PD for the SOUL
Welcome to PD for the Soul, the podcast that nourishes your passion for teaching with research-driven insights, inspiring case studies, and thought-provoking conversations with special guests. Relaunching January 2025, we’re here to help you connect the dots between theory and practice, with a special focus on mathematics education. From innovative strategies to deepen math instruction to stories that bring numbers to life, PD for the Soul is your go-to resource for growth, innovation, and inspiration in education. Let’s transform classrooms—one concept, lesson, and student at a time.
PD for the SOUL
Fighting the Forgetting Curve: Building Generalizations That Last
In this episode, we dig into one of the biggest hurdles students face in math learning: the forgetting curve. With so many distractions today, knowledge retention is harder than ever, making it crucial for us as educators to create opportunities for students to explore mathematics deeply, not just widely. I share how building generalizations — not just memorizing facts or shortcuts — strengthens mathematical understanding and helps students connect ideas across time. We’ll talk about how to design classroom experiences that slow forgetting, deepen reasoning, and set the stage for students to thrive. Plus, I’ll share practical ways you can start making these shifts right now.
Spoiler: it’s less about covering everything and more about going deeper where it counts.
Get ready to rethink your planning with purpose. (And stay tuned — next episode, we’ll connect this to engagement and classroom management strategies that make deep learning possible!)
🔹 Resources Mentioned:
- The Math Pact: Achieving Instructional Coherence Within and Across Grades by Bush, Karp, and Dougherty
- Desmos Activity: Generalizations vs Overgeneralizations vs Rules
Thanks for tuning in to this episode of PD for the Soul! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, don’t forget to follow, 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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