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Chalk & Talk

Chalk & Talk

By: Anna Stokke
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 Everyone wants to see children and young adults succeed in math, but it can be difficult to sort myths from facts in education. Join math professor, Anna Stokke, for conversations with leading educators and researchers about the importance of math, effective teaching methods, and debunking common myths about math and teaching. Chalk & Talk is a podcast for anyone interested in education, including educators, parents, and students.Copyright 2023 All rights reserved. Mathematics Science
Episodes
  • Episode 56: Unmasking instructional illusions with Paul Kirschner, Carl Hendrick and Jim Heal

    Episode 56: Unmasking instructional illusions with Paul Kirschner, Carl Hendrick and Jim Heal
    Oct 10 2025

    In this episode, Anna Stokke welcomes three leading experts in education, Dr. Paul Kirschner, Dr. Carl Hendrick, and Dr. Jim Heal for a fascinating discussion about their new book, Instructional Illusions. Drawing on decades of experience and research, they explore key ideas from the book, including how to bridge the gap between educational research and classroom practice. Together, they discuss the science of learning, evidence-informed teaching, and how educators can apply research insights to improve instruction. This engaging conversation is a must-listen for anyone passionate about effective teaching and student learning.

    Register for the Masterclass: Evidence-informed Mathematics Teaching, La Trobe School of Education

    Read the book, Instructional Illusions, here: https://tinyurl.com/instructional-illusions

    TIMESTAMPS

    [00:00:22] Introductions

    [00:05:15] What are Instructional Illusions?

    [00:07:30] The difference between illusions and myths

    [00:11:13] The discovery illusion

    [00:12:50] Why do people believe in discovery learning?

    [00:19:50] The curse of knowledge

    [00:24:29] The innovation illusion

    [00:30:01] Unmasking the innovation illusion

    [00:32:59] The expertise Illusion

    [00:38:04] The Dunning-Kruger effect

    [00:43:48] Unmasking the expertise illusion

    [00:47:50] The uniqueness illusion

    [00:50:52] The engagement illusion

    [00:57:10] Shifting the focus to cognitive engagement

    [01:01:28] The student-centred illusion

    [01:05:00] Unmasking the student-centred illusion

    [01:06:23] Is the science of learning a fad?

    RELEVANT PREVIOUS EPISODES

    Evidence Based Teaching Strategies with Paul Kirschner https://chalkandtalkpodcast.podbean.com/e/ep2-evidence-based-teaching-strategies-with-paul-kirschner/

    Mindsets and Misconceptions with Carl Hendrick

    https://chalkandtalkpodcast.podbean.com/e/ep-22-mindsets-and-misconceptions-with-carl-hendrick/

    EPISODE RESOURCES

    Why Minimal Guidance During Instruction Does Not Work: An Analysis of the Failure of Constructivist, Discovery, Problem-Based, Experiential, and Inquiry-Based Teaching: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1207/s15326985ep4102_1

    EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

    https://www.annastokke.com/transcripts/ep-56-transcript

    MUSIC

    Intro and Outro: Coma Media – Catch it Website: www.annastokke.com X: @rastokke LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/anna-stokke-3a1b4c Bluesky: @rastokke.bsky.social
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • Mailbag: How to get started with evidence-based math instruction & tackle gaps with Jonathan Regino (Ep 55)

    Mailbag: How to get started with evidence-based math instruction & tackle gaps with Jonathan Regino (Ep 55)
    Sep 26 2025

    In this episode, Anna Stokke hosts an informative mailbag edition with guest Jonathan Regino, supervisor of math (pre-K-12) at Interboro School District in Pennsylvania and an experienced classroom teacher.

    Drawing on their combined experience and expertise, they tackle listener questions, ranging from how to address large knowledge gaps among students to program recommendations. They also offer guidance on becoming informed about evidence-based practices, effective ways to assess students, and more. This engaging conversation is a must-listen for anyone seeking to strengthen math instruction and improve student learning.

    This episode is also available in video at www.youtube.com/@chalktalk-stokke

    Register for the Masterclass: Evidence-informed Mathematics Teaching, La Trobe School of Education

    TIMESTAMPS

    [00:00:22] Introduction

    [00:04:52] Question 1: How can new teachers learn about evidence-based practices?

    [00:09:52] Book recommendations

    [00:16:08] researchED

    [00:18:12] Question 2: Grading math assessments with points versus using standards-based grading

    [00:23:00] The 1,2,3,4 scale breakdown

    [00:26:16] Consistency with the grading system

    [00:27:30] Question 3: Free class-wide interventions to address math knowledge gaps

    [00:28:40] Delta Math RtI

    [00:33:09] Supporting high school math students with large knowledge gaps

    [00:38:46] Recommended resources

    [00:43:22] Question 4: England’s times table check

    [00:47:40] Question 5: Are spiraling programs ineffective?

