Allison Loves Math Podcast

Students need support to shine and grow.  In this episode, Punam Saxena, author of Parent Power, discusses how parent engagement at school and at home can boost a child's academic success.  

Parent Impact Coach, TEDx speaker, and host of the Edu-Me Podcast, Punam Saxena sheds light on how a student-parent-teacher team can nurture a child to become the best version of themselves. 

Allison and Punam discuss:

• Punam's new Ted Talk [2.03]
• How a student’s a socio-emotional environment impacts their academic performance [4.11]
• How teachers can engage reluctant parents [8.37]
• Being a better parent [19.00]

Check out Punam’s previous interview on Allison Loves Math Podcast: https://allisonlovesmath.mykajabi.com/blog/PunamSaxena

Connect with Punam Saxena

Punam's TedTalk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrY3dM-AvOg

Punam's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Parent-Power-Navigate-School-Beyond/dp/1736640208

Punam's Website: https://www.edu-me.net/

Allison's Books

• Raise your Math Grade: Get this FREE short book, which is a toughen-up math manifesto mixed with you-can-do-it enthusiasm. It is an open educational resource, meaning you can share it freely with friends, students, and colleagues. 

• Crush Math Now:  Order this best-selling Amazon book! It is a study guide packed with all the advice Allison has given students over the years on math mindset, study skills, and test-taking strategies.
• Love Math Journal: Get this growth mindset journal to help 4th-8th grade students to succeed in and love math. This journal is co-authored by Allison and Nicole Thomson, who had been on Episode# 44 Using Gratitude to Help Students Overcome Math Anxiety.

Connect with Allison

• Website: https://www.allisonlovesmath.com/ 
• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Allison-Dillard/e/B07PV43V59 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllisonLovesMath
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisonlovesmath
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllisonLuvsMath

"Do you want to be great or do you want to be comfortable?"

Advocate for your needs. Be proactive. Build a support system. Take risks. Push yourself to do great things. In today's interview, Shanise Walker, Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, shares inspiring and practical advice for math students about how to advocate for themselves and set themselves up for success in math.

Shanise is a first-generation college student, who earned B.S. in Mathematics from UGA and Ph.D. in Mathematics from Iowa State University.  Her research interests lie in extremal combinatorics and graph theory and she is active in service to the mathematical profession related to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). 

Allison and Shanise discuss:

• How Shanise fell in love with Math [3.15]
• Being proactive and having a plan [5.54]
• Shanise talks about her blog in the American Mathematical Society [10.18]
• Having a spectrum of support system [16.20]
• If you are doing Math Majors, take up English courses[21.55]

Check out Shanise’s blog: https://blogs.ams.org/livingproof/2021/09/14/how-challenging-experiences-led-me-to-pursue-a-phd-in-mathematics-by-shanise-walker/

Connect with Shanise: [email protected]

Connect with Allison

• Website: https://www.allisonlovesmath.com/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllisonLovesMath
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisonlovesmath
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllisonLuvsMath 

Allison’s Books

• Raise your Math Grade: Get this FREE short book, which is a toughen-up math manifesto mixed with you-can-do-it enthusiasm. It is an open educational resource, meaning you can share it freely with friends, students, and colleagues. 

• Crush Math Now:  Order this best-selling Amazon book! It is a study guide packed with all the advice Allison has given students over the years on math mindset, study skills, and test-taking strategies.
• Love Math Journal: Get this growth mindset journal to help 4th-8th grade students to succeed in and love math. This journal is co-authored by Allison and Nicole Thomson, who had been on Episode# 44 Using Gratitude to Help Students Overcome Math

"Do you want to be great or do you want to be comfortable?"

Advocate for your needs. Be proactive. Build a support system. Take risks. Push yourself to do great things. In today's interview, Shanise Walker, Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, shares inspiring and practical advice for math students about how to advocate for themselves and set themselves up for success in math.

Shanise is a first-generation college student, who earned B.S. in Mathematics from UGA and Ph.D. in Mathematics from Iowa State University.  Her research interests lie in extremal combinatorics and graph theory and she is active in service to the mathematical profession related to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). 

