Episodes

  • From Right Answers to Adventure: The Shift to Playful Learning
    Aug 2 2024

    In this episode, Sonya welcomes back familiar guest hosts Denise and Della to discuss the importance of play in the context of homeschooling, particularly in math education. They delve into the distinction between natural play and play-based learning, and how incorporating playful activities can make learning deeper and less stressful for children. The conversation covers practical advice on bringing a sense of curiosity and exploration into the educational setting, addressing both the power dynamics between adults and children and the potential for increased social connection through playful learning. Specific anecdotes, games, and exercises such as the substitution game, reciprocal fractions, and using Cuisenaire rods are shared to illustrate how play can be integrated into daily lessons. The hosts also provide insights on lesson planning within a flexible framework and emphasize the value of parents participating in learning through play alongside their children. Mentioned in this podcast:

    Substitution Game

    Find Sonya Post Math Mom

    learningwellathome.com⁠, ⁠Academy⁠,⁠ Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠

    Email: ⁠sonya@sonyapostmathmom.com


    Find Denise Gaskins at Tabletop Acadmy Press

    denisegaskins.com⁠, ⁠Books & More Books⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠


    Find Della Parker at the Beauty of Playthebeautyofplay.com, tiktok, instagram



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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • NW Short: Unlocking Learning: A Journey Through Gattegno's Four Stages
    Jul 11 2024

    In this episode of the Notice and Wonder podcast, host Sonya Post delves into the concept of learning, exploring what it truly means beyond merely regurgitating facts. She introduces listeners to Gattegno's Four Stages of Learning, a framework that helps guide children through their educational journey.

    1. Stage One: Realization - This stage involves basic awareness and curiosity. It's marked by the initial spark of interest in something new. Sonya emphasizes the importance of nurturing this curiosity by providing opportunities and resources for exploration.

    2. Stage Two: Exploration and Experimentation - True learning begins in this stage, characterized by mistakes and trial and error. Sonya discusses how mistakes are essential for developing problem-solving skills and encourages parents to provide a safe space for these learning experiences.

    3. Stage Three: Transition - At this stage, children start to perform new skills with concentration, which gradually becomes automatic with practice. Parents and teachers are advised to avoid constant repetition, allowing children to focus and think independently.

    4. Stage Four: Transfer - The final stage is when learned skills become the foundation for acquiring new ones. Sonya highlights the importance of helping children recognize connections and apply their skills in various contexts, facilitating lifelong learning.

    Sonya wraps up the podcast by encouraging parents to understand and support their children's learning stages, aiming for more than just good grades but building a strong foundation of knowledge and skills. She emphasizes the importance of nurturing curiosity and a lifelong love of learning.

    Find Sonya Post Math Mom

    ⁠Website⁠, ⁠Academy⁠,⁠ Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠

    Email: ⁠sonya@sonyapostmathmom.com

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    1 hr and 30 mins
  • Thinking Out Loud: How Social Interaction Shapes Our Thoughts and Ideas
    Jun 27 2024

    In this episode of the Notice and Wonder Podcast, host Sonya Post spends some time with friend Debra Childers and they discuss the role social interaction plays in the thinking process. They explore studies on thinking out loud and self-mediation and how taking thinking outside your mind affects education.

    Debra Childers is a homeschooling mom of 4, aspiring novelist, and sometimes Twitch streamer under the name Maidenfine.

    Mentioned in the podcast:

    Jordan Peterson on Thinking

    NBC News Go Ahead and Talk to Yourself


    Find Sonya Post Math Mom

    ⁠Website⁠, ⁠Academy⁠,⁠ Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠

    Email: ⁠sonya@sonyapostmathmom.com


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    1 hr and 31 mins
  • Engaging Minds: The Impact of Multisensory Learning
    Jun 12 2024

    In this episode of the Notice and Wonder podcast, host Sonya Post discusses the benefits multisensory learning with Kirk Lunde, Anna Tarnowski, and Finley Smith. They touch on what is and isn't multisensory learning. They also touch on the benefits of math manipulatives.

