Meaningful Math

• 016. The Equal Sign: Its Meaning & Common Misconceptions

  Let’s take a closer look at the equal sign and how complex this concept actually is. In this episode, we will discuss the meaning of the equal sign, the misconceptions students have about the symbol, why those misconceptions occur, and what we can do about it!What does it really mean to understand the equal sign? For many students, this tiny symbol carries a big misunderstanding. It is often seen as a cue to calculate rather than a signal of relationship or balance. That misconception may seem small, but it can have lasting effects on how students make sense of equations and build readiness for algebra.This episode explores how early experiences shape our students’ understanding of equality. We will look at how small shifts in classroom routines, language, and materials can create clarity and deeper reasoning.This conversation is for anyone who has ever been surprised by how complex the equal sign can be for young learners and is ready to help build a deeper understanding from the very beginning.Mentioned in this episode:✅Wisconsin Center for Educational Research More from us:👉 Follow us on Instagram @meaningfulmathco⭐️ SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a minute to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. With your support, we can reach even more teachers looking to make math meaningful for their students. Thank you!

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• 015. The CRA Model: Concrete, Representational, Abstract

  Today we will be tackling a topic that several of you have said you want to learn more about: The CRA model, (Concrete Representational Abstract). Unfortunately, many teachers learned math in the abstract. However, now we get to create opportunities to build student understanding with concrete experiences, and make meaning of the math. It's exciting stuff, so press play!It’s one thing for students to memorize a math fact, but it’s another thing entirely for them to understand it. When students rely on abstract symbols alone, their learning can feel disconnected, temporary, and fragile.That’s where the CRA model (Concrete, Representational, Abstract) comes in. In this episode, we explore how this powerful approach helps students build deep, lasting understanding by connecting hands-on experiences, visual thinking, and symbolic reasoning.You’ll hear how CRA can shift the way students think about math, and why this isn’t just a “primary grades” strategy. We’ll talk about what it looks like in practice, how to get started without feeling overwhelmed, and how this one framework can transform the way your students make sense of math.Links mentioned in this episode:✅ Math Practice 2More from us:👉 Follow us on Instagram @meaningfulmathco⭐️ SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a minute to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. With your support, we can reach even more teachers looking to make math meaningful for their students. Thank you!

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• 014. Using Subitizing to Support Multiplication Fluency

  Subitizing is a powerful way to build multiplication fluency with your students because it gives them an opportunity to visualize strategies that can help them quickly recall unknown facts. For many students, subitizing feels a lot less scary and a lot more fun than flashcards, or other more traditional forms of fluency practice. So press play and let's dig into HOW to use subitizing to build fact fluency with your students!Traditional approaches to math fact fluency often emphasize speed and memorization, but there are more meaningful ways to support student learning. This episode explores how subitizing, a visual strategy commonly used in the early grades, can be extended to build multiplication fluency through pattern recognition and numerical reasoning.Learn how intentional visual routines can strengthen number sense and help students internalize multiplication facts through understanding, not rote recall. This discussion offers practical insights for teachers looking to make fluency work more engaging and effective across the elementary grades.More from us:👉 Follow us on Instagram @meaningfulmathco⭐️ SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a minute to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. With your support, we can reach even more teachers looking to make math meaningful for their students. Thank you!

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• 013. Subitizing: Perceptual vs. Conceptual and Their Importance

  Subitizing is an important skill that helps lay the foundation of understanding wholes and parts, which evolves into addition, subtraction, and later multiplication and division. In this episode, we’ll discuss the two types of subitizing, dig into ways we can encourage these skills, and understand the natural progression of subitizing skills to follow with your students. Sound good? The press play!In this episode, we explore how the ability to instantly recognize quantities without counting supports deep mathematical understanding. This foundation matters not just in the moment, but across a child’s development. From early number sense to part-whole relationships and fluency with operations, subitizing lays critical groundwork.We take a closer look at how these ideas unfold over time, how to support them intentionally, and how to spot what your students’ strategies reveal about their understanding and fluency development.More from us:👉 Follow us on Instagram @meaningfulmathco⭐️ SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a minute to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. With your support, we can reach even more teachers looking to make math meaningful for their students. Thank you!

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• 012. Building Fluency with Subtraction Strategies [Part 2]

  Subtraction often gets stuck in a single storyline: “take away and count back.” But what if students had the chance to think differently, to reason about subtraction in ways that are more efficient, more intuitive, and more meaningful?In this final episode of our fluency series, we revisit what makes subtraction challenging and explore how students shift from early strategies to more flexible thinking. You’ll hear how simple comparisons and visual tools like number lines and story problems can open doors to new strategies and deeper understanding.You might also be surprised by one instructional move that could transform your approach to subtraction fluency, and it's definitely already in your curriculum. Let’s rethink how we help students see subtraction not as something to memorize, but as something to truly understand.Links mentioned in this episode:✅NCTM’s The Five FundamentalsMore from us:👉 Follow us on Instagram @meaningfulmathco⭐️ SUBSCRIBE AND REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a minute to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. With your support, we can reach even more teachers looking to make math meaningful for their students. Thank you!

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