Making Math Moments That Matter

K-12 Math Leaders: Download our free Math Coherence Compass to help your teammates, system leaders, and educators create aligned instructional practices—without adding another initiative. https://makemathmoments.com/coherence-compass/ Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this… Read more

K-12 Math Leaders: Download our free Math Coherence Compass to help your teammates, system leaders, and educators create aligned instructional practices—without adding another initiative. https://makemathmoments.com/coherence-compass/ Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this… Read more

Jon Orr and Sue Looney preview her Make Math Moments Virtual Summit session and share how stories, memorable characters, and a four-step story lens can help teachers build resilient problem solvers in math. Register for the 2026 Make Math Moments Virtual Summit for FREE. K-12 Math Leaders: Download our free Math… Read more

Jon Orr and Yvette Lehman explore teacher buy-in and resistance in math PD, and how the Results Pyramid helps leaders create the experiences that shift beliefs, build trust, and move teams to action. K-12 Math Leaders: Download our free Math Coherence Compass to help your teammates, system leaders, and educators… Read more

What does fact fluency actually mean in your school? If you asked five teachers, would you get five different answers? K-12 Math Leaders: Download our free Math Coherence Compass to help your teammates, system leaders, and educators create aligned instructional practices—without adding another initiative.… Read more

What do you fundamentally believe about how students learn mathematics? More importantly, do the everyday experiences in your classroom actually reflect those beliefs? K-12 Math Leaders: Download our free Math Coherence Compass to help your teammates, system leaders, and educators create aligned instructional… Read more

Monday is make a ten. Tuesday is doubles. Wednesday is doubles plus one. Add a completely different context each day, and we may be making it harder for students to see how the mathematics connects. K-12 Math Leaders: Download our free Math Coherence Compass to help your teammates, system leaders, and educators create… Read more

Jon Orr and Yvette Lehman unpack a three-day school visit and share how a K–12 team used a Math Coherence Compass, classroom observations, focused instructional moves, and short-term key results to build a sustainable math improvement plan. K-12 Math Leaders: Download our free Math Coherence Compass to help your… Read more

Jon Orr interviews Zak Champagne, author of Curious Kids in the Math Classroom, about practical ways to foster student curiosity through classroom community, authentic questioning, task design, and small shifts to existing math lessons. Register for free for the 2026 Make Math Moments Virtual Summit. K-12 Math… Read more

The math wars often focus on conceptual understanding versus traditional algorithms. Jon Orr and Yvette Lehman explore a deeper challenge: understanding the prerequisite mathematical ideas students need to access new learning. K-12 Math Leaders: Download our free Math Coherence Compass to help your teammates, system… Read more

We want students to be curious, persistent, and resilient problem solvers. But what if those aren't qualities students simply bring into our classrooms? What if we can actually create the conditions for them to emerge? K-12 Math Leaders: Download our free Math Coherence Compass to help your teammates, system leaders,… Read more

Ever reach the end of the semester only to feel like you're reteaching everything from September? If students learned it once but can't retrieve it months later, the problem may not be the original lesson. It may be how—and when—they encountered mathematics. K-12 Math Leaders: Download our free Math Coherence Compass… Read more

We say we want students to become critical thinkers, problem solvers, and mathematical reasoners. But do the systems in our classrooms and schools actually reward those things—or are we still rewarding speed, compliance, and correct answers? K-12 Math Leaders: Download our free Math Coherence Compass to help your… Read more

Your math team meets regularly. You strategize, make decisions, and talk about improving mathematics. But when everyone leaves the meeting, does the work actually move forward? Too often, teams spend more energy making decisions than putting those decisions into action. K-12 Math Leaders: Download our free Math… Read more

We’ve all heard it: “My students can do the math—they just struggle with word problems.” They can perform the calculation when it’s presented directly, but put that same mathematics inside a context or multi-step problem and suddenly things become much more difficult. The instinct might be to give students more word… Read more

If you could wave a magic wand and walk into any math classroom five or ten years from now, what would you hope to see? What would students be doing, saying, and thinking? How would the room feel? Those questions can reveal far more than a list of instructional strategies—they can help a team uncover what they truly… Read more

Stepping into a new math leadership role can feel exciting and overwhelming at the same time—especially when your responsibility suddenly expands from supporting one school or district to supporting dozens. Where do you begin when every district is at a different place, has different needs, and may already be working… Read more

School and district leaders often feel pressure to create widespread change as quickly as possible. But sustainable math improvement doesn't happen by trying to reach everyone at once—it starts by building the capacity of the people who will eventually lead the work. K-12 Math Leaders: Download our free Math Coherence… Read more

Why do so many mathematics improvement efforts begin with energy and optimism, only to lose momentum months later? Schools invest in professional learning, adopt high-quality instructional materials, launch coaching cycles, and create pacing guides—yet lasting instructional change often remains frustratingly elusive.… Read more

Homework has long been a part of the mathematics classroom, but opinions about its value continue to vary. Should students be completing pages of practice each night, or is there a better way to extend learning beyond the classroom? K-12 Math Leaders: Download our free Math Coherence Compass to help your teammates,… Read more

Every school system wants to improve student achievement in mathematics. Yet when students struggle, the immediate response is almost always the same: more intervention, more support programs, more people working at the bottom of the cliff. While these efforts are essential, they often come at the expense of investing… Read more

Assessment is one of the most powerful tools teachers have—but it's also one of the most misunderstood. Too often, every task, activity, or game is expected to produce a grade, making it difficult to distinguish between supporting learning and evaluating it. K-12 Math Leaders: Download our free Math Coherence Compass… Read more

Many school systems want better mathematics outcomes, but few struggle because of a lack of effort. More often, the challenge is figuring out how to create meaningful change at scale—without overwhelming teachers, coaches, and leaders along the way. K-12 Math Leaders: Download our free Math Coherence Compass to help… Read more

Few math concepts seem to create as much anxiety as fractions. For students, parents, and even educators, fractions often carry a reputation for being difficult, confusing, and disconnected from everything else students learn in mathematics. K-12 Math Leaders: Download our free Math Coherence Compass to help your… Read more

Summer is often seen as a time to step away from school, recharge, and reset. But it can also be an opportunity to strengthen your mathematical thinking, explore new ideas, and build habits that support your growth as an educator—without turning your break into more work. K-12 Math Leaders: Download our free Math… Read more

Many schools want to improve math instruction, but few have a clear process for deciding what to focus on, how to measure progress, and how to align professional learning around a shared vision. Without that clarity, improvement efforts can quickly become fragmented and difficult to sustain. K-12 Math Leaders:… Read more

Many school systems measure success in math education by one thing: math test scores. But what if waiting for scores to improve is actually slowing down meaningful change? K-12 Math Leaders: Download our free Math Coherence Compass to help your teammates, system leaders, and educators create aligned instructional… Read more

Every school system wants sustainable improvement in math instruction. But in education, there’s one reality we can’t ignore: people are constantly stepping on and off the system. Teachers change roles, leaders move positions, and new staff enter every year. So how do you build improvement efforts that actually last?… Read more

Not all math tasks are created equal. Some lead to deep thinking, rich discussion, and meaningful learning—while others fall flat. So what actually makes a math task effective? K-12 Math Leaders: Download our free Math Coherence Compass to help your teammates, system leaders, and educators create aligned instructional… Read more

Small group instruction is a common part of math classrooms—but when it comes time to actually sit down with a group of students, many teachers are left wondering what they should be doing. Should you reteach the lesson? Provide more practice? Or try something completely different? K-12 Math Leaders: Download our free… Read more

Improving math instruction and student achievement is something every school and system wants. But despite that desire, real, lasting change often feels out of reach. Not because educators don’t care—but because the work required to get there is harder than expected. K-12 Math Leaders: Download our free Math Coherence… Read more

Improving student achievement in mathematics is a goal shared by schools, districts, and systems everywhere. Yet despite years of effort, many classrooms still aren’t seeing the shifts in instruction or outcomes that we’re aiming for. If the goal is clear, why does progress feel so inconsistent? The challenge isn’t a… Read more

In math education, there are a lot of terms that get used interchangeably—unpacking standards, planning units, designing lessons. But for many teachers, it’s not always clear how these pieces fit together. Are they all the same thing, or is there an important difference that impacts how we teach? At first glance, it… Read more

In schools today, it can feel like there’s always something new being introduced. A new initiative, a new priority, a new expectation. And for many teachers, especially in math classrooms, it raises a familiar question: why this, and why now? After years of seeing initiatives come and go, it’s easy to feel skeptical… Read more

In today’s math classrooms, there’s a growing expectation: students should be able to use and connect multiple mathematical representations. From visual models to symbolic notation, this practice is becoming a key part of high-quality math instruction. But for many teachers, this shift feels challenging—especially… Read more

In math classrooms, there’s something that shows up again and again: resistance. It can come from students, from teachers, and sometimes even from the school system itself. And over time, it can start to feel like your job is to constantly push against it—trying to convince, redirect, and move people forward. But what… Read more

In math classrooms, what is the most common frustration that keeps showing up? Not enough time. Interrupted lessons. Lost instructional minutes. The constant feeling of trying to cover more math than the time allows. It’s not just about lost time. It’s about lost momentum. Lost focus. Lost thinking. At the same time,… Read more

In this episode, hosts Jon Orr and Yvette Lehman unpack a tension that’s been debated in math education for decades: conceptual understanding vs. procedural fluency. Yvette shares a powerful realization from her math classroom experience: in striving to teach conceptually, she may have unintentionally neglected… Read more

We talk about planning all the time in math education. But here’s the question: How much time should you realistically be spending planning your math lessons each day? Because the reality is—you’re not just planning math. You’re planning multiple subjects or courses, managing everything else on your plate, and at the… Read more

You’ve got protected time for Tier 2 math intervention… …but what are you actually supposed to do during that time? This is one of the most common questions we hear from teachers and leaders. You know Tier 2 matters—but without a clear vision, it can quickly turn into reteaching the same lesson, louder and slower. In… Read more

We talk about Tier 1 instruction all the time in math education. But here’s the question: Do we actually have a shared understanding of what strong Tier 1 math instruction looks like… or are we all picturing something slightly different? Because when terms like rigorous, engaging, and grade-level instruction aren’t… Read more

It’s April, and in math class the countdown is on. There is limited time left before standardized math testing or the end of the school year—and many math teachers are feeling the pressure to either rush through remaining math content or coast to the finish. This time of year creates a real tension in math… Read more

As math testing season approaches, many teachers and leaders feel the tension. We want students to succeed. We know they’re capable. But too often, that message turns into stress, anxiety, and even math avoidance. So how do we walk the line between pushing for excellence in math and protecting student confidence? In… Read more

If the standard algorithm is the final goal in math, why not just teach it directly? This question came up during a recent math leadership summit while discussing fluency and strategy development in math classrooms. One teacher asked a question many educators are quietly wondering: if students ultimately need to use… Read more

