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What is memory? Are different brains good at memorizing different things (like math vs music)? Is memorization even a good way to learn? Why don’t we teach math like we teach reading? Why do we love puzzles and escape rooms but hate math class? Is it possible to make math learning fun?? Will Vanessa ever learn how to explain how to text the podcast?!?! How does this all relate to math trauma?!?!?!

Ok. Deep breaths. Today's ep with Dr. Raj Shah was a rollercoaster, as every question spawned 10 more! Connecting the big thorny debates of math education with the humanity and complexity of what students are actually experiencing in their minds and bodies, Vanessa and Raj laughed, cried, and one of them even broke out into song (probably not the one you expected!)

If you need a triple shot of inspiration, hope, and laughter today, this episode is for you.

Show notes:

• Raj’s TED Talk "Using Video Game Principles to Improve Math Scores"
• Ted Lasso scene "Be curious, not judgmental"
• All of Me by John Legend
• Good Inside by Becky Kennedy
• Annie Fetter “Notice and Wonder”
• Math Therapy S5E06: Redefining Success
• Send us your 3 superpowers!

About Raj: (Website, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook)

Dr. Raj Shah is the founder of Math Plus Academy, a founding member of the Global Math Project, and a leading voice in making math irresistible. Raj is passionate about creating math experiences that feel joyful and accessible, drawing inspiration from everything from video game design to human psychology. Beyond math, Raj is deeply interested in spirituality and therapy, seeing connections between how we approach math, how we heal shame, and how we make sense of the world.

Connect with us:

• Vanessa Vakharia: Instagram, TikTok, Email
• Math Therapy: Website, Text the podcast, Merch Store
  • Get the book: Corwin, Amazon
  • Audiobook: Audible, Spotify

Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

Today's ep ended up in a different place than Vanessa expected when she first sat down to chat with Pam Harris, founder of Math Is Figureoutable. Their first real interaction was on the DebateMath Podcast; Pam insisted that learning algorithms/shortcuts can actually hold students back from true learning, while Vanessa advocated for kids to learn however works for them.

Often, that's where it ends. Worse, especially in the "everyone yell at each other" media landscape, the conversation never begins! Which makes today's episode so refreshing - a debate that was more philosophical than ideological. Pam and Vanessa had the time to really go into depth about what they disagree on and where they see eye to eye ... spoiler alert, they're actually pretty aligned!

Links discussed:

• Math Is Figureoutable Podcast
• Free resource download: mathisfigureoutable/big
• #MathStratChat
• Vanessa & Pam debate algorithms on the DebateMath Podcast
• Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

About Pam:

Pam Harris is a leading math educator, author, and speaker best known for her work on making math figure-out-able. Through her books, podcast, and teaching, she helps classrooms move away from rote memorization and answer-getting, and toward math as something students can sense-make, reason through, and truly understand. She’s passionate about showing that math isn’t about tricks or steps—it’s about thinking, starting with the knowledge students already bring to the table.

Connect with us:

• Pam Harris: Website, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook
• Vanessa Vakharia: Instagram, TikTok, Email
• Math Therapy: Website, Text us

Send us a text! (US messaging rates apply)

We're trying something new this week! Last week's ep with Mike Flynn dove into some very murky debate waters: do students need to know the "why" of what their learning in order to truly understand material, or is it fine for them to just memorize things as long as they get the answers? (If you missed, scroll back in your feed or click here to catch up.)

But the real drama took place over on TikTok, where Vanessa posted a clip from the ep and some viewers engaged in very polite and erudite discussion in the comments ... jk, people LOST THEIR MINDS. But there were also a ton of great points that are often debated in math ed, so we invited Mike back on this week to respond to some comments real-time and clarify some of what he and Vanessa meant last week. Enjoy - and either way, you know where to let us know what you think ;)

Links discussed:

• How to find the "why" in math class w/ Mike Flynn (last week's ep)
• The TikTok that started it all
• Lost S2E01 - *why* was Desmond typing the numbers?!

Connect with us:

• Mike Flynn: Website, TikTok, Instagram
• Vanessa Vakharia: Instagram, TikTok, Email
• Math Therapy: Website, Text us