Math Therapy
We're not teaching content, we're teaching students w/ Kevin Dykema (NCTM re-air)
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We're coming to you from DENVER this week for NCTM 2026, bringing Math Therapy LIVE to the conference for the very first time! If you're attending, come join Vanessa and producer David on Thursday, October 29th at 11 AM in Bluebird Ballroom 2A for a candid conversation with math education disruptor Dr. Kristopher Childs! Full session details here.
To celebrate, we're revisiting Vanessa's 2024 conversation with "famously nice guy" Kevin Dykema, who was President of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics at the time. Vanessa wanted to learn about his journey to the top, but was surprised to discover that even HE struggles with imposter syndrome! Kevin shares how he's learned to deal with it by "learning what he doesn't know" and not being afraid to reach out for help.
They discuss:
- Why teachers struggle to adapt to changes in math education
- The pros & cons of professional development, and what teachers really need
- How shifting perspectives on math anxiety can change the classroom
Kevin has an incredibly inspiring and optimistic outlook on education, reminding us that we're not just teaching math, we're teaching human beings. Whether you missed this conversation the first time around or want to revisit it, you're going to LOVE this convo!
Links mentioned:
- Math Therapy LIVE at NCTM 2026 — October 29, 11 AM, Bluebird Ballroom 2A
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)
- Dr. Kristopher Childs
- Productive Math Struggle — co-authored by Kevin Dykema
About Kevin:
Kevin Dykema is a past President of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and a longtime eighth-grade mathematics educator in southwest Michigan. He is a frequent speaker before mathematics education audiences and co-author of Productive Math Struggle.
Contact us:
- Vanessa Vakharia: Instagram, TikTok, Email
- Math Therapy: Text the Podcast
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