What if one of the most common terms in math education — conceptual understanding in math — isn’t actually understood the same way across schools, systems, or even math classrooms? A recent podcast sparked a big question: is conceptual understanding in math poorly defined? The challenge wasn’t just the definition… Read more

Some math teachers insist students must always show their math thinking. Others argue that if the math answer is correct, that should be enough. When math grading practices don’t align with math learning goals, frustration grows — for math students and parents alike. The real issue isn’t compliance in math. It’s… Read more

You’re teaching math to 34 students. You slow math pacing to support the middle, but you can feel yourself losing students who are ready to move. A listener emailed us after our episode on rigorous Tier 1 math instruction: they don’t want to create opportunity gaps by slowing math down—but they also don’t know how to… Read more

Testing is around the corner—and teachers are asking: “Do I stop everything and switch into test prep mode?” Many teachers spend weeks reviewing, drilling, and assigning packets. But students don’t remember what was “taught” months ago, review feels like pulling teeth, and anxiety spikes. The firehose approach… Read more

It’s March. The weather is shifting. Spring break is coming. And quietly, many math leaders have already started thinking about next year. Budgets. Staffing. PD planning. Testing season. Fatigue. It becomes easy to let this year wind down early—to shift staff meetings to logistics, to soften expectations, to delay the… Read more

If your students can calculate but collapse in math word problems, the issue often isn’t the numbers—it’s the structure. Many schools default to keyword hunts, graphic organizers, and “pick the operation” routines. But those tools can accidentally train students to guess instead of model what’s happening. The result:… Read more

If you wait until every student has mastered a math concept, you might still be in Unit 1 in December. Many teachers feel they can’t move on until students demonstrate mastery—especially after recent learning gaps. But staying in one math unit for weeks or months often creates a different problem: reduced access to… Read more

You know math fluency is more than timed tests… but what does that actually look like in your classroom tomorrow? Many teachers are at the awareness stage: they’ve read, listened, attended PD, and now understand fluency includes flexibility and strategy—not just accuracy and efficiency. But knowing that doesn’t… Read more

Why does data always feel like the thing we don’t have time for in math? Teachers and leaders say they want students who can think critically, reason mathematically, and engage with real-world problems. But when time gets tight, data is often the first strand to go—seen as extra, wishy-washy, or disconnected from… Read more

If math learning goals are so important, why do they feel like a checkbox? Research tells us that learning goals are critical for effective math instruction—but in classrooms and professional learning, they’ve become compliance: restated math standards, chapter titles, or “I can” statements posted for visibility but… Read more

Every year, schools and districts roll out a new math improvement plan. The language sounds right: teacher voice, coherence, sustainability, research-based practice. But the results don’t change. New curriculum is dropped with little support. Big goals are set without the conditions to meet them. Top-down decisions… Read more

Ever felt like your math classroom is too noisy, too messy, or too chaotic when students are working on open-ended tasks? You're not alone. Many math teachers—and leaders—grapple with this tension: we want students to engage deeply, but we’re uncomfortable when that engagement doesn’t look like quiet order. In this… Read more

Have you ever left a math PD session thinking, “This all sounds great… but what does it actually mean for my class tomorrow?” Teachers are hungry for professional learning that respects their time and improves student learning—but too often, math PD stays stuck in big ideas, vague theory, and system messaging. When… Read more

What do you do when students already know the math before you even teach it? This question came straight from a listener—and it’s one we don’t talk about enough. While so much attention in education focuses on supporting students below grade level, we often miss a critical (and underserved) group: the students who… Read more

What do you do when a teacher says, “I’m good—I don’t need help”? This real-life math coaching dilemma came straight from a listener. And if you’re a math coach or instructional leader, chances are you’ve been there too. Whether it's past initiative fatigue, fear of judgment, or a perceived mismatch between PD and… Read more

Is your math team using the same words—but interpreting them in totally different ways? In schools and districts across the country, math leaders are working hard—but progress still feels fragile. Despite shared goals and common language, initiatives stall, teachers burn out, and PD efforts don’t translate into… Read more

Have you heard a parent ask, “Why are we making math so complicated?” You're not alone. Many teachers want to move beyond rote procedures—but hit resistance when families raise concerns about “new math.” From social media posts to parent-teacher conferences, the pressure to revert to traditional instruction is real.… Read more

Are your Tier 3 supports disconnected from Tier 1 math instruction? You’re not alone. Many schools implement math intervention with the best intentions—yet students continue to miss critical Tier 1 instruction, feel left behind, and fail to make meaningful gains. The root issue? Most systems treat Tier 3 like a… Read more

Students quitting when the math gets hard? You're not alone. In math classrooms everywhere, teachers want to promote thinking, reasoning, and productive struggle—but are met with disengagement when tasks become challenging. In this episode, the Make Math Moments team explores the deep-rooted beliefs, structures, and… Read more

Ever feel like you’d love to try a new strategy—but you’re too afraid to fall behind? You’re not alone. Math teachers often want to innovate but feel stuck between pacing pressure, new resources, and competing priorities. In this episode, the Make Math Moments team talks about what’s really holding math teachers… Read more

You’ve spent thousands on high-quality math curriculum and inspiring PD — yet instructional practices barely shift. Why? In this episode, Jon Orr tackles the elephant in the room: why good PD still fails to create consistent math instruction. It’s not a teacher problem — it’s a system design problem. Backed by… Read more

Why is it so hard to get more students talking in math class? In this episode, the team digs into a common challenge: when just a few confident students dominate math class discussions, while others stay silent. Drawing from personal experience and real classroom coaching, we explore how small, intentional shifts—like… Read more

Struggling to meet the needs of every math learner in a single classroom? Many teachers feel overwhelmed when students show up with wildly different entry points—especially when they're trying to teach to grade-level standards with integrity. This episode dives into a familiar challenge: how to support diverse… Read more

In this eye-opening episode, math researcher and educator Dr. Alex Lawson challenges one of the most common approaches to teaching multiplication: introducing it as “groups of.” Drawing on years of classroom-based research, Alex reveals why this method might actually be limiting student understanding—and how… Read more

You’ve made big moves in your math program—but something still feels stuck. Why? After a full year of supporting school and district teams, we’re reflecting on the shifts that created real traction—and the patterns that quietly stalled progress. Whether you're leading math at the classroom, school, or system level,… Read more

Feeling behind? Tired? Wondering if your math improvement efforts are making a difference? In this episode released on Christmas Day, Jon Orr shares a message just for you—educators, coaches, and leaders doing the slow, often invisible work of math improvement. No training, no strategies—just honest reflection and a… Read more

You’re seeing growth in the data. Students are performing well. But something feels… off. Maybe they’re disengaged. Maybe they’re saying they don’t like math. Or maybe, they’re just going through the motions. In this episode, the team explores a common but often unspoken tension: how do we balance academic achievement… Read more

Ever watched a student solve 146 ÷ 12 by drawing 146 dots… one by one? In this episode, the MMM team dives into a common but frustrating classroom challenge: students who cling to inefficient math strategies like counting on fingers, skip counting, or repeated subtraction—long after they’ve outgrown them. These early… Read more

You poured your heart into teaching a key math concept—and a student tells you they’ve never even heard of it. Sound familiar? In this episode, hosts Yvette Lehman and Jon Orr explore one of the most frustrating challenges in math instruction: retention. Why does it feel like students forget everything they’ve… Read more

Are your teachers reluctant to move beyond the standard algorithm—even when it clearly isn’t working for their students? In this episode, we explore a real-world example of a school trying to shift toward computational fluency—but getting stuck. The teachers agree that students need more accurate and efficient… Read more

Are your multi-language learners struggling to engage in math class? You’re not alone. Many teachers recognize the issue but feel unsure how to help—especially when language becomes a barrier to grade-level math content. In this team episode, Yvette, Jon, and Kyle unpack a real conversation with a school team working… Read more

Why are so many districts pouring resources into math PD but seeing so little classroom change? It’s not because teachers aren’t trying. It’s not about motivation or willingness. The real reason is this: most systems aren’t built to support true instructional transformation. In this episode, we unpack the disconnect… Read more

You're rolling out a math resource across your district—but you’re noticing that some classrooms feel scripted and disconnected from student thinking. What’s going wrong? In this episode, we reflect on a powerful insight from Dr. Crystal Watson’s summit presentation—one that’s still resonating with us weeks later. We… Read more

In this episode, we share our biggest insights from the 7th annual Make Math Moments Virtual Summit. We highlight powerful sessions that explored ethical AI use, responsive planning, student motivation, and math teacher well-being. Yvette reflects on Dr. Nicky Newton’s approach to creating AI prompts packed with best… Read more

Leading math professional learning in a large system is never simple — especially when every school wants something different. How do you support meaningful math growth without burning out or losing focus? In this Mentoring Moment episode, you’ll hear a real coaching conversation with a math learning coordinator who’s… Read more

Your math vision prioritizes critical thinking, but can everyone on your team describe what that actually looks like in classrooms? In this episode, you’ll sit in on a real conversation between our team as we unpack a problem of practice. Yvette shares her experience coaching a large district where critical thinking… Read more

Do you say your math program prioritizes critical thinking, but struggle to see it in action across classrooms? Many districts include critical thinking as part of their math vision. It is a powerful goal and one that prepares students to engage with complex ideas and make thoughtful decisions. However, teams often… Read more

Is your school or district chasing improvement—but feeling like nothing sticks? You're not alone. Fragmentation and unclear goals might be the reason you're not seeing real change. In this episode, we go beyond theory and dive into a real-world case study of a school leadership team that thought they were… Read more

Have you ever left a team meeting feeling confident everyone was working toward the same math goal, only to realize later that each person defined success in a different way? This episode explores how that kind of disconnect can quietly stall school improvement in mathematics. A school team set out to strengthen math… Read more

You’ve got a strong teacher, strong strategies—and still, the innovation stalls. What gives? In this episode, we tackle what’s really behind resistance in math PD and why most implementation efforts collapse long before proficiency is even possible. Building on our last episode, we unpack how a school we support used… Read more

Still stuck “talking” about change, but not seeing it in action? The real roadblock to change in math may not be teacher resistance—it might be your system. Based on Jim Knight’s powerful article in Educational Leadership, “Moving from Talk to Action in Professional Learning,” this episode reframes what looks like… Read more

What happens to your math improvement efforts when you leave the role? Many school and district leaders assume that lack of time or teacher buy-in is the biggest barrier to sustainable change. But the real threat? Fragility—the risk that everything falls apart when key people leave or switch roles. In this episode, we… Read more

Why does your math plan feel like it resets every time someone new steps in? You’ve seen it happen: a coordinator retires, a coach changes roles, or a principal moves on—and suddenly all the momentum in your math plan disappears. Teachers feel like they’re starting over (again), and it’s back to square one. It’s not a… Read more

