DebateMath Podcast

Debate 51 - Should We Pause Grade Level Instruction to Rebuild Prior Skills?

Text us your thoughts!This month’s debate is a recording from a LIVE debate that took place at the West Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics (WVCTM) Conference in March of 2026.When students don’t have the prerequisite skills, do we hit pause? Or do we stay the course and fix gaps in real time? You’re working on solving equations, but integer operations are falling apart. Or you’re introducing functions, and foundational algebra skills are missing. If you pause grade-level content, are you giving students what they truly need — or widening opportunity gaps by lowering expectations and delaying access to rigorous math? If you push forward, are you maintaining high standards — or setting students up for confusion and frustration? Listen in as two teams argue their side in a LIVE debate on this resolution: It is better to pause grade-level instruction to rebuild prior skills than to push forward and address gaps as they appear.You can reach Sissy Collins at the Harrison County Board of Education, via email at jecollin@k12.wv.us, or on Facebook.You can find Sarah McGivern via Jefferson County Schools or on Instagram: @SSMcGivernYou can reach Ellen Holt at Summers County HS, via email at eholt@k12.wv.us, or on LinkedInAnd find Jason Massie via Mountain View School.And thanks to the WVCTM Conference for inviting us in!Listened to the episode? Now, it’s your turn to share! Find us on Social Media: @DebateMath 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 @DebateMath or going to debatemath.com. Follow us @Rob_Baier & @cluzniak. And don’t forget to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!

Fast Break #3 - What is the Best Way to Add 379 + 488?

Text us your thoughts!In this quick follow-up to last week’s episode, we invited each of our guests to model a short, fun classroom debate. In just a few minutes, you can hear a sample debate that captures the spirit of productive mathematical argumentation—thoughful, curious, and includes reasoning. Tune in for a rapid-fire glimpse of what these debates can look like in action!You can find Pam Harris on social media: @pwharris or @pamharris_math You can find Kim Montague on social media: @kimmontague or @kmont14 Be sure to check out MathIsFigureOutAble.comAnd the MathIsFigureOutAble Podcast! Listened to the episode? Now, it’s your turn to share! Find us on Social Media: @DebateMath 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 @DebateMath or going to debatemath.com. Follow us @Rob_Baier & @cluzniak. And don’t forget to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!

Debate 50 - Is There Fake Math?

Text us your thoughts!We throw around many phrases in education. And specifically in math education, we might hear people say some students are “doing real math.”  Or we hear educators looking for “authentic math experiences.”  On the other hand, we criticize “rote procedures” or “worksheet math.” But underneath all of that is a loaded question: When does math count… and when is it just pretending? Is math about the memorized algorithm? Is it plugging numbers into a formula? Is it word problems that simulate reality? In this month’s debate, we have two friends and colleagues who are stepping into the ring to debate what counts as “doing math” and what doesn’t. Listen in, as we explore the resolution: Is there such a thing as Fake Math?You can find Pam Harris on social media: @pwharris or @pamharris_math You can find Kim Montague on social media: @kimmontague or @kmont14 Be sure to check out MathIsFigureOutAble.comAnd the MathIsFigureOutAble Podcast!Listened to the episode? Now, it’s your turn to share! Find us on Social Media: @DebateMath 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 @DebateMath or going to debatemath.com. Follow us @Rob_Baier & @cluzniak. And don’t forget to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!

Fast Break #2 - What is the Best Manipulative for Fractions?

Text us your thoughts!In this quick follow-up to last week’s episode, we invited each of our guests to model a short, fun classroom debate. In just a few minutes, you can hear a sample debate that captures the spirit of productive mathematical argumentation—thoughful, curious, and includes reasoning. Tune in for a rapid-fire glimpse of what these debates can look like in action!You can find Robert Kaplinsky on social media: @RobertKaplinsky and check out more of his work at OpenMiddle.com and GrassrootsWorkshops.com Follow Courtney Flessner on Bluesky: @cfless or on Instagram: @MathandOtherThingsAnd be sure to check out KeepIndianaLearning.org!Listened to the episode? Now, it’s your turn to share! Find us on Social Media: @DebateMath 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 @DebateMath or going to debatemath.com. Follow us @Rob_Baier & @cluzniak. And don’t forget to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!

Debate 49 - Is Math Ed Broken?

Text us your thoughts!Math has often been seen as the universal language — a foundation of science, technology, and problem-solving. But it’s also often a source of struggle, frustration, and even fear for thousands of students. So what’s going on? Is there a problem with how we teach math? Or is this criticism missing the point — overlooking the structure, logic, and discipline that make math so powerful in the first place? Some say we’re losing rigor in the name of relevance; others say we’ve clung too tightly to outdated methods that no longer serve our students.In this episode, we want to explore what’s working, what’s not, and what a truly effective math education might look like in the 21st century, as we debate the resolution: Math Education in the US is Broken.You can find Robert Kaplinsky on social media: @RobertKaplinsky and check out more of his work at OpenMiddle.com and GrassrootsWorkshops.com Follow Courtney Flessner on Bluesky: @cfless or on Instagram: @MathandOtherThingsAnd be sure to check out KeepIndianaLearning.org!Listened to the episode? Now, it’s your turn to share! Find us on Social Media: @DebateMath 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 @DebateMath or going to debatemath.com. Follow us @Rob_Baier & @cluzniak. And don’t forget to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!