    Find Sonya Post Math Mom

    ⁠Website⁠, ⁠Academy⁠,⁠ Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠

    Email: ⁠sonya@sonyapostmathmom.com


    Find Finley Smith @finleysmith Website, Instagram
    Find Kirk Lunde @kirks_tutoring Website, Facebook, Instagram


    Find Anna Tarnowski @annasmathpage Website, Facebook, Instagram

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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • NW Short: Seeing Clearly - Making Sense of Wholes and Parts
    Jun 5 2024

    This is the second Notice and Wonder Podcast short. In this episode host, Sonya Post, looks at Analytic Perception as the opposite of blurred and sweeping perception. She discusses how math, particularly Gattegno Mathematics, develops Analytic Perception in a child. Seeing clearly is essential for all thinking processes. If our children don't get this right, it is difficult to get anything else right.


    Find Sonya Post Math Mom

    ⁠Website⁠, ⁠Academy⁠,⁠ Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠

    Email: ⁠sonya@sonyapostmathmom.com


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    11 mins
  • Rethinking Perfection: Why Mistakes Matter
    May 29 2024

    In this Notice and Wonder Podcast episode, Sonya Post explores the importance of mistake-making with Denise Gaskins and Ruth Rinaldi. The conversation delves into the significance of mistake-making in learning, the impact of perfectionism, and the role of humility in embracing mistakes. The discussion also touches on the challenges of traditional education systems and the need for a learner-oriented approach. The conversation delves into the importance of making mistakes in the learning process, the fear of mistakes, and the impact of mistakes on learning and growth. It also explores the role of parents in guiding their children through mistake-making and the significance of problem-solving skills in education.


    Find Sonya Post Math Mom

    ⁠Website⁠, ⁠Academy⁠,⁠ Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠

    Email: ⁠sonya@sonyapostmathmom.com

    Find Ruth Rinaldi

    ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠TicTok⁠, ⁠Tutoring⁠

    Find Denise Gaskins

    ⁠Website⁠, ⁠Books & More Books⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠


    Mentioned in the Podcast: Researching Your Own Practice: The Discipline of Noticing by John Mason




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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • NW Short: How Blurred Perception Affects Everything
    May 20 2024

    In this episode of the "Notice and Wonder" podcast shorts, host Sonya Post, explores the anxiety and frustration that arise when faced with too much information. Drawing on cognitive science, the podcast discusses how perception and orientation in our environment affect our emotional responses.

    Sonya delves into the concept of "blurred and sweeping perception," which impairs our ability to focus on details and process information effectively, leading to heightened stress and anxiety. She shares personal experiences and insights on the importance of mediation in childhood to develop these skills.

    Listeners are encouraged to see challenging situations as opportunities for guided learning and mediation, both for themselves and their children. The episode concludes with a promise to discuss practical strategies for improving perceptual skills in the next installment, emphasizing that it's never too late to become a better mediator and teacher.

    Sonya's Email: sonya@learningwelltutoring.com

    Website: www,learningwellathome.com

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/arithmophobianomore


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    12 mins
  • Curiosity as the Driver of Learning
    May 15 2024

    In this episode of the Notice and Wonder Podcast, Sonya discusses the role of curiosity in the learning process. She is joined by Denise Gaskins and Cindy Bly, who share their insights as educators. They define curiosity as the desire to know and understand something, and they emphasize its importance in driving learning. They discuss how curiosity can be fostered in children by providing opportunities for exploration, play, and problem-solving. They also highlight the need for educators to cultivate positive relationships with students and create a supportive learning environment. The episode concludes with a discussion on the relationship between curiosity and wonder, and the importance of embracing mistakes and the process of learning You can find Sonya at: ⁠⁠Website - sonyapostmathmom⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Facebook Group - Learn Math with Base Ten Blocks⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Instagram - sonyapostmathmom⁠ Where you can find Denise: ⁠Website - Denise Gaskins⁠, ⁠Table Top Academy Press Mentioned in the Podcast:

    If Not Methods for Math by Denise Gaskins

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    48 mins