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
Shortcuts or Setups? Teaching Math for the Long Game
As the school year winds down, this episode invites educators to pause and reflect: Are the rules we’re teaching setting students up for long-term success—or long-term confusion?
From “keep, change, flip” to “move the decimal,” we explore the rules that expire—the shortcuts that might get students through today’s lesson but leave them stuck tomorrow. More importantly, we talk about what it looks like to shift toward teaching deep understanding over speed, and how to start that shift—even with just one small move before the year ends.
This episode is for any educator who’s ever wondered:
👉 Is this rule really helping all my students?
👉 What would it mean to slow down in order to build stronger sense-making?
Whether you're closing out your year or already planning for the next, this conversation is your springboard for more intentional, equity-centered math instruction.
🔗 Connected Episodes for a Stronger Foundation:
📘 Words Matter: How Consistency in Language Builds Math Understanding
✍️ Do No Harm: Why Precision in Notation Is a Non-Negotiable
🧮 Making Math Stick: The Power of Consistent Representations
💡 Big Idea:
Teaching for the long game means letting go of tricks that don’t transfer—and committing to the kind of math instruction that builds lasting confidence, clarity, and connection.
🎧 Listen now and share with your team:
#PDOnTheGo #MathCoaching #MoveAndMakeMathHappen #EquityInMath #InstructionalLeadership #MiddleSchoolMath
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.
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