What does it really mean to be fluent in math—and are we measuring the right things in our classrooms? Math fluency is often reduced to speed drills and memorization—but true fluency goes much deeper. In this episode, we unpack the key differences between fact fluency, computational fluency, and procedural fluency—and… Read more

How do you know if your district’s mentoring and coaching efforts are actually making a difference? Too often, system and instructional leaders focus on program delivery but miss the deeper question: how do we monitor and support the real impact of our math mentorship and coaching practices? In this episode, Jim… Read more

Fidelity matters, yet rigidity can stall growth. In this follow-up episode, we revisit the balance between fidelity and flexibility in math improvement and explore how two district partners faced this exact challenge. You will hear how they committed to implementing with fidelity, ensuring consistency, clarity, and… Read more

Implementing with fidelity matters—whether it’s adopting a new math resource, embedding a routine like number talks, or structuring PLCs. But fidelity is not the same as rigidity. When we cling too tightly to practices, they can outlive their usefulness and prevent innovation. In this episode, we draw from research,… Read more

How do you move your students from confusion to confidence—one question at a time when Building Thinking Classrooms? If you've ever found yourself wondering how to keep every student engaged without oversimplifying your math lessons or overwhelming your class with complexity, you're not alone. Many math teachers face… Read more

In this episode, we dig into the tricky question every math teacher faces: When is a calculator a helpful tool—and when does it actually rob students of valuable mathematical thinking? Yvette shares a personal story about a conversation with her son on whether he should use a calculator for an upcoming test. The… Read more

Math improvement plans don’t gain traction just by naming priorities—they gain traction when districts commit to going narrow. For one small district, that meant resisting the urge to spread resources across every grade and instead doubling down on a focused goal: supporting grades 3–5 teachers with the consistent use… Read more

District math improvement plans can’t succeed if we try to do everything at once. For meaningful change to happen, leaders need to go narrow. In this episode, we explore why narrowing focus is so difficult for districts and schools, even when everyone knows it’s the right move. We unpack the fears leaders face—picking… Read more

Do you ever feel torn between staying laser-focused on your math goals and chasing all the new opportunities that come your way? Whether it’s a conference, a webinar, or a brand-new resource, unexpected opportunities can be energizing—but without a clear filter, they can also overwhelm teachers and derail your… Read more

How can math teachers harness AI to lighten their workload, differentiate with confidence, and boost student thinking—without losing the human touch? The AI wave isn't coming—it's already here. In this energizing episode, Dr. Nicki Newton returns to share how AI is transforming the way elementary math educators plan,… Read more

What does it look like to build Bridges in real time? In this episode, we highlight the story of a district leader who knows she can’t do the work of math improvement alone. She identified her Bridges—instructional mentors and department chairs—and committed to building their capacity in two intertwined ways: Deeply… Read more

District math objectives can’t live on a slide deck. For change to happen, they need Bridges—the leaders who translate vision into action at the school and classroom level. In this episode, we explore who the Bridges are (principals, assistant principals, instructional coaches, coordinators, and teacher-leaders) and… Read more

Are you letting daily emergencies steal time from what really matters in your role as a math leader? From a soaked teenager's phone to the all-too-common chaos of K–12 math leadership, this episode draws a sharp parallel between personal emergency funds and the way we manage our time. For many district leads, coaches,… Read more

In this episode, we explore why multi-digit multiplication continues to be the thorn in so many teachers’ sides. We talk about why sometimes we need to step back in order to step forward—focusing on place value, composing and decomposing numbers, and building connections between strategies. We highlight the… Read more

Are your district's math improvement plans stuck in “waiting for perfect”? What if aiming for B+ work could unlock real progress—right now? Too often in education, big ideas stall while we chase flawless execution. As a K–12 math coordinator, coach, or administrator, you're likely juggling district mandates, teacher… Read more

One of the most frequent questions we hear from district and school math leaders is: “How do I convince math educators to shift from always using the Gradual Release model to lessons that begin with rich math tasks?” This episode is inspired by a recent conversation with a district leader guiding a math task force.… Read more

Too often, district math improvement planning happens “up there,” with big visions and system-wide goals that don’t trickle down into meaningful change at the school level. In this episode, we make the case for flipping that script. We unpack why implementing the roadmap to district improvement at the school… Read more

A teacher asked us a fair question: “If direct instruction and practice are working, why change? While presenting at a recent conference, we were approached by a teacher with a very honest question: “I’ve been using direct instruction and structured practice with great success. My students are doing well. What reason… Read more

In this episode, we share how one district is entering the new school year with a sharper focus in their Math District Improvement Plan. In the past, they worked from three ambitious objectives—each rooted in big ideas for strengthening math instruction. But progress unfolded more slowly than anticipated. This year,… Read more

Looking to build a positive math culture at the start of the school year? In this episode, we dive into why board games are more than just fun—they’re strategic tools for reinforcing mathematical thinking and the process expectations that drive meaningful learning. This summer, Yvette Lehman’s family has been on a… Read more

This episode is a debrief of the article Coaching for Coherence: How Instructional Coaches Lead Change in the Evaluation Era by Woulfin & Rigby (2017). We explore how math coaches can lead meaningful instructional improvement when their role is clearly defined and aligned with both evaluation systems and the goals of… Read more

Are your students' math struggles rooted in what they know—or how they feel about math? If your math learners seem disengaged, anxious, or convinced they're just “not math people,” you’re not alone—and it’s not a curriculum issue. Decades of research show that emotions drive attention, memory, and learning. That means… Read more

If you’ve ever walked out of a math coaching session wondering whether you made an impact, you’re not alone. Many instructional coaches step into the role because they were strong in the classroom—but math coaching teachers requires a different skillset. You’re no longer the expert in front of the room; you’re the… Read more

Are we underestimating what young math learners can do with algebra — just because they’re young? If you've ever watched a student skip the reasoning and jump straight into "finding the answer," you're not alone. In this episode, Yvette Lehman shares a raw, real experience that started with a misstep and turned into a… Read more

In this episode, Jon Orr and Yvette Lehman unpack the difference between long-term objectives and short-term key results. Through a real coaching conversation, they explore how to define milestones that reflect real progress—even when the win is simply establishing a structure or doing what you said you’d do. Not all… Read more

It’s early in the school year. You’re reviewing student math work and noticing some red flags—math concepts that should be solid just aren’t there. But when you check their file, you see As and Bs from last year. So what now? In this episode, we unpack the tension many educators face: How do you trust your math… Read more

Book talks have become a popular way to spark professional learning, but in many cases, they don’t go far enough to create real change—especially in math. In this episode, we explore how to take math book talks to the next level by transforming them from simple discussions into actionable learning opportunities. We’ll… Read more

It’s a familiar challenge— when it comes to deciding which math operation to use, students get stuck. In this episode, we explore one of the often overlooked reasons: a lack of understanding around mathematical structure and behaviour. We dive into what’s really needed for students to confidently choose the… Read more

Is your math coaching program truly transforming classroom practice—or just treading water? Many districts wrestle with whether coaching is worth the investment or how to maximize its impact. If you've ever wondered why some schools see real progress while others stall while striving for sustainable math… Read more

Is it possible for teachers to have both autonomy in their math classroom and alignment with district goals? In this episode, we challenge the idea that autonomy and alignment are opposing forces. Instead, we explore how they can work together to create strong, consistent math programs while still honouring… Read more

In this episode, we reflect on a challenge many math leaders face: the risk of presenting ourselves with false authority. Whether we’re facilitating professional learning, supporting instructional coaches, or engaging in school- or district-wide math conversations, strong convictions can easily be mistaken for… Read more

Math Screeners… Diagnostics… Assessments… It’s easy to get lost in the language of math data. In this episode, we unpack the similarities and differences between math screeners and diagnostics, share where we stand on the topic, and offer insights from real classroom experiences. We’ll talk about the benefits we’ve… Read more

We know school administrators play a crucial role in driving long-term math improvement—but what happens when you're a coach or teacher leader trying to create change without formal authority? In this episode, we dive into the practical side of leading from the middle. If you're trying to build a team, clarify roles,… Read more

Fresh from the 2025 NCTE-NCTM conference in Chicago, our team reflects on one powerful math instructional routine that stood out—an approach that sparked ideas for both classroom practice and professional learning design. In this episode, we highlight a key move from Annie Forest’s session, rooted in the cooperative… Read more

We know principals are busy—constantly managing urgent issues and putting out fires. But we also know this: school-level change is the most powerful lever we have for improving student learning in math. So the real question is: are we setting school leaders up for success? In this episode, we help you reflect on your… Read more

The end of the school year can feel like a whirlwind—agitated students, hot classrooms, and a growing list of to-dos. But before rushing into summer, we need to pause, reflect, and make space for restoration and inspiration. In this episode, we help you reframe the homestretch—not as something to survive, but as a… Read more

We know principals are busy—constantly managing urgent issues and putting out fires. But we also know this: school-level change is the most powerful lever we have for improving student learning in math. So the real question is: are we setting school leaders up for math success? In this episode, we help schools and… Read more

Summer learning loss in math is real—and it doesn’t affect all students equally. In this episode, we explore how the summer slide disproportionately impacts historically marginalized students and what teachers can do now to change that trajectory for mathematics. From family partnerships to incentive programs and… Read more

Math curriculums and standards are more ambitious than ever—often asking teachers to cover more than a year's worth of learning in less than 10 months. Many districts have wisely taken the first step by identifying priority math standards. But the real magic happens in what comes next: unpacking those standards. In… Read more

We were told to move away from flashcards, multiplication drills, and timed tests in math class—and for good reason. These practices didn’t support mathematical reasoning and often damaged student confidence and identity. But in our well-intentioned shift, many educators were left asking: What do we do instead? In… Read more

As the school year winds down, it’s time to reflect—not react on your math impact. In this episode, we dive into one of the most important (and often skipped) parts of sustainable change for math programs: reflection and intentional decision-making. Using the Adopt, Adapt, Abandon protocol, we’ll guide you through how… Read more

On a recent coaching call, we spoke with a new teacher who was feeling great about a math quiz her students had just aced—until she wasn’t. The quiz focused on using the array model for multiplication, and students were awarded points for drawing the array and getting the right product. But when we looked deeper,… Read more

Planning a full-day professional development session for math can feel like a golden opportunity—and a daunting challenge. How do you make the most of extended time with educators while keeping energy high, engagement strong, and math learning impactful? In this episode, we reflect on our most recent full-day math PD… Read more

In this reflective and candid episode, we dive into the lessons we’ve learned since shifting to a task-based approach to teaching math. With over 19 years (combined) of experience experimenting, adjusting, and growing, we each share one key insight we wish we had known earlier. From choosing the right math task to… Read more

How do you know if your district’s math improvement plan is truly making an impact—and can you prove it before the test scores roll in? If you're a district math leader overwhelmed by fragmented documents, unclear goals, and scattered PD efforts, this episode will feel like a reset button. Too often, school systems… Read more

