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Help students see their whole selves in the math they’re learning with culturally responsive teaching. What is your students relationship to math? 

Join me as I interview the authors of Cultivating Mathematical Hearts, you won’t want to miss it!

In This Episode:

  • culturally relevant math
  • eliciting student thinking
  • math modeling

About our guests Maria del Rosario Zavala  and Julia Marai Aguirre:

📕 Cultivating Mathematical Hearts: Culturally Responsive Mathematics Teaching in Elementary Classrooms 

💻  Julia Maria Aguirre Website

Check Out The Episode Notes Below 👇

culturally responsive math

First strand ➡ Knowledges & Identities 

Second Strand ➡ Rigor & Support 

Third Strand ➡ Power & Participation

Everyone has strengths and growth areas in the framework

Eliciting Student Thinking

High expectations for every single student– every child can do rigorous math thinking, can solve complex tasks, etc.

Open tasks– math modeling are a way to engage with high cognitive demand tasks and ope it up for cultural and community funds of knowledge to be utilized and honored in the classroom.

“You have everything inside of you to solve this problem.” – Mona Iehl

In science we take a stance that they are refining their understanding overtime. Math isn’t about building blocks, but instead refining your understanding of a concept.

It’s Not Only About the Mirror…

It is not only about the mirror but also about the lens. Students should have the opportunity to learn about mathematicians that look like them and learn about the experiences of mathematicians that look like all kinds of people.

There is a diversity of mathematicians in our world.

You are a mathematician, and you can pursue a mathematical career.

“Why does it have to be about race?” Because there is a particular power imbalance. Addressing power imbalances. 

Culturally Responsive Math

Posters, Norms, Family Nights… Knowledge & Identities… but you take to rigorous math thinking is culturally responsive. 

Knowledge and Identities– center their experiences outside of school as math experiences in the classroom. Utilize their knowledge and experiences as a reference point for a way to make math relevant 

culturally relevant math

Final Thoughts on Culturally Responsive Math

It’s less about the things & the strategies, and more about your relationship with math. You can read more about math relationships here. Checking in with yourself about the value you bring to the classroom is so important to reflect on. 

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

✏️ Mathematician Posters

✅ Black Mathematician Posters

❤️ Math Tasks that allow for deep thinking & learning about  mathematicians

My Teacher Hot Take 🔥

  • Teacher PD should match the TEACHER’S goals, not the schools goals.
  • PD should be provided by teachers, that understand what it’s like to teach in this post-covid world.
math pd

That’s why I’m providing low cost PD series for you. (ONLY $11!!) 🤩

Each PD is designed with actionable strategies that I used in my own classroom and I know work with students who struggle.

📣 Register for PD HERE!


Have Questions? 📱 My DMs on IG are always open @hellomonamath

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