edWebinars
«Back to all edWebinarsPlay as the Equalizer in Math: Universal Entry Points Into Deep Mathematical Thinking
Thursday, February 19, 2026 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EST
Presented by Brandon Smith, Former Educator, Current Director of Outreach Mathematics, MIND Education; and Jazmin M. Quiles, Instructional Mathematics Coach, Linden Public Schools (NJ)
Moderated by Jennifer Anderson, Senior Manager, Content Marketing, MIND Education
Sponsored by MIND Education
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Play is a universal language, and one of the most powerful tools for opening math to every learner. This third edWebinar of Math the Way Every Brain Learns: Engaging All Learners Week highlights how puzzle-driven, exploratory learning creates low-floor/high-ceiling entry points that support students who need more scaffolding while offering rich challenge for those ready to stretch.
Attendees will see how play lowers stress, fuels curiosity, and drives deep reasoning for learners of all profiles, from those who typically struggle to those who crave greater complexity. Practical strategies and real classroom examples will bring the power of play to life. This edWebinar will be of interest to PreK-12 teachers, school leaders, district leaders, and education technology leaders.
This edWebinar is part of Math the Way Every Brain Learns: Engaging All Learners Week.
About the Presenters
Brandon Smith is the Director of Outreach Mathematics at MIND Education, where he creates experiential learning programs for people of all ages, both in and out of the classroom—including two that are patent pending. Over the past several years, he has focused on developing innovative projects to close what he calls the math “experience gap,” where children have insufficient exposure to math in their daily lives. These projects include interactive exhibits and games for math fairs, math camps, and family math nights. Early in his career at MIND, he designed mathematical requirements for the game-based ST Math® software and led the national roll-out of the sixth-grade ST Math curriculum. Brandon co-authored a paper in Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications and has written for the Huffington Post and presented at ISTE. Prior to joining MIND, Brandon was a college instructor, where he won an outstanding teacher award and was an educational liaison for the City of Costa Mesa to Windham, Australia. Brandon has a bachelor’s in math and two master’s degrees in pure and applied mathematics. In his spare time, Brandon enjoys piloting planes.
Jazmin Quiles is a Math Instructional Coach at Linden Public Schools with 12 years of experience in education. She works closely with teachers and students in grades K–5 to support strong math instruction.
About the Moderator
Jennifer Anderson is the Senior Manager of Content Marketing at MIND Education. Passionate about education, she focuses on fostering engagement and building meaningful connections. Through compelling narratives and innovative programs, Jennifer strives to empower educators and enrich students’ learning experiences.
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
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MIND Education’s math curriculum solutions build conceptual understanding—at scale. Designed to meet students where they are, these programs invite all learners into math in a way that feels natural, intuitive, and empowering—while delivering results proven in classrooms across the country.