What happens when two math teachers throw out homework, redefine grading and assessment, and make student growth the heart of every math lesson? Too many classrooms are dominated by points, pressure, and compliance. But what if your students actually chased learning—without sacrificing test scores or accountability?… Read more

In this case study episode, we dive into a common but concerning classroom reality: students passively waiting for instructions while teachers carry the cognitive load. This learned helplessness undermines students’ mathematical thinking and independence. So, what can you do as an instructional leader to shift the… Read more

In the push to cover content and keep pace, it's easy to jump straight to the algorithm. But what if that focus on efficiency is doing more harm than good? In this episode, we explore how rushing to procedures can rob students of opportunities to reason, make connections, and develop true mathematical understanding in… Read more

District improvement efforts often stall—not because of a lack of intention, but because of misaligned objectives, vague goals, or a failure to track meaningful progress. In this episode, we dig into the foundational question: What are we really trying to achieve? You'll learn how to craft clear, lofty district-wide… Read more

Are we teaching students fake math — and missing the chance to build real mathematical thinkers? If you've ever felt frustrated that your students are following procedures without true understanding — or wondered why some students seem "mathy" while others struggle — this conversation with math is figureoutable’s Pam… Read more

As a K-12 math coordinator, coach, leader are you constantly collecting resources, leading PD, and chasing the next big idea—only to wonder if any of it is actually changing classroom practice? If you're a math coach, coordinator, or administrator who feels stuck in a loop of sharing best practices without seeing… Read more

How can we bridge the gap between modern math classrooms and the way our generation learned math? Today’s classrooms look nothing like they did 20 years ago—by design. But while educators are embracing student-centered math that fosters deep understanding, many parents are left confused or concerned. Kelly Green, an… Read more

Math professional development is everywhere—but is it actually helping teachers grow? In this episode, we explore Jim Knight’s Outside-In and Inside-Out models of professional learning, diving into why traditional top-down math PD often fails to make an impact and what happens when teachers take the lead in their own… Read more

Why Your Struggling Students Aren’t Catching Up—Even With Extra Help In this episode, we take a closer look at MTSS—Multi-Tiered System of Supports—through the lens of mathematics. While many schools have a clearer vision of what MTSS looks like in literacy, applying the same structure in math can be more complex. We… Read more

School districts often invest significant time and money into purchasing new math curriculum resources, but all too often, those materials end up collecting dust—or worse, being implemented in ways that dilute their impact. In this episode, we unpack what comes after the purchase. How do you move from adoption to… Read more

Have you been relying on endless algebra flowcharts to nowhere? Are your students relying on tricks and shortcuts instead of truly understanding math? Are they seeing math as a set of disconnected procedures to apply and success comes when you figure out which procedure applies given a set of inputs? Whether you teach… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process.… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process.… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process.… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process.… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process.… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process.… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process.… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process.… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process.… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process.… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process.… Read more

Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process.… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process.… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process.… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process.… Read more

Are you a math leader struggling to create meaningful math improvement plans that actually make a difference in your schools? In this episode of the Making Math Moments That Matter podcast, we sit down with Blaine McInosh, a Divisional Mathematics Support Teacher from the Winnipeg School Division who has partnered… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process.… Read more

Schools are caught between too much pressure (think: endless monitoring, weaponized data, and stressed-out teachers) and too much support with zero urgency (a.k.a. “We’ll get to it someday”). And let’s be real—sometimes, it feels like there’s neither pressure nor support, just a vague hope that things will magically… Read more

Are you struggling to help students who seem years behind their classmates catch up in math? This episode dives into a practical, step-by-step approach for using targeted, small-group instruction to close gaps quickly guided by formative assessment—so you can ensure every student feels confident and capable in your… Read more

Are you a K-12 math coordinator looking for ways to spark genuine, productive discourse among students and teachers instead of just “covering” the curriculum? If you’re eager to move beyond the checklists and pacing guides and ensure your teachers truly embrace strategies like student-to-student discussions, this… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process.… Read more

As a math coach, building relationships with teachers is critical to fostering meaningful growth and collaboration. But what happens when a math coaching partnership becomes stagnant or even toxic? In this episode, we tackle the delicate topic of ending a math coaching relationship when it’s no longer productive.… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process.… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process.… Read more

Struggling to get your math students genuinely engaged and confident—without relying on the same old worksheets? In this mentoring moment episode, you’ll discover how a fellow high school teacher will restructure her lessons and rethink classroom culture to help students conquer math anxiety and develop true… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process.… Read more

What if we could transform how students—and even adults—view mathematics, turning graphs and data into a thrilling, creative superpower? For many educators, engaging students in math feels like a struggle, especially when it comes to making abstract concepts like data and graphs relatable. In this episode, author Cole… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process.… Read more

Are you struggling to manage a math classroom with students learning at different paces while still creating engaging, equitable experiences for everyone? In this episode, we tackle the challenge of teaching split classes with staggered student groups—something many educators face in today's flexible and evolving… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process.… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process.… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process.… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process.… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com… Read more

How can we reimagine high school math to truly prepare students for the real world? Hear from Kevin Dykema and Latrenda Knighten, two NCTM presidents, one past and one current, who are leading the charge to make math relevant, revitalized, and engaging. High school math often feels disconnected from students' futures,… Read more

As a math coordinator or coach do you ever feel like your math improvement to-do list could double as a novel? Same here. Turns out, the secret to increased math achievement isn’t in doing more—it’s in doing less (but better). Discover why going narrow might be the key to transforming math instruction in your… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com… Read more

Why do so many professional development plans flop? Because they’re trying to fix the wrong problem. Are you struggling to get teachers on board with new strategies in their classrooms when teaching mathematics? In this episode, we tackle the disconnect between professional development initiatives in the area of math… Read more

Is Math Fact Fluency a term you’ve heard a lot lately when it comes to math education? Well there’s a good reason for that. There’s a massive campaign to help all educators understand what real math fact fluency means vs. just rote memorization and regurgitation math facts. One of the leaders of this campaign is… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com Are… Read more

Are you struggling with your student’s math retention or maybe you’re struggling to engage students who feel disconnected from math or battle math anxiety? In this episode, Jon Orr and Yvette Lehman welcome back Juliana Tapper, an expert in supporting students who struggle with math, to explore impactful ways to… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://growyourmathprogram.com Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process. http://makemathmoments.com/discovery/… Read more

Ready to transform your math classroom into a space where students feel empowered, take risks, and truly engage in meaningful learning and mathematical discourse? In this episode of the Making Math Moments That Matter podcast, we sit down with Crystal M. Watson to explore how educators can shift from being the… Read more

Have you ever delivered a professional development session that felt powerful in the moment but didn't lead to the changes you hoped for in the classroom? In this episode, we tackle a common challenge: how to ensure your PD sessions translate into real, meaningful shifts in teacher practice. It’s not enough to inspire… Read more

How do you help students master multiplication and division while keeping them engaged and confident? In this episode, Dr. Nikki Newton shares how relationship-building and effective teaching tools can lower students' fear of math and boost their fact fluency, especially in multiplication and division. Discover… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://growyourmathprogram.com Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process. http://makemathmoments.com/discovery/… Read more

How can we blend curiosity, deep understanding of the stages of counting to transform early math learning? In this episode of the Making Math Moments That Matter podcast, Sue Looney joins hosts Kyle Pearce and Jon Orr to share her personal journey and highlights the importance of curiosity-driven learning, especially… Read more

Ever wonder how to make your teaching or PD sessions more impactful? Teaming up with a colleague might be the answer! Yvette Lehman will convince you that team teaching and co-presenting provide invaluable opportunities for real-time feedback, deeper student engagement, and dynamic facilitation. With two educators… Read more

Why do so many students struggle with fractions and how do we make math concepts stick beyond rote memorization? This episode is for educators looking to move beyond the frustration and confusion of teaching and learning fractions. We speak with Tara Flynn and Shelley Yearley, two co-authors of the book Rethinking… Read more

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://growyourmathprogram.com Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process. http://makemathmoments.com/discovery/… Read more

Why is division such a challenging concept for students to grasp, despite it being a fundamental part of elementary math? Many teachers struggle to teach division in a way that truly sticks, often leading students to view it as confusing or disconnected from other math concepts. But imagine a classroom where students… Read more

What if your next professional development session could transform not just how educators teach math but how they conceptually understand it? As educators, one of the biggest challenges we face is balancing the need to deepen our own mathematical understanding while effectively teaching students at various levels.… Read more

Are you struggling to help your students truly understand multiplication, beyond just memorizing math facts? In this episode Brittany Hege from Mix and Math is here to share insights into how you can strengthen students’ multiplication skills. This episode dives deep into practical strategies for teaching… Read more

Ever feel like your role as a math coordinator is more about putting out fires than making real instructional progress? In this episode, we dive into the struggles many coordinators face when urgent distractions pull them away from their goals—helping you regain control of your time and refocus on what matters:… Read more

In this episode, Jon and Kyle dive deep into a conversation with James O’Neal, founder of Mastery for All, exploring the impact of prioritizing conceptual understanding in math education. James O'Neal, Jr. is a National Board-Certified middle school math teacher with 15 years of experience, currently teaching at… Read more

Have you ever noticed how negativity can take over a mathematics coaching and training session, turning a productive opportunity into a venting session? When challenges dominate, progress gets sidelined, and it’s easy for our hard working teachers to disengage. But with the right approach, you can transform the tone… Read more

Are you curious about how to overcome the most common challenges in implementing student-centered teaching practices in math and to unpack the 5 Practices For Orchestrating Productive Mathematical Discussions? In this episode, Kyle Pearce, Yvette Lehman and Peg Smith, co-author of the new book Coaching The 5 Practices… Read more

Have you ever been in a PD session where the goals were unclear, and the entire experience felt scattered? It’s a common issue that leaves participants frustrated and disengaged. Clarity is the key to transforming professional development sessions into impactful learning experiences. Research by John Hattie shows that… Read more

Ever wondered how consistency and patience in teaching methods can drastically improve student & teacher performance in math? This episode dives deep into the challenges and triumphs of designing and sticking with consistent math action plans that support teachers with effective math teaching strategies. Whether… Read more

Are you ready to transform your math classroom into a space where students see the beauty and relevance of mathematics in their everyday lives? In this episode, we speak with long time friend of the show Sunil Singh who is here to give you a snapshot of his upcoming Make Math Moments Summit session around the Language… Read more

What if our students were not focused solely on finding the correct answer? What if they felt motivated to discuss and explain math topics? If we want students to deeply understand topics, they need to communicate their thinking, construct arguments, and listen and respond to others. They need to DebateMath! Listen in… Read more

Are your current assessment methods truly capturing your students' growth and understanding in mathematics? In a world where traditional testing often falls short of showcasing real student achievement, this episode explores innovative strategies that could redefine how we measure success in the math classroom.… Read more