    [00:50:02] Understanding spiraling vs. interleaving vs. spaced practice

    [00:56:14] Program recommendations

    [00:59:44] Final thoughts

    RELEVANT PREVIOUS EPISODES

    From decline to top rankings: How England transformed education with Nick Gibb https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-zps9p-18c1e97

    Cognitive load theory in math class with David Morkunas https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-znh5k-15f7937

    Rocking the times tables with Bruno Reddy https://chalkandtalkpodcast.podbean.com/e/rocking-the-times-tables-with-bruno-reddy/

    Math fact crisis: Strategies for improving numeracy with Brian Poncy https://chalkandtalkpodcast.podbean.com/e/math-fact-crisis-strategies-for-improving-numeracy-with-brian-poncy/

    EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.annastokke.com/resources/ep-55-resources

    EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

    https://www.annastokke.com/transcripts/ep-55-transcript

    MUSIC

    Intro and Outro: Coma Media – Catch it

    Website: www.annastokke.com

    X: @rastokke

    LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/anna-stokke-3a1b4c

    Bluesky: @rastokke.bsky.social
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Balanced literacy didn’t work—will balanced math? with Ben Solomon (Ep 54)

    Balanced literacy didn’t work—will balanced math? with Ben Solomon (Ep 54)
    Sep 12 2025
    In this episode, Anna Stokke speaks with Dr. Ben Solomon, professor and researcher at the University at Albany with expertise in math assessment and intervention. Ben returns to the podcast to discuss “balanced math” and the recently released New York math briefs, which are part of the state’s numeracy initiative, and are set to shape professional development across New York. He explains why he and his colleagues launched a petition calling for the retraction of the briefs, pointing to omissions, misleading claims, and misuse of the term “evidence based.” They also unpack common math myths, such as the claim that timed tests cause math anxiety, and highlight the importance of explicit instruction while drawing parallels to balanced literacy and the reading wars. This timely conversation is essential for educators, policymakers, and anyone committed to improving math education. This episode is also available in video at www.youtube.com/@chalktalk-stokke Petition to Retract the New York Math Briefs: https://shorturl.at/bN7PF Masterclass: Evidence-informed Mathematics Teaching, La Trobe University https://shortcourses.latrobe.edu.au/masterclass-evidence-informed-mathematics-teaching TIMESTAMPS [00:00:23] Introduction [00:04:22] Understanding the New York Math Briefs [00:09:46] The science of learning and its frameworks [00:16:18] Myth 1: Time Testing causes Math Anxiety [00:22:00] Myth 2: Explicit Instruction is Only for Students with Disabilities [00:27:10] What is Explicit Instruction? [00:29:45] The Importance of Explicit Instruction [00:34:07] Similarities between Balanced Literacy and Balanced Math [00:38:30] The Fundamental Misunderstandings of Explicit Instruction [00:41:51] Myth 3: Structured Practice of Math Facts and Standard Algorithms Isn’t Useful [00:43:56] Misconceptions about Conceptual Understanding [00:47:13] Myth 4: Discovery Learning Should be Prioritized in the Early Stages of Acquisition [00:51:50] The New York Math Scores [00:57:03] The Benefits of Math Fluency Programs [00:58:52] Replacement Documents for the New York Math Briefs [1:05:38] Final Thoughts RELEVANT PREVIOUS EPISODES Red flags in education research with Dr. Ben Solomon https://www.annastokke.com/podcast/episode/3a372141/red-flags-in-education-research-with-ben-solomon-ep-23 How to build automaticity with math facts (Anna Stokke) https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-3ny3k-17323a9 Math fact crisis: strategies for improving numeracy with Brian Poncy https://chalkandtalkpodcast.podbean.com/e/math-fact-crisis-strategies-for-improving-numeracy-with-brian-poncy/ Do timed tests cause math anxiety? with Robin Codding https://chalkandtalkpodcast.podbean.com/e/ep-17-do-timed-tests-cause-math-anxiety-with-robin-codding/ Universal screening in math with Amanda VanDerHeyden https://chalkandtalkpodcast.podbean.com/e/universal-screening-in-math-with-amanda-vanderheyden-ep-50/ From decline to top rankings: How England transformed education with Nick Gibb https://chalkandtalkpodcast.podbean.com/e/from-decline-to-top-rankings-how-england-transformed-education-with-nick-gibb-ep-49/ Teachers Talk Radio https://www.ttradio.org/ RESOURCES Found here: https://www.annastokke.com/resources/ep-54-resources/ EPISODE TRANSCRIPT Found here: https://www.annastokke.com/transcripts/ep-54-transcript/ MUSIC Intro and Outro: Coma Media – Catch it Website: www.annastokke.com X: @rastokke LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/anna-stokke-3a1b4c Bluesky: @rastokke.bsky.social
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 10 mins
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