More Math for More People

A quirky holiday about Printing Ink turns into a surprising exploration of how learning really sticks. We start with soot, gelatin, CMYK, and the tactile world of flexography—plates wrapped on cylinders, color laid down in sequence, and the trained eye that spots misalignments at a glance. 

That segues into our deeper conversation with CPM Executive Director, Rafael del Castillo: January acts like a second first day of school, only ...

Ready for a feel-good jolt of purpose and practical ideas to carry you into the new year? We kick off with National Underdog Day, then connect that spirit to math classrooms where identity, equity, and agency drive the work. The conversation builds toward a big announcement: the CPM Teacher Conference returns to San Francisco on February 21–22, 2026, with an energized program designed to meet teachers where they are and help them g...

A bag of popcorn, a few movie-theater secrets, and then the big pivot: what actually makes math materials high quality. We invited Bridget Gunn and Dan Henderson to help us pull HQIM out of acronym-land and into real classrooms, where teachers need time, students need voice, and everyone needs coherence. The result is a candid, practical tour of how curriculum design can elevate thinking without burying teachers in prep.

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Start with a name and you get a story. We kick off with Latvian Independence Day and our colleague, Astrida Lizins, whose Latvian name, family roots, and community traditions open a window into how culture survives and thrives far from home. From Saturday language schools and summer camps to folk dance sets and dense rye bread, we explore how rituals and food build belonging—and why that matters when we think about classrooms.
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What if “common sense” isn’t universal at all—but learned, personal, and shaped by context? Joel and Misty begin with their typical philosophical investigation of the national day. This time it's "Use Your Common Sense" Day.

That reframing sets the stage for a lively conversation with our colleagues Bri Ruiz and Adam Varnes as they launch Sum Shenanigans, a new CPM social series built to deliver practical m...

What if a few simple shifts could turn your math class into a place where more students talk, think, and truly learn? 

We start with our usual celebration of the "day of" by tipping our hats to Ada Lovelace. 

Then we ask the PL Team to share some of their "themes of support" that come up as they work with teachers during the beginning part of the year. The struggles and challenges that they face and some of the ad...

What if the future of math education blends joy, rigor, and teacher voice—with professional learning that meets educators where they are? We open with a lighthearted celebration of International Podcast Day and a look back at how radio paved the way for the on‑demand world. Then we sit down with former CPM executive director Elizabeth Coyner to trace her path from a small farm town classroom to leading a national organization throu...

What does it mean to build authentic trust in educational settings? How do we create working agreements that evolve with changing circumstances rather than remaining static? These questions form the heart of this deeply reflective conversation about leadership, classroom dynamics, and the complex relationships that underpin effective education.

Beginning with a playful discussion about Collect Rocks Day, Joel and Misty exp...

First, it's National Toilet Paper Day! So we talk about how we will celebrate... 

Then, what happens when a school district shifts from traditional math instruction to collaborative learning? Holly McCarty, Coordinator of Curriculum Instruction at Shawnee Mission School District in Kansas, takes us behind the scenes of their successful CPM implementation journey.

When Holly joined Shawnee Mission—a district serving 25,...

First, we discuss National Couscous Day (not to be confused with National Quinoa Day...). Please read that out loud a few times so that you can join in our fun and delight in saying the word "couscous"!

Then, Rafael Del Castillo joins the More Math for More People podcast to share his fascinating journey from CPM math teacher to CPM Educational Program's Executive Director. His story reveals how a classroom ...

Latrenda Knighten, current president of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), joins us for the second part of our illuminating conversation on professional collaboration and growth in mathematics education.

We begin with a playful discussion of Pi Approximation Day (July 22nd or 22/7). What will you do to celebrate?

Then part two of our conversation – a profound exploration of professional identity and com...

First, we start off with National Pet Safety Day. How will you celebrate? Well, if you want to get a Save our Pets sticker? You could go here.

Then, what does it take to lead one of the the largest mathematics education organization in the world? Latrenda Knighton, current president of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), opens up about her journey from kindergarten teacher to mathematics education leader in part ...

Mathematics education never stands still. After a decade of classroom implementation, research advances, and teacher feedback, CPM Educational Program has reimagined their middle school curriculum for today's learning environments.

In this enlightening conversation with Tony Jones (Managing Editor) and Karen Wootton (Director of Curriculum Assessment), we explore how the third edition of CPM's Core Connections mi...

Summer has arrived, and with it comes refreshing iced tea, eaglet adventures, and exciting plans for the months ahead! We kick off with a spirited discussion about National Iced Tea Day, sharing our personal brewing preferences and debating the merits of sweet versus unsweet varieties. Remember those old commercials where people would fall backward into pools after a refreshing sip? We certainly do! (If you are too young (or old?) ...

Testing is over? What do YOU do to fill the last few days of school? We're watching eaglets!

The natural world offers endless fascination when we take time to observe it closely. This week, Joel and Misty share their current obsession with tracking the Big Bear Valley bald eagles through a live nest cam, discovering the remarkable process of how eaglets prepare for their first flight.

Starting with reflections on Natio...

Welcome to Season 5 of the More Math for More People podcast!!!

What if high school mathematics could be truly transformed into something students find engaging, meaningful, and applicable to their lives? In this thought-provoking conversation with mathematics education experts Kris Cunningham and Kristi Martin, we dive deep into the possibilities presented in the NCTM publication "High School Mathematics Reimagined, ...

What happens when someone who doesn't identify as a "math person" joins a mathematics education organization? In our milestone 101st episode, Nick Love, CPM's Director of Strategic Communications, shares candid insights about navigating this territory that reveal powerful lessons about creating inclusive learning environments.

After spending years in school communications without being a classroom teacher, Nick f...

First, it's National Rubber Eraser Day! So get your Pink Pearls out and celebrate!!

Then, we continue our conversation with Dr. Nicole Joseph of Vanderbilt University about the mathematical experiences of Black girls, revealing how they navigate spaces where they face unique challenges at the intersection of race and gender. Her research shows that Black girls are disproportionately affected by school disciplinary policies whil...

First, we launch into Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month. But we don't need to tell YOU how important this is!!

Then we have part one of a conversation with Dr. Nicole Joseph of Vanderbilt University. Dr. Nicole Joseph takes us on a profound journey into the heart of mathematics education, revealing how identity shapes learning experiences, particularly for Black girls. Drawing from her personal story of being...