How can you keep ALL students engaged and excited about math when the topic doesn’t seem to lend itself to engaging and insightful ideas? If you're struggling to maintain your students' interest in math or finding it difficult to balance foundational skills with engaging activities, this episode offers practical… Read more

Learn how to use students’ prior knowledge to not only propel them forward to reach the standards in your grade level, but clear up many day-to-day problems that come from managing a classroom full of students. In this episode, we talk with Pamela Seda, author of Choosing to See: A Framework For Equity in the Math… Read more

What are the first week of school math activities that you should be using to start the school year off right and never look back? In this episode, we explore how to kick off your school year with impactful math culture building activities and math classroom activities that set the tone for a year of growth and… Read more

What is the most fundamental question in math education right now? Can you guess? In this episode we make a bold claim about the fundamental question that needs answering in math education. We’ll share insights into how to be intentional in your math classroom so you can effectively plan, deliver, assess, and learn… Read more

Have you ever wondered how math education varies across the globe and what best practices you may have been missing out on when you are teaching math? In this episode Kyle and Jon dive into a fascinating conversation with Amy Bride, who shares her research and observations from her year-long sabbatical exploring what… Read more

What does the next level of support look like in our classrooms? What should it look like to support our students? This episode dives deep into the world of a dedicated math interventionist who integrates specialized strategies to make math accessible and engaging for all students, especially those facing barriers… Read more

It’s likely that you as a math teacher or even your K-12 district may have been focusing on the wrong things when striving for improvement in mathematics. In this episode, Jon and Kyle dive into a common challenge many educators face: the misalignment of priorities in the math classroom. They discuss how shifting the… Read more

In this episode of the Make Math Moments That Matter Podcast, we dive deep into the transformative journey of Seth Boschen as he embarks on a new role leading a team of teachers in his math department. Faced with the challenge of implementing standards-based grading and integrating portfolios into his classes, Seth… Read more

Are you leveraging your curriculum resources for mathematics to their fullest potential in the classroom? In today's fast-paced educational environment, teachers of math often find themselves overwhelmed with a plethora of curriculum resources, each promising to enhance student learning. However, without a deep… Read more

Dr. Jo Boaler is here to discuss her new book "Math-ish," where she introduces findings that advocate for viewing mathematics through a real-world lens, termed “math-ish.” This approach reshapes our perceptions of math, data, and personal capabilities. Recognizing the significance of diversity in individuals and… Read more

Are you ready to transform your math classroom by shifting the focus from grades to genuine learning? In today's educational landscape, many teachers struggle with moving away from a grade-centric approach to fostering a deeper understanding and love for mathematics in their students. In this episode we speak with… Read more

Ever wondered why traditional math education might be holding back our true potential to understand and use mathematics effectively? Conrad Wolfram, strategic director of Wolfram Research and a prominent advocate for transforming math education, joins Jon and Kyle in this episode to explore revolutionary approaches to… Read more

As a math coach, how do you get teachers to open up to you so you can best serve them? What purposeful questions can you put in your “back pocket” to keep the coaching alive instead of just turning the session into “show and tell” ? Listen in to this episode as we chat with first year math coach Connor Wagner from… Read more

Do we know what we are really measuring in our math assessments? What unintended thoughts are we conveying to our students when we pass the test back? How can we as parents and math professionals navigate complex relationships between teacher, parent, and student? This episode delves into the complex dynamics of math… Read more

Can you see the light at the end of the tunnel? Can you feel the change that is happening in your district’s math program? Are you on the right pathway to improve math instruction and ultimately student success in your school or school district? These are all questions our guests, Michael Scott and Morgan Siler have… Read more

Are you ready to transform your math classroom into a hub of student engagement and participation? If you're a math teacher or educator striving to maintain sustained student engagement and lead effective, captivating lessons, this episode is crafted for you. We caught up with 2-time mentoring moment guest Jeremy… Read more

Are you struggling to find the perfect balance between knowing what is enough guidance and structure you need to effectively teach your grade level or course? If you’re a district leader of math programming and struggling to figure out this same balance? How much is too much hand-holding? For math educators, coaches,… Read more

How can we engage our students for the entire class with grade level content? Puzzles aligned to grade level standards is one answer. In this episode we speak with Gordon Hamilton from Mathpickle.com who designs mathematical puzzles for K-12 classrooms. Stick with us and you’ll learn How to use puzzles to teach grade… Read more

It can feel frustrating and overwhelming and you’ll feel like you’re forced to “go back to the drawing board” when your curriculum resource is pulled away from you. What do we consider when trying to select a new curriculum resource? Are we supposed to create our own resources from scratch? As educators, we are… Read more

Each and every year, district and school mathematics leadership teams spend countless hours crafting lofty goals and monitoring plans, but struggle to state measurable improvement in effective teacher practice and student gains. If you’ve ever wondered: How can I create a pd action plan that teachers view as useful… Read more

Ever felt like you're just "sprinkling fairy dust" in your educational role without making a real impact? This Math Mentoring is for every educator leader, math coach, or math coordinator grappling with the challenge of supporting teachers making meaningful changes in their teaching methods. It delves into the… Read more

When you shift your teaching practices from “I do, we do, you” to a problem based approach that engages students to think first you will often be led to question how you give feedback to students. In this episode we speak with Diane Hamilton, an elementary classroom teacher from Toronto Ontario. Diane has been… Read more

Ever wondered how to transform math class into every student's favorite subject? Join us in this episode as we dive into the world of #MathPlay with Libo Valencia, a passionate high school math teacher from New York and author who believes in shaping the future of mathematics through engaging and playful teaching… Read more

How can you transform your middle school classroom with problem-based lessons while overcoming personal insecurities and teaching doubts? In this mentoring moment episode we speak with Joanne Ward, a middle school teacher from Taipei Taiwan who is tackling a common challenge faced by educators: the uncertainty and… Read more

Have you ever wondered how to ensure your teaching actions align seamlessly with your educational philosophies? How close is your practice with your preach? In this episode we speak with Felicia Favela, a veteran 8th grade pre-algebra teacher from Phoenix Arizona who knows that in the realm of education, consistency… Read more

Are you struggling to turn your ambitious math educational goals into tangible results in your classroom or district? Have you been asking: Where should I focus the efforts of my district math pd plan for the remainder of this year and following years? This episode of "Making Math Moments That Matter" is crucial for… Read more

Explore the often unspoken struggles that even seasoned math teachers encounter when grappling with concepts in middle and high school grades. Gain insights into the power of anecdotal assessments for both understanding students and refining your own assessment practices. Discover practical approaches to implementing… Read more

As educators of mathematics around the world embrace the ideas shared in Building Thinking Classrooms, more and more students are being positioned to think collaboratively during math class instead of simply mimicking steps, rules, and procedures. While this shift in mathematics teaching practice is a massive leap in… Read more

Curious about the transformative power of leadership in mathematics education? Ever felt the challenge of aligning your strategic plan when it seems like you're constantly putting out fires? Join us in this episode where we unravel the critical importance of seeking support in leadership roles and dive into a… Read more

As educators of mathematics around the world embrace the ideas shared in Building Thinking Classrooms, more and more students are being positioned to think collaboratively during math class instead of simply mimicking steps, rules, and procedures. While this shift in mathematics teaching practice is a massive leap in… Read more

Have you ever wondered why creating a safe space for students in mathematics class is crucial? This episode of The Making Math Moments That Matter Podcast explores this question and unveils insights that will reshape the way you think about math education. In a world where educational equity is a pressing concern,… Read more

Today we speak with Michael Finley, the academic dean for math and science at a K-12 independent school. Michael's staff is questioning their work in building thinking classrooms and how it serves high achieving students. Listen in as we brainstorm strategies to uncover micro moves and macro plans to build a classroom… Read more

Today we speak with Diana Worthen, a 10th grade math teacher from Denver Colorado. In our discussion we help to shake out a common pebble in an educator's shoes: How to keep students engaged during practice time. Stick around and you’ll hear why students tend to “shut down” after a teacher led lesson; how to be more… Read more

Join us for an uplifting conversation with Mike Lipnos, a middle school teacher and math coach from Ohio. In this episode Mike shares his experience and insights on helping teachers build ownership and agency for students in their mathematics classrooms. We discuss how some teacher moves ultimately shut the door on… Read more

Join us in the latest episode as we dive into the world of mathematics education with Shayla Heavner, the visionary founder of MathBait™. With over a decade of experience and a prestigious Sarah D. Barder Fellowship Award for teaching excellence under her belt, Shayla has been on a mission to revolutionize math… Read more

In this where are they now mentoring moment episode we speak again with Adam Love; Adam joined us back on episode 120 when he was as first year teacher from Myrtle Beach South Carolina. 3 years later and a wealth of ideas, teaching strategies, and many lessons learned Adam is here to discuss how to help students show… Read more

Get ready Math Moment Makers for a great “call” with Crystal Frommert, who will be sharing some great tips and strategies that we can put to use to promote productive conversations with parents - especially when the news isn’t necessarily positive. We’ve all been there before: a student is experiencing struggles in… Read more

Are you on track to hit the goals you set out for yourself, your school, your district? It’s December, which often marks the half-way point of the school year and also a great time to check your progress on your program’s action plan. It’s quite likely that the busy-ness of school has taken you away from your intended… Read more

We welcome back Ryan Kinzler, an 8th grade teacher from Pittsburg. Ryan is here to fill us in on the changes he’s made in his classroom since he last spoke with us over two years ago. He shares how the teacher moves he implemented resulted in his best year ever and then subsequently followed by his worst year ever. In… Read more

“I’m not a math person.” I’m sure that is something you two have heard more than once. But have you ever heard someone say, “I am not a reading person?” It seemingly is socially acceptable to be bad at math, but there may be more to it, including the underdiagnosis of dyscalculia. The research shows… Dyscalculia is… Read more

This week we bring on another 2023 Make Math Moments Virtual Summit speaker: Fawn Nguyen! Fawn is on the Math Advance Team at Amplify Desmos Math. She was a math coach for a K-8 school district for three years. Before that, Fawn was a middle school teacher for 30 years. Fawn was the 2014 Ventura County Teacher of the… Read more

Join us for a lovely chat with Kendra Jacobs about mathematizing our world around us and bringing it into our classrooms. Listen in and learn the one simple thing you can do in your classroom to get students to enjoy mathematics instead of despise it. Kendra is an adjunct professor at the University of British… Read more

On today’s show, we’re bringing on Sunil Singh, a colleague, friend, and fellow Ontarian from the math education world for a second time. Sunil, the author of three books (Life of Pi, Math Recess, and Chasing Rabbits) with his fourth on the way (Sonic Seducer), joins us to share his unique insights into effective… Read more

