181 Math Trauma, Teen Talk Barbie, and the Myth of the "Math Person"
Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! This week, we're kicking off our summer book study of Math Therapy by Vanessa Vakharia. Rather than providing a chapter-by-chapter summary, this series is designed as a conversation around the ideas that resonate most, the questions they raise, and how they might influence our classroom practices. In Chapter 1, one idea kept surfacing again and again: The stories we tell ourselves about mathematics matter. From cultural s...
Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you!
This week, we're kicking off our summer book study of Math Therapy by Vanessa Vakharia.
Rather than providing a chapter-by-chapter summary, this series is designed as a conversation around the ideas that resonate most, the questions they raise, and how they might influence our classroom practices.
In Chapter 1, one idea kept surfacing again and again:
The stories we tell ourselves about mathematics matter.
From cultural stereotypes and family messaging to our own classroom experiences, students often arrive carrying beliefs about who they are as math learners long before we ever meet them.
In This Episode
- Why the "math person" myth is so persistent
- The surprising connection between Teen Talk Barbie and productive struggle
- The difference between math anxiety and math trauma
- How family experiences influence mathematical identity
- What intervention students have taught me about confidence and resilience
- Questions I'm beginning to explore about math trauma in honors classes
This Week's Reflection
Consider these questions:
- Were you told you were a math person growing up?
- What messages about mathematics shaped your own identity?
- How do stress, anxiety, and math trauma show up in your students?
- Does it look different in intervention classes versus advanced courses?
Community Challenge
This week, start noticing how mathematics is portrayed in everyday life.
Look for examples in:
- Television
- Movies
- Social media
- Advertisements
- Conversations with friends and family
Then share your observations inside our Facebook group. Let's see what patterns emerge when we start paying attention to the messages surrounding mathematics.
Read Along With Us
📖 Physical Book: https://amzn.to/42VJRl6
🎧 Audiobook: https://amzn.to/49nV55D
Next Time
We'll dive into Chapter 2 and begin exploring what math therapy actually looks like in practice—and why it might matter more than we realize.
Until next time, keep reflecting, keep learning, and remember that math is Moore than just solving for X. 🎙️📐
This podcast is a member of the Teach Better Podcast Network. Better Today. Better Tomorrow. And the Podcasts to Help You Get There.
Connect with Kristen:
- Follow on Instagram @moorethanjustx
- Join the Facebook Community: The Modern Math Teachers Movement
More About the Modern Math Teacher Podcast
Kristen Moore, classroom teacher and instructional coach at Moore Than Just X, empowers modern secondary math teachers to transform the student experience with the strategies and the confidence to implement project-based learning, mastery-based assessment, and student engagement strategies in their classrooms.
Whether you're a math education newbie or a seasoned veteran, you'll find something new and inspiring in every episode. You’re already a listener, why not join the Movement inside ✨The Modern Math Teachers Movement Facebook group. Join the community of math teachers who are not afraid to shake things up and make math class the best part of the day for our students. So tune in each Tuesday, have some fun, and let's elevate our math teaching game together!
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