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Season 6, Episode 9

Unlocking a systematic approach to math fluency instruction

Join us for Episode 9, in which Bethany sits down with former classroom teacher Myuriel von Aspen to talk about the importance of a systematic approach to math fluency instruction. Listen as von Aspen discusses how effective fluency instruction takes students beyond fact memorization into deeper learning through mathematical discourse.

Meet our guest(s):

Myuriel von Aspen

Myuriel is the multiple subject coordinator for the MAT + Credential program at the University of California, Irvine. She has both teaching and coaching experience in elementary schools in Orange County, California, including seven years as a first and fourth grade teacher in a Spanish-English dual immersion school. She has worked in projects with Student Achievement Partners, UnboundED, and Illustrative Mathematics. Myuriel holds a bachelor of science in computer science from the Florida International University, and a master of business administration and master of arts in teaching from the University of California, Irvine. The core belief that drives her work is that all children are capable of learning challenging math. Our role as educators is to remove barriers, provide access and opportunities for children to make sense, engage in meaningful discussions, and develop their identities as competent doers and learners.

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Meet our hosts: Bethany Lockhart Johnson and Dan Meyer

Bethany Lockhart Johnson is an elementary school educator and author. Prior to serving as a multiple-subject teacher, she taught theater and dance, and now loves incorporating movement and creative play into her classroom. Bethany is committed to helping students find joy in discovering their identities as mathematicians. In addition to her role as a full-time classroom teacher, Bethany is a Student Achievement Partners California Core Advocate and is active in national and local mathematics organizations. Bethany is a member of the Illustrative Mathematics Elementary Curriculum Steering Committee and serves as a consultant, creating materials to support families during distance learning.

Dan Meyer taught high school math to students who didn’t like high school math. He has advocated for better math instruction on CNN, Good Morning America, Everyday With Rachel Ray, and TED.com. He earned his doctorate from Stanford University in math education and is currently the Dean of Research at Desmos, where he explores the future of math, technology, and learning. Dan has worked with teachers internationally and in all 50 United States and was named one of Tech & Learning’s 30 Leaders of the Future.

Transcripts and additional resources

Quotes

“Math is not about answer-getting. It’s not about ‘I get it right or I don’t,’ but, ‘Do I deeply understand and can I justify and explain all those math practices?’ That we know is what really shows that a student knows math deeply.” —Myuriel von Aspen