In today's episode, we had the privilege of sitting down with author, speaker, educator, Rick Wormeli. Rick is a true trailblazer in the field of education, and he brought a wealth of wisdom and experience to our conversation. In this engaging discussion, Rick delved into some thought-provoking ideas that challenge… Read more

Pam Harris is here and she’s changing the way we view and teach mathematics. She is a mom, a former high school math teacher, a university lecturer, an author, and a mathematics teachers educator. In this session Pam is going to share how and why you need to use problem strings to get your students thinking and making… Read more

On this episode we speak with Jason Garner, a veteran 5th grade teacher of 15 years. Jason joined us on episode 127 and we’ve brought him back to provide an update on his journey. After spending the last two years being more intentional in his problem based lessons Jason seeks guidance on how to help students stick… Read more

In this episode, we’ll dive into a conversation with Dr. Kristopher Childs, a Mathematics Educator, Presenter, and Speaker from Orlando, Florida. Kris joins us for an insightful conversation about shifting professional learning opportunities for districts, schools, and teachers. Join in and you learn what truly… Read more

In this episode we bring back Shawn Hershey, a math interventionist teacher and department chair from Pennsylvania. Shawn joined us back in episode 223 and we discussed how to strengthen his math team. This time around Shawn is seeking advice on how to create alignment across his school’s K-12 grade bands. He has seen… Read more

Today we speak with Robert Barth, a high school math teacher from the South side of Chicago. Robert shares his experience with teaching with the original flipped classroom model and how he’s morphed it over the years to incorporate Peter Liljedahl’s work on Building Thinking Classrooms and the Make Math Moments “Real”… Read more

We welcome Lisa Marentette onto the podcast to discuss how to transition from 9 years in the Kindergarten classroom environment into the grade 2 classroom. After so many years in the Kindergarten classroom, she wonders what changes she needs to make to the structure of her mathematics program to “fit” the grade 2… Read more

In this episode we bring back on the podcast for the third time the godfather of the Thinking Classroom Peter Liljedahl. We spoke with Peter way back on episode 21 of the podcast about how he built the components of the thinking classroom, episode 98 on group work and how to choose tasks, and in this episode Peter… Read more

In our latest episode, we dive into a topic of utmost importance: maintaining a harmonious equilibrium between achieving success and nurturing your well being as an educator. Join us as we explore invaluable insights that equip you with the tools to avoid burnout while making strides in your teaching journey. Discover… Read more

This week, California high school mathematics teacher leader Giovanni Patalano returns to continue where we left off last time. While his goal is still clear in that he strives to assist in pushing practice forward in his school and across the district, today we dig into where that work might begin to ensure that… Read more

Today you’ll hear from Yvette Lehman, an elementary educator from Windsor, Ontario. Yvette is a Primary and Junior Division Teacher Consultant for the Greater Essex County Board of Education and if the name seems familiar then you’re right, we have referenced Yvette’s work numerous times here on the podcast as she’s… Read more

This week we spoke with Lauren Sawyer, a middle school math teacher from the Chicago area. Lauren has been implementing Peter Lilijedahl’s work Building Thinking Classrooms and is trying to find the right balance between collaborative work and individual think time. In this episode we help Lauren limit the illusion of… Read more

In this “Where are they now” Math Mentoring Moment Episode, we bring back Jeremy Sarzana, a high school math teacher at a Vocational High School in Boston, Massachusetts. Jeremy shares concerns over how to keep “flow” in his math classes when many of his students are engaging at varying levels. Stick around to hear… Read more

Today we’re releasing a replay episode where we spoke with Nick Rhodes who has been teaching online in one of the largest cyber schools in America. Nick shares his story from transforming from a rock band front man to working in accounting to teaching math to being a founding member of our Make Math Moments Academy to… Read more

In this "Where Are They Now?" episode, we reconnect with Tom Marker, a dedicated 6th grade teacher from Ohio, who continues to inspire us with his dedication to improving his teaching strategies. We dive into another conversation with Tom where we tackle: Helping Students Break Away from Calculator Reliance: Tom… Read more

Join us in our latest podcast episode as we dive into an important discussion about improving mathematics instruction and ensuring accessibility for all students. In this episode, we reflect on the common tendency to focus solely on students who are struggling or behind in math, neglecting those who are "lost in the… Read more

Today we speak with Cara Carbone, a high school teacher from Bellingham Washington. Cara is here to share a pebble in her shoe around engaging her high achieving students with rich tasks. She implements some low floor/high ceiling tasks but struggles to do this consistently due to time constraints and the large number… Read more

In this episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Amy Buchheit, an instructional coach from the Chicago area. In our chat, Amy discusses her current mathematics leader pebble related to creating measurable professional development (PD) goals in mathematics that can truly shift teacher practice and in turn,… Read more

Without a clear, concise and well-communicated mathematics vision and a sustainable professional development plan rooted in relevant, attainable, research-based and measurable goals, your teachers will continue to work on disconnected pieces of effective mathematics instruction that can only lead to pockets of success… Read more

Join us for an insightful conversation with Bill McCallum, co-founder of Illustrative Mathematics and a distinguished professor in mathematics education. In this episode, we delve into important topics that will transform your perspective on mathematics instruction. Discover what makes a problem engaging for students… Read more

In our recent podcast episode, we had the pleasure of hosting Jonathan Lind again. Jonathan is an experienced high school math teacher currently teaching at an American school in Qatar. Jonathan shared invaluable insights and practical strategies on how he transformed his assessment practices in his math class,… Read more

In this episode, we hop on a call with Andrea; a middle school mathematics educator and Texas native now living and teaching in Germany. Andrea joins us with a pebble she is dealing with regarding the connectedness of the content (or lack thereof) she is feeling with certain topics at the end of the unit. She even… Read more

In this episode we chat with Jake Hickson, the System Math Lead for the Provincial and Demonstration Schools Branch of the Ministry of Education here in Ontario, Canada. Jake and his colleagues service students who are deaf/hard of hearing, blind/low-vision as well as students who have one or more identified learning… Read more

In this Math Mentoring Moment episode we speak with a year 1 (first grade) teacher Sierra Classen in her second year of teaching from Melbourne, Australia. Listen in as we work through this common struggle we have all faced – either currently or in the past – related to students hyper focusing on answer getting over… Read more

Steve is a Mathematics Specialist and Vice Principal of Academics in his school from the Seattle, Washington area. Join us as we learn about Steve and the work he and his colleagues have been engaging in to improve the overall teaching and learning process of mathematics in their building. While Steve shares that his… Read more

This week we speak with Giovanni Patalano, a high school mathematics teacher leader from California. Giovanni is striving to continue pushing mathematics teaching practice in his school and across the district, but feels like they’ve hit a rut in the road. How can Giovanni assist his own school team of mathematics… Read more

Teaching mathematics in school is complex and often misunderstood. This paper titled Why Are Learning And Teaching Mathematics So Difficult by Alan H. Schoenfeld does a great job shedding some light on why this is the case. He argues that teaching and learning math is complex because of these three (3) big ideas:… Read more

We dug into some survey data around why teachers are limiting their PD experiences or completing opting out and the results are kind of shocking. Stick around and you’ll hear why teachers are opting out of math PD and what we can do to help these fellow educators. You’ll Learn: Why are teachers feeling overwhelmed… Read more

This week we speak with Rose Piso, an elementary interventionist teacher from Seneca Valley. Rose is dedicated to helping her students feel confident, accomplished, and proud. Rose also knows that there are topics and strands that we teachers should spend more time developing conceptually with our students rather than… Read more

Maybe you’ve recently come across the idea of a Dan Meyer-style 3 Act Math Task and you’re intrigued to give one a shot with hopes to engage your students and help better understand the mathematics you’re teaching. Or, maybe you’ve used 3 Act Math Tasks and use them as a regular routine in your mathematics program.… Read more

In this Math Mentoring Moment episode we speak with a high school teacher who is in her second year of teaching. Teaching statistics and algebra 2, this educator became accustomed to teaching students who have come to class already motivated to learn mathematics. Now, she’s struggling to reach students working below… Read more

How can we build thinking classrooms to create memorable math moments? In this special episode we share our opening session of the 2022 Make Math Moments Virtual Summit. Join Kyle, Jon, and Peter Liljedahl as they unpack how elements of a Thinking Classroom are entwined in the Make Math Moments 3-Part Framework.… Read more

Do you feel that students are “different” compared to past years? Has it been a struggle to gain student attention and strengthen their work ethic? Are some of the behaviours you’re experiencing amplified? In this episode Kyle and Jon discuss their interpretation of the differences teachers are experiencing in their… Read more

In this episode we casually chat with middle school math teacher and department chair Shawn Hershey. Shawn recently took our Make Math Moments District Assessment and received his customized report and improvement plan and he’s here to chat with us about optimizing the math program at his school. This is another Math… Read more

In this episode we dig into some of the results from over 100 district leaders across over 100 institutions around the world who have already jumped on the opportunity to take our 12-minute Mathematics Program Assessment Tool to learn not only where their system wide mathematics programs are flourishing, but also… Read more

In this compilation episode of the podcast in honour of Black History Month, Kyle & Jon highlight conversations from six educators of colour that have had a significant impact on their pedagogical practices as they continue their journey to craft a more culturally responsive classroom experience for all students.… Read more

In this episode Jon and Kyle share an episode of their newest podcast Invested Teacher so you can help your students think about money. They bring on their co-host Matt Biggley to help you help your kids think about, earn, and use money that will put them on a pathway to build their own wealth. Let’s unpack common… Read more

We speak with Lenny VerMaas from Lincoln Nebraska. Lenny joined us on episode 159 to chat all about not ditching your lesson model; reverse it. Lenny has spent 28 years as a middle and high school classroom teacher followed by an additional 16 years working to support math teachers and he’s here to work out some… Read more

TL is a 3rd / 4th grade educator from Grove City Pennsylvania. We welcome TL joined us back on Episode 198: Assessing Multiplication Facts. Back then we chatted all about math fact strategies and how we can use assessments to promote growth. TL joins us now to fill us in on her continued growth around developing math… Read more

In this episode, we speak with Guillaume Paré, a high school math teacher from Quebec City, Quebec. Guillaume has transformed his assessment and evaluation practices over the years to move away from overemphasizing grades and focusing more of the attention on growth. Guillaume is struggling with how to determine what… Read more

In this episode we’ll share why we believe that an effective mathematics program must be cultivated and fostered like a strong, healthy and balanced tree. Most school districts that are underperforming in math are most likely impoverished in at least one of the 6 areas we’ll discuss in this episode. Stick around to… Read more

In this episode we speak with Megan Garner, a 4th grade math teacher from Liberty Hill Texas. Megan is just in her 5th year of teaching and is aiming her sights on helping her students develop flexible strategies around division and other basic number sense skills but she’s finding it frustrating when students want to… Read more

This episode is our first episode of the year 2023. What better topic to dig into than goal setting now that you may have set your New Year's Resolution for this new calendar year - be it personal or professional. We’ll dig into some of the reasons why your resolutions of years past may have failed and what you can do… Read more

