classroom tool for teachers and students to collaborate on shared definitions of success to support everyone's l…

1
Refresher: Drag queens & math class w/ Kyne Santos 33:26

1y ago33:26

33:26

In honour of Pride Month, we're taking a mid-season 5 break to re-air one of our all-time fave episodes featuring mathematician / drag queen Kyne Santos. Drag has been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons, so we wanted to share Kyne's inspiring story of breaking stereotypes and defying the haters. If you're new to the podcast we also highly…

1
How struggle leads to growth w/ Robert Kaplinsky 38:21

1y ago38:21

38:21

Think of this week's episode as a kind of reverse palate cleanser ... Vanessa and today's guest Robert Kaplinsky more than make up for the lack of swearing last week! What got them fired up? Oh, just the systemic barriers to educational reform and the lack of support for both teachers and students when it comes to working through math anxiety ... B…

1
How trauma affects the brain w/ Liesl McConchie 44:44

1y ago44:44

44:44

Last week's episode featured a deep dive with Vanessa into math trauma: what it is and how to avoid it. Today, brain expert Liesl McConchie joins her to explain the neurological science of trauma, debunk the myth of the "math gene", and discuss the hopeful promise of neuroplasticity. And not to be all clickbaity, but Vanessa ends up sharing some pr…

1
Debate 18 - Let's Get Digital 53:38

1y ago53:38

53:38

It’s final exam season! So we thought it would be a good time to get into a debate about tests. Should we continue using paper tests, or is it time to give tests on computers? Which way is easier? Which method is best for teaching and learning? Should we stick with paper or is it time to say: Let’s Get Digital! Tune in as four educators share their…

1
What even is math trauma? 23:28

1y ago23:28

23:28

Each episode, Vanessa discusses the impacts that math trauma can have on our collective relationship with math. But she realized she's never explained what it is! In this episode she defines what math trauma actually is, unpacks why traumatic educational experiences happen more often in math than in other subjects, and lists 8 common causes of math…

1
Mathers gonna math w/ Deborah Peart 46:39

1+ y ago46:39

46:39

You know how readers read and writers write? Well one day Deborah Peart decided that math should also be a verb, so she created the Mather movement. She and Vanessa discuss the difference between a "mather" and a "mathematician", how numeracy and literacy are basically the same thing, and how bringing a mindfulness approach to her classrooms led to…

1
Teaching math as an act of protest w/ Dan Meyer 37:04

1+ y ago37:04

37:04

When Vanessa crossed paths with Dan Meyer at a math conference, she sensed some pushback on her concept of math therapy. So naturally, she invited him on the podcast to get into it! The ensuing rollercoaster interview blurred lines between clearing the air and settling the score, as they hilariously debated hot topics ranging from the need for stud…

1
Season 5 trailer 2:24

1+ y ago2:24

2:24

We have some serious A-list math celebs coming at your podcast feeds over the next 10 weeks - here's a little sample until season 5 launches this Thursday!By The Math Guru

1
Exciting update w/ Jill from Season 2! 13:47

1+ y ago13:47

13:47

Longtime listeners will remember Season 2's Jill Waddell who shared her inspiring decision to switch careers at age 40 and go back to school for power engineering - facing down her lifelong math anxiety along the way! Vanessa caught up with her after graduation to find out how things turned out (spoiler alert - she was class valedictorian!) and hea…

1
Debate 17 - Follow the Pacing Guide? 58:18

1+ y ago58:18

58:18

Let’s talk about pacing guides. What are they? Why do we have them? How much should we follow them? This topic has caused quite the stir in many schools among colleagues. Some educators believe pacing guides may not be effective, or even necessary! While others believe pacing guides are needed so we stay on track to cover all of our grade-level con…

1
Debate 16 - AP PreCalc? 57:43

1+ y ago57:43

57:43

Have you heard that there’s is a new AP math exam: AP PreCalc. Yes, the College Board is planning to offer an AP PreCalc exam, starting in the spring of 2024. So should you offer an AP PreCalculus course next school year? What is on the test? What’s more, the College Board has been involved in some controversial headlines lately. The politics of th…

1
Pi Day in Prison (Seriously) 47:27

1+ y ago47:27

47:27

There's no other way to say this: we went to prison for Pi Day this year. Longtime listeners will remembers Vanessa's fascinating and inspiring interview with Christopher Havens, an inmate serving a 25-year sentence for murder who has rehabilitated himself with math and founded the Prison Mathematics Project (Season 3, Episode 10). Vanessa helped w…

1
Math reform under attack w/ Jo Boaler 18:27

1+ y ago18:27

18:27

Math Therapy is (briefly) back! We've been hard at work on a new season which I can't wait for you to hear soon, but I had to share an excerpt of one of the interviews I just did - you'll see why. Stanford professor Jo Boaler is one of my math heroes, I referenced her all through my master's thesis, and her work in trying to make math education mor…

1
Debate 15 - Retakes or Corrections 54:38

1+ y ago54:38

54:38

Suppose some students do not do well on a test or a quiz. What’s the best way for students to improve and then show their improved understanding? They could correct their mistakes for credit or set a date for a retake. Which way do you want students to show mastery? Listen in as our teams discuss what they think is the best way forward in this mont…

1
Debate 14 - Ditch Algebra 2 56:34

1+ y ago56:34

56:34

Let’s talk about Algebra 2! What is it? Why is it important? And most importantly, should we continue to require it? Plenty of high school students struggle in what we call Algebra 2, and many ask the question “when are we ever going to use this?” Some schools and districts now offer alternative pathways for students in their high school math optio…

1
Debate 13 - Is HS Math Relevant? 54:09

1+ y ago54:09

54:09

We’ve heard the question of the relevance of high school math come up in both our podcast and in many conversations with educators. Do our students need high school math? Is it important to their future careers? What topics should we really emphasize or focus on? In this episode, we speak with four young professionals who are not math educators and…

1
Episode 200 - Reflecting on Season 1 25:49

1+ y ago25:49

25:49

Chris and Rob take a moment to reflect on the first season of the DebateMath Podcast. Tune in to peek behind the curtain and learn how these debate episodes come together. Listened to the episode? Share your thoughts! Go to our Twitter: @DebateMathPod to share your thoughts. Keep up with all the latest info by following @DebateMathPod or going to d…

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Chris Luzniak Podcasts

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