Ep 73 - Kevin Dykema is rethinking productive struggle

Math on the Rocks · May 28, 2026 · 1h 3m

Kevin Dykema invites us to rethink productive struggle as more than a math education buzzword. Instead of rescuing students with steps and answers, he shows how teachers can create the conditions for students to reason, grapple, and make sense of mathematics.

In this episode, Kevin shares practical ways to make struggle productive, including building positive math identity, creating a supportive classroom community, planning better tasks, anticipating student thinking, and asking questions that rescue thinking instead of answers.

You’ll hear classroom-ready examples involving mental math…