In this episode, we speak with Kyle Greenholt, a 15-year teaching veteran from Pennsylvania about the common struggle educators face when designing and facilitating math intervention classes to help students who have had ongoing struggles with mathematics. Kyle is in a tug of war with two competing ideas in his mind… Read more

In this episode, Jon & Kyle discuss what role (if any) that homework should play in math class across the K-12 grade bands. Stick around as we dig into some common “rules of thumb” such as the “10 minutes of homework per day per grade” rule, what different groups and organizations are suggesting, and of course, what… Read more

In this episode we speak with Laura Compean about the common struggle educators face when designing and facilitating a math support class to help students who have traditionally struggled with mathematics. How can we build a welcoming classroom culture that might help to heal bruised relationships with mathematics… Read more

In this episode, you’ll hear a slightly different episode style as the tables are turned as Ali Melia interviews Kyle Pearce as a means to gather more research data for her Master of Teaching work at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). Ali digs into questions for MathletePearce around how teachers… Read more

In this episode Jon & Kyle compare the consolidation and connection phase of your math lesson to the Oblivious Viewer Loop phenomenon in common mystery TV shows. Stick around and you’ll learn how focusing on the intentionality of your learning goal can help shape how your consolidate your lesson so that we can avoid… Read more

In the second part of our two part series highlighting Math PD Pitfalls To Avoid, Jon & Kyle dig deeper into the weeds we often find ourselves in when trying to plan and deliver effective mathematics professional learning. In the final part of this series, we’ll unpack why professional development one-offs won’t cut… Read more

In this episode we speak with Dr. Pamela Seda. Pamela has over 30 years of educational experience and currently lives in metro Atlanta. Pamela has held various positions in mathematics education including high school mathematics teacher, math instructional coach, college math instructor, and K-12 district math… Read more

In this episode we speak with veteran Grade 8 classroom teacher, author and current NCTM President, Kevin Dykema. Kevin spends time with us to unpack why productive struggle is a necessary part of an effective mathematics program, what we can do now to plan and implement lessons that place students in a productive… Read more

In this first part of a two part series Jon & Kyle discuss break down math PD pitfalls we should all avoid so that we can support, encourage, and build engaged educators who want to spark curiosity and fuel sense making in students. In this first part we’ll unpack how to avoid the Do As I Say Not As I Do PD sessions,… Read more

In this episode, we speak with one of our mentor’s, Jim Strachan. Jim authored the work Mentoring For All and has been instrumental in developing successful mentorship programs here in Ontario. Stick with us and you’ll hear enlightening moment after enlightening moment. Jim shares how to apply some easy to remember… Read more

In this episode Jon & Kyle discuss whether calculators are good or bad for mathematics learning. Dig in with them as they chat about their past calculator #classroomfails and how they now position their mathematics lessons to more strategically consider when and where it might be helpful for students to leverage the… Read more

In this live taping of the Make Math Moments That Matter Podcast Jon & Kyle visit the 2022 Annual NCTM Conference in Los Angeles. The discuss how conferences can “fill your bucket” as well as hear key takeaways from conference attendees. Stick around and you’ll learn how you too can fill your bucket. You’ll Learn: Why… Read more

In this episode we speak with Anna Clark all about how to fit a square peg in a round hole. Yes, we’re talking about standards based grading and rigid gradebook programs and policies. Anna is just starting her second year and is currently teaching 8th grade. Together we develop a plan for her to take all of her… Read more

In this episode Jon & Kyle discuss the importance of building both math content knowledge and pedagogical-content knowledge when designing your own or your district professional development plans. Stick around and you’ll hear their stories of how they realized they needed to be effective at both content and pedagogy… Read more

What do you envision for mathematics teaching and learning in your math class? While we all want teachers and students to feel capable and confident each day in our mathematics classrooms, we must take time to think and reflect on what specifically would contribute to helping us reach that goal. In this episode Jon &… Read more

In this episode we speak with TL Eller around developing assessment tools and routines to capture student understanding of their multiplication facts. TL is a 3rd / 4th grade educator from Grove City Pennsylvania who has been on a career-long journey to help her students develop fluency and flexibility around math… Read more

In this episode we speak with professor, author, speaker Jennifer Bay-Williams. Dr. Bay-Williams is an internationally respected mathematics educator, a prolific author and popular speaker on topics related to effective mathematics teaching. Her most recent work has focused on fluency in mathematics, communicating… Read more

What do I do after I finish a lesson? How does practice fit in? Do I have enough time to build conceptual understanding using a problem-based lesson AND still build fluency? In this episode Kyle and Jon share how they design lessons to meet these common “pebbles in our shoes” and while still covering the content… Read more

Today we bring on Laura Tomas for a record third appearance. Laura has been an educator for 31 years, she’s a math coach and fellow podcast host from Palm Beach Florida. Laura chats with us today about providing support during the pandemic, why school leaders and coaches need to step into a teaching role on a regular… Read more

Have you ever met a math guru who shreds the keytar and just so happens to be in a rock band that opened for Bon Jovi? Vanessa Vakharia aka The Math Guru joins us on the show today to talk about why stereotypes are the biggest obstacle when it comes to teaching math, why failing Grade 11 math twice was the best thing… Read more

When we hop on our Monthly Q&A Calls with Academy Members or Mentorship Calls with District Math Leaders, one of the largest barriers to transforming mathematics pedagogy and educator content knowledge is time. With a seemingly never ending list of mandatory “to do’s” and a jam packed list of mathematics standards to… Read more

In this episode we discuss how to use trickery or influence in your math class for good. We’ll discuss the difference between moral influence and immorary trickery; how educators could and should consider methods of moral influence to promote building student proficiency and a productive disposition towards… Read more

In this episode we speak with Chris Shore all about changing the world and why clothesline math is the master number sense maker. Chris has spent 33 years in education helping students understand their mathematical identities and he’s here with us to give you resources and ideas around a great teaching tool. You’ll… Read more

In episode 189 we discussed all things assessment and standards based grading with guru Tom Schimmer. We knew you had follow up questions around assessing in your classroom so in this episode we’re sharing a question and answer session we had with members of the Make Math Moments Academy all around assessment with… Read more

Today we speak with an independent education author, speaker, and consultant from Vancouver, BC. Over the course of his career he has been a classroom teacher, school administrator, and district level leader. Tom is an internationally recognized leader and expert in the areas of assessment, grading, RTI, and… Read more

In this episode, we’re excited to bring back two of our past educator guests for a discussion about supporting teachers through instructional coaching. We spoke with Jess Michalchuk back in Episode 169 on the topic of Building Math Moment Makers and we spoke with Lana Steiner in Episode 143 on How To Effectively… Read more

Do you have students who struggle with math in your classroom? How can we get them to take the earbuds out and actually put in effort in our classes? On today’s episode we talk to Juliana Tapper from CollaboratEd and cover misconceptions about teaching students who struggle with math plus get some actionable tips… Read more

In this Where Are They Now? episode, we speak with Tom Marker, a 6th grade teacher from Ohio. Tom is back to update us on how he has progressed moving students away from relying on algorithms towards reasoning and applying strategies when solving problems. After an update from Tom, you’ll hear the current pebble… Read more

In this Math Mentoring Moment Episode, we speak with Jonathan Lind, a high school math teacher currently teaching at an American school in Qatar! Over his career, he has been working to build a more authentic math classroom starting with assessment as he leverages the power of problem solving and communication.. This… Read more

It has been a long school year for those in the Northern Hemisphere! Whether you are already off on summer break like our friends in the Southern States of the U.S. or whether you’re eagerly looking to the end of June like our Friends here in Canada, the time to rest, reflect and recharge for the next school year is… Read more

In this episode, we sit down for a chat with Dr. Tashana Howse, an associate professor of mathematics education at Georgia Gwinnett College. With over 22 years in mathematics education, Tashana has a wealth of experience teaching in the high school classroom and now helps to develop the teachers of tomorrow through… Read more

As we continue another school year during this pandemic, educators everywhere are asking themselves: What should I focus on most? How can I help my students get ready for the next grade level? Do I have time to teach through problem solving or should I just teach with direct instruction? What resources can I use so… Read more

Today we speak with Christine Michalyshen, a math consultant in Winnipeg, Manitoba. As a mathematics consultant for the Frontier School Division, Christine shares her experiences early in her career as she struggled to meet the needs of her diverse student population with a wide range of mathematical readiness. After… Read more

In this episode of the Making Math Moments That Matter Podcast, we sit down with fellow Math Moment Maker, Chase Orton. Chase is a self-proclaimed “Imperfect and Unfinished Math Teacher” and today, we sit him down to talk about exactly what that means. The Imperfect and Unfinished Math Teacher is actually the title of… Read more

In this episode Jon & Kyle outline their experience using worksheets. You’ll hear them outline different styles of worksheets while giving you insight on how to design them to maximize student thinking. You’ll learn when you should use a worksheet, what types of problems should go on the worksheet, and when you should… Read more

In this special episode Kyle & Jon highlight and showcase one of their favourite new podcasts: Debate Math Podcast! Recently in episode 4 of the Debate Math Podcast Jon and his daughter Lucie went head-to-head against Kyle and his daughter Taliah to debate: Is a hotdog a sandwich? In this cross-posted episode you’ll… Read more

In this Math Mentoring Moment Episode, we speak with Jeremy Sarzana, a high school math teacher at a Vocational High School in Boston, Massachusetts. Jeremy has been putting all kinds of great pedagogical practices into play including students working in randomized groups to engage in problem based lessons and is… Read more

Today we speak with University Professor, author and former Making Math Moments That Matter Online Workshop participant, Elana Reise. Elana joins us today to chat about how we can leverage curiosity to engage students in solving abstract mathematics - in particular, mathematical proofs! Join us for a great… Read more

Today we speak with Sarah Stecher from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Sarah has experience teaching courses from Geometry all the way through to AP Calculus in the most diverse public high school in Michigan. She is now the chief lesson designer at Math Medic, a website that provides free lesson plans for teachers, covering… Read more

In this episode, we’re eager to dive into a discussion about the beginning of each and every math class… you got it: Warm-Ups! Stick around and you’ll hear how the Math Moment Maker Community defines and implements warm-ups, why different approaches to implementing warm-ups can be helpful and how you can be a little… Read more

In this “where are they now” episode, we speak with Caitlyn Sloan, a high school math teacher from Georgia is back to update us on how she has managed since sharing struggles to bring a problem based approach to her support students. After sharing the changes she’s made in her approach, we then dig into her most… Read more

In this episode, Kyle & Jon address a few common misconceptions from the Math Moment Maker community around teaching problem-based lessons and units. Stick around and you’ll hear how to find the right balance between what students know and what they need to learn in your lesson; when we should be assessing for… Read more

