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
Mistakes: A Luxury for Some, A Burden for Others
Dear Educator,
What kind of space are you creating in your classroom?
In this episode of PD for the Soul, we’re challenging ourselves—and you—to take a deeper look at the unequal weight of failure in our schools. While some students are praised for “failing forward” or “learning from their mistakes,” others—particularly those from marginalized communities—face a very different reality. The same missteps that are framed as growth opportunities for some can lead to consequences, lowered expectations, or even punishment for others.
The hard truth is this: failing doesn’t mean the same thing for every student. And when race, language, and socioeconomic status come into play, the way mistakes are perceived and handled can either open doors or quietly close them.
This episode is an invitation—not just to listen, but to reflect.
- Are your students truly free to take risks in your classroom?
- Do they feel safe to make mistakes and learn from them?
- Or are there unspoken rules, reinforced by systems, that make some students’ failures feel like personal flaws?
Together, let’s reimagine what it means to create learning spaces that honor the humanity of every child—spaces where growth is encouraged, not penalized, and where failure is treated as a stepping stone, not a strike.
You have the power to shape that environment. Let’s do the work—with equity, care, and intention.
With deep respect,
Laneshia
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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