Make Math Happen
Make Math Happen (formerly known as PD for the SOUL) is the podcast for educators ready to move with intention and teach with impact. Hosted by math coach and equity-focused educator Laneshia Boone, each episode bridges practice and purpose to help you design instruction that centers students, builds capacity, and makes learning stick—especially for those pushed to the margins.
Every week, you’ll get strategies that work in real classrooms, grounded reflections that challenge the status quo, and conversations with educators who are making bold moves in math education. From planning with purpose to using charts that anchor learning, from building strong routines to disrupting expired rules, this podcast is where meaningful math instruction comes to life.
You’ll walk away with ready-to-use tools, fresh insight, and the confidence to make every lesson count.
Because when we move with care, plan with clarity, and teach with courage, we make math happen.
Make Math Happen
Do No Harm: Why Precision in Notation Is a Non-Negotiable
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!
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: