Ep 75 - Ashley Powell inspires us with problem solving

Ashley Powell invites us to rethink what it means to teach mathematics through problem solving. Rather than treating problem solving as something students do after they have learned a set of procedures, Ashley frames it as a powerful way students build understanding in the first place. In this episode, Ashley shares practical ways to get started with problem-based instruction, including how to adapt simple tasks, create multiple entry points, and focus on the mathematics students are actually making sense of. She highlights three key features of strong tasks: the math must be problematic, the task must be accessible, and students must be asked to justify and explain their thinking. You’ll hear classroom-ready ideas like broken-key tasks, cluster problems, proportional reasoning contexts, and prompts that help students move beyond “number plucking” toward reasoning. Ashley also reminds us to “be less helpful,” listen carefully to student thinking, and tell the right things at the right time. This conversation is a practical and encouraging starting point for teachers, coaches, and leaders who want to make problem solving central to how students experience mathematics. CONTACT / RESOURCES Ashley Powell Ashley on LinkedIn Teaching Mathematics through Problem Solving K-8, Expanded Edition Register for our conferences: ✚ Check out our conferences here: https://www.cmcmath.org/conferences Learn about our monthly webinars and get on our mailing list to be notified: https://www.cmcmath.org/cmc-central/virtual-learning-series As always, we hope you visit the California Math Council website: https://www.cmcmath.org/ SUBSCRIBE! ✚ YouTube (video & audio): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvolZqLMhJmlKZXVW-HMWHmGsXXaeH09f ✚ Spotify (video & audio): https://open.spotify.com/show/7A17FvtyV8FiFJ0SWoTiQm?si=44d81611497e4c7a ✚ Apple Podcast (audio only): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/math-on-the-rocks/id1728772089