In this episode of TandL Talks, Nancy sits down with three members of the district’s math cadre —Tracy Tsujii (3rd grade, Waller Road), Preston Gillihan (5th grade, Mountain View), and Kim Douglas (kindergarten, Firgrove) — for a post-cadre debrief while the learning is still fresh and the reflections are real.

Together, they unpack what great math instruction can look like from kindergarten through fifth grade:

how early relationships and “that one teacher” shaped them as mathematicians

why math fluency is about flexibility and understanding, not just “fast, fast, fast” recall

the power of manipulatives and movement — from Play-Doh spheres to volume with cubes

using tools like Magma Math to surface thinking and discourse, not replace teachers

building “thinking classrooms” with vertical whiteboards where every student has to engage

They also talk candidly about stepping up as cadre leaders, the reality of leaving their classrooms for district work, and their shared hope that every child grows up seeing themselves as a mathematician.

“Wouldn’t it be great if every single kid walked out of our schools feeling like they’re a math person?”

If you’ve ever wondered how to make math more joyful, more inclusive, and more about thinking than worksheets, this conversation will give you both inspiration and practical ideas for your next lesson.