In this episode of Room to Grow, Joanie and Curtis speak with Mike Steele and Joleigh Honey, authors of the recently released book transform your math class using asset-based teaching for grades 6-12. The book and the conversation explore what is meant by “asset-based,” and why shifting to more asset-based approaches supports a broader range of learners.

Mike and Joleigh unpack ideas around asset-based language, including, the language of mathematics, the language students use to talk about math, and the language educators use to talk about students. They also explore classroom and instructional routines, many of which are already in common use in classrooms, and how to ensure these routines fall more on the asset side of the continuum than on the deficit side. Finally, the conversation shifts to the larger educational structures that could benefit from a more asset-focused lens.

We encourage you to explore the resources below, referenced in this episode:

· Mike and Joleigh’s book, Tranform your math class using asset-based teaching for grades 6-12 can be found here

· Learn more about Mike Steele here or here and about Joleigh Honey here or here

· Mike and Joleigh both serve on the NCTM Board of Directors

Did you enjoy this episode of Room to Grow? Please leave a review and share the episode with others. Share your feedback, comments, and suggestions for future episode topics by emailing roomtogrowmath@gmail.com . Be sure to connect with your hosts on Twitter and Instagram: @JoanieFun and @cbmathguy.

In this episode of Room to Grow, Joanie and Curtis continue their conversations with middle and high school students to gain their perspectives on learning math. Our hosts interviewed six students from grades 7-12 in three different sessions. Because all of these conversations were rich with great comments, this is the second of two episodes of Room to Grow devoted to these students’ perspectives; if you haven’t already listened to part 1, we encourage you to do so.

Part 2 focuses on these students’ perceptions on asking questions in class and managing when they don’t understand, as well as their thoughts about homework. Once again, these students shared some really powerful ideas, and we hope they get you thinking!

We encourage you to explore the resources below, referenced in this episode:

· Riya’s Ramblings podcast – find on your favorite podcast platform or HERE on Apple Podcasts

· Not the article Joanie mentioned, but some other great ideas for teaching students how to study

• Teaching Students to Use Evidence-Based Study Strategies
• Five Ways to Teach Students the Skill of Active Studying
• Teaching Your Students How to Study
• Resources for thinking about homework
  • NCTM resources related to homework
  • Ideas for Assigning More Meaningful Math Homework

Did you enjoy this episode of Room to Grow? Please leave a review and share the episode with others. Share your feedback, comments, and suggestions for future episode topics by emailing roomtogrowmath@gmail.com . Be sure to connect with your hosts on Twitter and Instagram: @JoanieFun and @cbmathguy.

In this episode of Room to Grow, Joanie and Curtis have conversations with middle and high school students to gain their perspectives on learning math. They interviewed six students from grades 7-12 in three different sessions. Because all of these conversations were rich with great comments, the next two episodes of Room to Grow will be devoted to these students’ perspectives.

Part 1 focuses on what the students said their teachers do or don’t do in the classroom that supports their learning. We heard about the importance of being able to talk to others during class, to move around and actively engage students in the lesson, and understanding, supporting, and normalizing that students learn at different paces. Future episodes center on the conversations around homework and the importance of their teachers in forming their own mathematical identity and the culture of learning in the classroom. You may be surprised at how much you learn from these students.

We encourage you to explore the resources below, referenced in this episode:

• Riya’s Ramblings podcast – find on your favorite podcast platform or HERE on Apple Podcasts
• Resources for getting students talking in math class
• Blog post on developing math language routines
• Blog post with strategies for supporting mathematics discourse in your classroom
• Resources for getting students up and moving in class
• Blog post with ideas for beginning, middle and end of class
• Blog post with easy to implement ideas

Did you enjoy this episode of Room to Grow? Please leave a review and share the episode with others. Share your feedback, comments, and suggestions for future episode topics by emailing roomtogrowmath@gmail.com . Be sure to connect with your hosts on Twitter and Instagram: @JoanieFun and @cbmathguy.