Ep290: Math-ish: An Interview with Dr. Jo Boaler

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Dr. Jo Boaler is here to discuss her new book "Math-ish," where she introduces findings that advocate for viewing mathematics through a real-world lens, termed “math-ish.”
This approach reshapes our perceptions of math, data, and personal capabilities. Recognizing the significance of diversity in individuals and varied learning strategies allows everyone to thrive.
Whether numbers instill a sense of competence or cause anxiety varies widely among individuals. Dr. Jo Boaler, a Stanford researcher and esteemed professor of mathematics education, contends that embracing these individual differences is crucial for tapping into our fullest potential in mathematics.
Lean into this conversation and you’ll come out the other side with an innovative approach focusing on estimation and deeper conceptual understanding, which has proven more effective and preferred by students over traditional methods.
You’ll also learn about breaking away from rigid, rule-based learning to allow students to utilize their own problem-solving skills….and much more.
You’ll Learn:
- How personal experiences with mathematics shaped their teaching approaches, emphasizing the need to move away from traditional methods to more engaging and constructive learning experiences.
- The concept of "mathish" - an innovative approach focusing on estimation and deeper conceptual understanding, which has proven more effective and preferred by students over traditional methods. This approach not only improves calculation accuracy but also enhances performance in standardized testing.
- Breaking away from rigid, rule-based learning to allow students to utilize their own problem-solving skills. This approach aims to overcome the negative perception of math as a controlled and uncreative subject, fostering a more open and explorative learning environment.
- The importance of nurturing critical thinking and personalized learning experiences. Despite some resistance from students used to more directive teaching styles, you’ll learn the benefits of encouraging students to engage deeply with mathematical concepts.
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Join the Academy: makemathmoment...

[@stevo-dx5rr]

I loved math because I didn’t have to memorize anything; I could always work out my own understanding from first principles, and I treated it like a puzzle to solve. So I’m definitely a believer in this “ish” idea (what I’d call napkin math). I’m here as a parent of young kids, with the perception (rightly or wrongly) that standards in schools have fallen significantly since when I was a kid. I’m worried there won’t be any challenge for my own kids, just as there was very little for me. I’m just worried there isn’t going to be a place for them to reach their full potential.