Allison and Shanise discuss:

• How Shanise fell in love with Math [3.15]
• Being proactive and having a plan [5.54]
• Shanise talks about her blog in the American Mathematical Society [10.18]
• Having a spectrum of support system [16.20]
• If you are doing Math Majors, take up English courses[21.55]

Check out Shanise’s blog: https://blogs.ams.org/livingproof/2021/09/14/how-challenging-experiences-led-me-to-pursue-a-phd-in-mathematics-by-shanise-walker/

Connect with Shanise: [email protected]

Connect with Allison

• Website: https://www.allisonlovesmath.com/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllisonLovesMath
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisonlovesmath
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllisonLuvsMath 

Allison’s Books

• Raise your Math Grade: Get this FREE short book, which is a toughen-up math manifesto mixed with you-can-do-it enthusiasm. It is an open educational resource, meaning you can share it freely with friends, students, and colleagues. 

• Crush Math Now:  Order this best-selling Amazon book! It is a study guide packed with all the advice Allison has given students over the years on math mindset, study skills, and test-taking strategies.
• Love Math Journal: Get this growth mindset journal to help 4th-8th grade students to succeed in and love math. This journal is co-authored by Allison and Nicole Thomson, who had been on Episode# 44 Using Gratitude to Help Students Overcome Math

Remember - A published book is better than no book. 

Part 2 is here! In this episode, Jennifer Flenner, the co-author of my new book Crush Hypothesis Testing, is interviewing me on how you, as a teacher, can spread your love of math by writing books that will inspire kids, parents, and teachers beyond your classroom and school.  

Allison and Jennifer discuss:

• Recap [2.57]
• Proofing the book [3.20]
• Publishing the book [4.57]
• Motivation to write the book [7.58]
• Pitfalls to avoid [11.14]
• Equations and diagrams for your books [13.29]

Check out Jennifer's episode: Tips for Teaching Introductory Statistic: https://www.allisonlovesmath.com/blog/JenniferFlenner

Check out Allison's Books:

• Raise your Math Grade: Get this FREE short book, which is a toughen-up math manifesto mixed with you-can-do-it enthusiasm. It is an open educational resource, meaning you can share it freely with friends, students, and colleagues. 

• Crush Math Now:  Order this best-selling Amazon book! It is a study guide packed with all the advice Allison has given students over the years on math mindset, study skills, and test-taking strategies.
• Love Math Journal: Get this growth mindset journal to help 4th-8th grade students to succeed in and love math. This journal is co-authored by Allison and Nicole Thomson, who had been on Episode# 44 Using Gratitude to Help Students Overcome Math Anxiety.
• Crush Hypothesis Testing: The five-step method to make hypothesis testing easier and understandable. I wrote this book with Math Professor Jennifer Flenner and you can read the first two chapters of Crush Hypothesis Testing for free at www.allisonlovesmath.com/free.

Connect with Allison

• Website: https://www.allisonlovesmath.com/ 
• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Allison-Dillard/e/B07PV43V59 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllisonLovesMath
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisonlovesmath
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllisonLuvsMath 

Today’s episode is an exciting one! Jennifer Flenner, the co-author of my new book Crush Hypothesis Testing, is interviewing me on how you, as a teacher, can spread your love of math by writing books that will inspire kids, parents, and teachers beyond your classroom and school.  

Allison and Jennifer discuss:

• What made Allison start writing math books [4.20]
• Building a community of math enthusiasts [6.13]
• Why should you as a teacher write math books? [7.09]
• The creation of the Love Math Journal [8.17]
• How to get started and write your book  [11.20]
• Advice for getting your book idea or concept just right [16.17]

Check out Jennifer's episode: Tips for Teaching Introductory Statistic: https://www.allisonlovesmath.com/blog/JenniferFlenner

Check out Allison's Books:

• Raise your Math Grade: Get this FREE short book, which is a toughen-up math manifesto mixed with you-can-do-it enthusiasm. It is an open educational resource, meaning you can share it freely with friends, students, and colleagues. 

• Crush Math Now:  Order this best-selling Amazon book! It is a study guide packed with all the advice Allison has given students over the years on math mindset, study skills, and test-taking strategies.
• Love Math Journal: Get this growth mindset journal to help 4th-8th grade students to succeed in and love math. This journal is co-authored by Allison and Nicole Thomson, who had been on Episode# 44 Using Gratitude to Help Students Overcome Math Anxiety.
• Crush Hypothesis Testing: The five-step method to make hypothesis testing easier and understandable. I wrote this book with Math Professor Jennifer Flenner and you can read the first two chapters of Crush Hypothesis Testing for free at www.allisonlovesmath.com/free.

