Cultivating Math Identity: A Conversation with Adam Smith

Adam Smith is a seasoned math education researcher and instructional leader. In this episode, he shares with us the roots of math anxiety and how identity, early experiences, and societal messages shape whether we see ourselves as “math people.” All humans are naturally wired for foundational mathematical thinking, yet math education often becomes abstract and disconnected from students’ lives in secondary education. This conversation highlights how representation, family messages, teacher attitudes, and school structures like tracking reinforce who is “expected” to excel. Adam encourages us to be intentional about the messages we send about math, to reflect on our own math stories, and to create environments where all students can see themselves as capable mathematical thinkers. Curious to learn more? See how we’re advancing learning and research at rockymountain-research.org