Connect with Allison

• Website: https://www.allisonlovesmath.com/ 
• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Allison-Dillard/e/B07PV43V59 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllisonLovesMath
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisonlovesmath
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllisonLuvsMath 

Melissa Dean is back on Allison Loves Math Podcast!

Blogger at Dean of Math, middle school math teacher, and author of the upcoming book, ‘Unschool,’ Melissa Dean is back sharing new ways to disrupt math class. Melissa’s first interview in Season 1 explored ways to Radically Reimagine Your Math Class and today she’s here to explore how to radically reimagine how we assess and evaluate math learning.

Allison and Melissa discuss:

• The story and purpose behind Melissa’s new book, Unschool [6.47] 
• The importance of assessing math learning the correct way [7.25]
• Ideas to start changing your assessment and evaluation style [9.35]
• Why and how to emphasize providing feedback in assessment [15.55]
• Melissa’s big ah-ha moment with her students [17.42]
• The changing role of math teachers education [23.58]

Resources 

• Check out Melissa's previous interview: https://www.allisonlovesmath.com/blog/melissadean
• If you liked these interviews, you might also like the Statistics’s episode - Bring Your Statistics Class to Life with Community Engaged Learning: https://allisonlovesmath.mykajabi.com/blog/52 

Connect with Melissa Dean

• Website: https://deanofmath.wordpress.com/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/dean_of_math
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mathmeansmore/

Connect with Allison Dillard

• Website: https://www.allisonlovesmath.com/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllisonLovesMath
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisonlovesmath
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllisonLuvsMath 

Math is all around us. From video games to sports to groceries to travel, everything around us has its foundations in math. 

This week’s interview features Professor Prime, host of the wildly inspiring YouTube channel Math Time with Professor Prime. A math educator on a mission to build a world that loves math, Prof. Prime shares how you, as an educator, can spread the love of math by helping students to see how math is beautiful, awesome, and in everything.

Allison and Prof. Prime discuss:

• What got Prof. Prime to share his love for math [1.49]
• Approaching sports and video games with math in mind [6.15]
• Math Time with Professor Prime videos that connect math to real-life [12:45]
• What drives Prof. Prime to create math content on youtube[18.40]
• How educators can connect and inspire students to love math [22.33]

Connect with Professor Prime:

• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MathTimeWithProfessorPrime
• Website: https://www.mathtimewithprofessorprime.com/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/MathTimeWithPr1
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professorprime8787/

Allison's Favorite Professor Prime YouTube Videos:

• Math & Racism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXTgob2WwUM&t=2s
• Math & Star Wars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qp1VQergIw
• Math & Comedy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvPSiT7-lkY
• Math & Horizon Dawn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eD0f6pUd0s

Connect with Allison Dillard

• Website: https://www.allisonlovesmath.com/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllisonLovesMath
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisonlovesmath
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllisonLuvsMath 

What is the best way to feed veggies to kids?  Wrap them up with their favorite food and then watch them enjoy it. 

Similarly, what is the best way to teach math to kids? Wrap it up in a story and watch the learning unfold. 

Today’s episode is an exciting one! I interview educator, math storyteller and author, Lynda Brennan. Lynda is the founder of the Math MileMarkers® series, creator of the "Make 10" Games produced by Nasco, and a 2020 New York State Finalist for the Presidential Award in Mathematics. An elementary teacher with over 20 years experience, currently working as an elementary math specialist in a Title 1 NYS public school, Lynda shares books and ideas that will help your students and kids to love and learn math through relevant, interesting, math-infused stories.

Allison and Lynda discuss:

• Jayla The Number Navigator and using stories to strengthen student understanding of number line [2.50] 
• What math infused stories are and how they can help elementary school students to learn and love math [6.50]
• On My Way To Grandma’s House and the long-term benefits of using stories to teach rounding numbers [8.50]
• Louie Lucky Looker and using stories to teach both division skills and problem-solving [15.55]

Connect with Lynda Brennan

• Math Mile Markers Website: https://mathmilemarkers.com/
• Stories form the episode : Jayla The Number Navigator | On My Way To Grandma’s House | Louie Lucky Looker 
• Follow Lynda on Twitter: @mathmilemarkers

Connect with Allison Dillard

• Website: https://www.allisonlovesmath.com/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllisonLovesMath
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisonlovesmath
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllisonLuvsMath

Distraction is a major obstacle to studying efficiently.

From the buzzing of phone notifications to the smell of good food in the kitchen, having your mind stick to a task can be a challenge when so much is happening around us. 

In this episode, I chat with physician and medical researcher, Estie Alessandrini, about seven factors that help create an optimal environment to boost productivity and stay focused.  As a brain health expert, Estie shares her work on knowledge growth and how to effectively regulate this progression using brain-based strategies. She has created The CLEVER Learning Method with a goal to empower as many children as possible with the super skill of knowing how to learn best.

Allison and Estie discuss:

• How learning is not about getting the right answer. It is about the journey to the answer [1.26]
• What a clever learning environment is [4:20]
• Being able to connect the dots before getting started with a new concept [5.35]
• The importance of creating an optimal environment for the brain to function [11.00]
• Seven factors to create a clever learning environment [12.12]
• What a Brain Break is [12.55]
• How the learning space affects your learning [16.24]
• How being hydrated affects the mind [22.02]

Estie's Resources

• Free Clever Brain Challenge https://cleverlearningmethod.com/clever-brain-challenge/
• To cultivate a healthy happy family visit: HealthyFamilyandMe.com

Connect with Allison Dillard

• Website: https://www.allisonlovesmath.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllisonLovesMath
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisonlovesmath
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllisonLuvsMath

Allison's Math Books

• Raise your Math Grade: Get this FREE short book, which is a toughen-up math manifesto mixed with you-can-do-it enthusiasm. It is an open educational resource, meaning you can share it freely with friends, students, and colleagues. 
• Crush Math Now:  Order this best-selling Amazon book! It is a study guide packed with all the advice Allison has given students over the years on math mindset, study skills, and test-taking strategies.
• Love Math Journal: Get this growth mindset journal to help 4th-8th grade students to succeed in and love math. This journal is co-authored by Allison and Nicole Thomson, who had been on Episode# 44 Using Gratitude to Help Students Overcome Math Anxiety.

Can media subtly alter the way you perceive something?

Internet and technology have made the world a global village. With constant access to media and the fast pace of changing trends, subtle impressions of the way women are represented in math and STEM are still impacting our students' views of math. 

This episode features The Math Guru, Vanessa Vakharia. The author of Math Hacks, Vanessa appears regularly on national television and news outlets as an expert in math education and speaks globally at conferences about re-inventing media representations of women in STEM. Her goal is to totally change math culture so that STEM is finally as cool and accessible as every single Taylor Swift song. 

Tune in to this jazzy conversation with Vanessa, where we discuss inappropriate representations of math in the media and how you, as a teacher, can help students grow beyond that.

Allison and Vanessa discuss:

• The influence of media on young minds [2.15]
• Inappropriate representations of math in media [3.35]
• How mainstream fashion brands are influencing mindset for math in kids [11.15]
• How can you, as a teacher, can counter these negative representations of math [12.56] 
• How Vanessa became the Lady Gaga of Math despite failing in math twice [19.36]

Math-In-The-Media Assignment for students: 

• Perform a character sketch of a character from a movie or TV series who is good at math. Write about the interests and background of the character, along with the plot of the story. Have the students present their findings and discuss how the characters who love math were portrayed. Bonus question: If you could rewrite these movies or change the character, what changes would you make?
• Show a math movie and discuss how it portrays math.

Connect with Vanessa Vakharia a.k.a The Math Guru 

• Website: https://www.themathguru.ca/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themathguru/
• Math Hacks: http://scholastic.ca/books/app/webroot/series/math-hacks/
• Math Therapy Podcast: https://www.maththerapypodcast.com/

Connect with Allison Dillard

• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Allison-Dillard/e/B07PV43V59 
• Website: https://www.allisonlovesmath.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllisonLovesMath
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisonlovesmath
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllisonLuvsMath

Book Resources

• Love Math Journal: Get this growth mindset journal to help 4th-8th grade students to succeed in and love math. This journal is co-authored by Allison and Nicole Thomson, who had been on Episode# 44 Using Gratitude to Help Students Overcome Math Anxiety.
• Raise your Math Grade: Get this FREE short book, which is a toughen-up math manifesto mixed with you-can-do-it enthusiasm. It is an open educational resource, meaning you can share it freely with friends, students, and colleagues. 
• Crush Math Now:  Order this best-selling Amazon book! It is a study guide packed with all the advice Allison has given students over the years on math mindset, study skills, and test-taking strategies.