Today you’ll hear from Yvette Lehman, an elementary educator from Windsor, Ontario. Yvette is a Primary and Junior Division Teacher Consultant for the Greater Essex County Board of Education and if the name seems familiar then you’re right, we have referenced Yvette’s work numerous times here on the podcast as she’s… Read more

Today we speak with Janelle Fortmuller, a grade 5/6 teacher from Alberta. Janelle shares insights, key learnings she had around lesson design and planning in her math class. Janelle shares her transformation from a teacher who pre-taught all the strategies and algorithms to a confident, flexible teacher who engages… Read more

Today the tables have turned! In this episode Jon & Kyle switch over to the other side of the interview and are put on the hot seat! Jess Michalchuk, a Grade 7 educator from Foam Lake, Saskatchewan working towards a Masters of Education, interviews Jon & Kyle about memorable math moments from their teaching… Read more

In this compilation episode of the podcast in honour of Black History Month, Kyle & Jon highlight six educators of colour that have had a significant impact on their pedagogical practices as they continue their journey to craft a more culturally responsive classroom experience for all students. You’ll hear from… Read more

In this episode, Kyle and Jon speak with James Tanton, Mathematician-at-Large for the Mathematical Association of America and Founder of the Global Math Project and Ted Coe, NWEA’s Director of Content Advocacy and Design. James and Ted hop on the show today to dig into the collective work of a group of mathematics… Read more

Today we speak with Garret Schneider, a middle school math teacher from Indiana. Like many of us, Garret is feeling a little bit like he’s a lone wolf as he continues to seek out ways to elevate his teaching practice while many colleagues continue independently on their own teaching journeys. In this Math Mentoring… Read more

Today we speak with Aubrey McKelvey, a 7th & 8th grade teacher from Nashville Tennessee. Like many middle schoolers, Aubrey's students are tuning out and demanding the “fast food” version of math class. Her students want to skip understanding and go directly to the how. In this episode we’ll uncover the real issue… Read more

We speak with Philip Dituri from FiCycle.org about financial literacy: while so important in the real world, but is somehow rarely discussed or taught in schools. Philip shares how we can answer the common question “when will I ever need this in real life?” He shares how teachers can blend their existing curriculum… Read more

In this episode, Jon & Kyle take a deep dive into how we can make our existing curriculum resources be it a textbook or worksheets into curious lessons that students lean in to learn. Specifically, we’ll be talking about why Sparking Curiosity is such an important part of the Make Math Moments 3-Part Framework and… Read more

We speak with Po-Shen Loh from an American professor of mathematics at Carnegie Mellon University and the national coach of the United States' International Math Olympiad team. Po-Shen shares how he believes - whether teaching in person or online - that we can never take the attention of the student for granted. So… Read more

Kyle and Jon speak with Tyson Banker, a senior high school teacher from Calgary, Alberta. Like many of us teachers Tyson wonders how to change his assessment routines and structures without compromising his timelines and content standards. In this chat we share with Tyson some practical ideas that we’ve implemented in… Read more

We chat with Nicole Whitty about the importance of big ideas and intentionality when leading your lessons. In this Math Mentoring Moment Episode we dig into how you can learn “who heard what” in your math lesson; why focusing on the intentionality of your problem based lesson will help make more connections during the… Read more

In this episode, Jon & Kyle share a reason your math lesson may be coming up short and how you can fix it. Jon & Kyle share their 4 pillars of classroom norms that shape the routines and learning in their math classes and how you can create your pillars! You’ll learn: Why your math lesson might be coming up short;How… Read more

We speak with Lenny VerMaas from Lincoln Nebraska. Lenny has spent 28 years as a middle and high school classroom teacher followed by an additional 16 years working to support math teachers! Lenny shares with us struggles and strategies he’s learned and overcome over the years he’s helped teachers. This is another… Read more

In this episode, we’ll unpack the real flipped classroom, how to transform a typical lesson into an engaging problem based math lesson. We’ll share how to slowly emerge shortcuts instead of giving them upfront and finally we’ll chat about what to do if students aren’t engaging with the problem based lesson we’ve just… Read more

Math Talks, Number Talks, Minilessons, Warm-ups… What are these routines? Is there a difference? If so, what are those differences? In this episode, we’ll unpack what we believe the true elements of a Math Talk are and how you can leverage the power of an effective Math Talk in your classroom to start your next math… Read more

In this episode of the Making Math Moments That Matter Podcast, we chat with Steve Leinwand and Eric Milou about strategies to create an Invigorating High School Math program. Steve served as Mathematics Supervisor in the Connecticut Department of Education for 22 years and is a former president of the National… Read more

In this episode you’ll hear Ryan Kinzler, a 8th grade teacher from Pittsburg discuss his concerns over blending his traditional curriculum resources (such as the textbook) with high impact strategies and problem based lessons. In this discussion Ryan realizes how to feel confident with the choices he makes in the… Read more

Today on the podcast Jon & Kyle dig into Crafting a Hero’s Journey: The Power of Storytelling in Math Class including why teaching math should be more like telling a story, what elements will help you craft a lesson that plays out like a story to spark curiosity in your students, how to get kids hooked in just like… Read more

On the podcast today we speak with Chrissy Allison. Chrissy is a former middle school math teacher and instructional coach who’s spent the past 7 years supporting school administrators and their coaches to improve teaching and learning through professional learning and instructional coaching. She’s the host of The… Read more

We’re bringing back two wonderful and hilariously entertaining educators who are passionate about helping parents navigate math education. Hilary Kresiberg and Matthew Beyranevand have co authored a new book for teachers called Partnering With Parents. Stick around and learn how to help parents deal with math anxiety… Read more

Today we speak with Shelley Yearley all about how we can rethink fractions in the mathematics classroom! Shelley is a fellow Ontario educator, researcher and author who has held many roles over her career which you will hear all about today including her most recent role as she has returned to the classroom! Stick… Read more

In this episode we speak with the great Marilyn Burns. Marilyn is one of today’s most highly respected mathematics educators. Over the course of more than 55 years, Marilyn has taught children, led professional development sessions, spoken at conferences, contributed to professional journals, written more than a dozen… Read more

On today’s episode, we’re excited to dive into how to make the most of the VIRTUAL conferences you attend including how to avoid “death by webinar”! We’ll also be diving into some strategies on how to be more picky when selecting your session plus how to stay more engaged while you’re in them. Finally we’re excited to… Read more

That there is Christa Amezcua from Mexico! Christa is a middle school teacher and comes on the show today to talk about what we should do when you’re doubting your teaching approach and strategies. We chat with Christa about a recent interaction she had with a colleague that left her feeling a bit inadequate and we… Read more

As we start/continue another school year during this pandemic we might find ourselves asking: What should I focus on most? How can I help my students get ready for the next grade level? Do I have time to teach through activities or should I just teach with direct instruction? What resources can I use so that I cover… Read more

Jon & Kyle share insights on their journey with spiralling their math lessons over the last 8 years. They dive into what spiralling is, why you should consider this structural change in your classes, and how they changed to this model from their mostly traditional approach to math lessons. You’ll also learn what they… Read more

We’re speaking with David Alewine in this Math Mentoring Moment Episode. David is home-schooling his twin 6 year olds and doing a fantastic job at weaving different curriculums and resources together to reach his kids and help them with what they need most. David shares his story of how he chose to home-school, the… Read more

On the podcast today we speak with Lana Steiner about all things assessment! Lana is from the Horizon School Division in Saskatchewan and she’s been working with teachers to deepen their assessment strategies to learn how to capture and rely on observations and conversations in the math classroom. Stick with us and… Read more

In this episode Kyle and Jon dive deep into a problem based task and unpack it so you can make math moments every day in your classroom. You’ll Learn: The teacher moves we need to make before starting a task with our students; The elements that are necessary to build a great problem based lesson;What a problem based… Read more

We chat with Jordan Rappaport - a teacher from Toronto, Ontario. Jordan’s journey stretches from traditional teacher to Make Math Moment Academy member to regional presenter and most recently, a new member of the Make Math Moments Curriculum Writing Team. In this episode Jordan shares his expertise on how to begin the… Read more

On the podcast today we speak with Isis Spann on why building a strong home-school relationship is important to ensure all students can achieve at high levels! Isis is an early years educator dedicated to helping families get a “leg up” when it comes to helping their children with math. She shares her thoughts on the… Read more

We’re back for our third installment of our How To Start The School Year Off right! In this episode Kyle and Jon share their tips and strategies on how to prepare for the coming school year from the first day all the way to the last. In episode 36 and episode 88 we’ve shared the activities you could do in the first… Read more

Today we speak with Nick Rhodes who has been teaching online in one of the largest cyber schools in America. Nick shares his story from transforming from a rock band front man to working in accounting to teaching math to being a founding member of our Make Math Moments Academy to becoming a rockstar online teacher!… Read more

On the podcast today we speak with Norma Gordon on how you can create a less stressful math classroom through mindfulness. Norma has successfully transformed her classroom and helped numerous teachers embed mindfulness in their routines. Stick around and you’ll hear Norma walk us through a mindfulness activity and… Read more

In this episode of the Making Math Moments That Matter Podcast, Jon and Kyle discuss 5 Tips to Guide You to Summer Growth. These tips are great ways to take your mathematics professional development into your own hands while not interfering with all of the important aspects that go with our well deserved summer… Read more

Today we speak with Christina Michaels - a teacher for over 24 years from Tucson Arizona. Christina has just taken our online course The Concept Holding Your Students Back: Unlocking the Key Understanding of Proportional Reasoning and is implementing many of the strategies she has learned. The pebble in Christina’s… Read more

Today we bring on our old friend Alex Overwijk from Ottawa Ontario who shares his teaching journey and transformation from a pretty typical high school math teacher to an engaging activity based thinking classroom advocate! In our discussion we learn the answers to how to engage your students with activity based… Read more

Today we have a special treat for your ears! We recently held a live panel discussion at the annual OAME Conference (Ontario Association of Mathematics) on de-streaming the grade 9 math program here in Ontario with some pretty special guests! We were honoured to host Dr. Christine Suurtamm who is a Professor of… Read more

Today we speak with Caitlyn Sloan, a high school geometry teacher who is currently in the role of leading a math support class for students who require additional support. In this conversation, you’ll hear Caitlyn reflect on her challenge to stay true to her investigative, problem based approach to teaching… Read more

Today we speak with Theresa Wills, the author of the new book Teaching Math At A Distance. Theresa is an assistant professor of mathematics of education at George Mason University and a past middle school math teacher. Stick around to hear how to run math routines online with success, optimal strategies for engaging… Read more

Today we speak with Thomasenia Lott Adams from the University of Florida --- Go Gators! Thomasenia is a mathematics teacher educator/researcher with numerous accolations for teaching and the work she does with pre-service teachers. We speak with Tomasenia today about how we can use students’ cultural capital to… Read more

Today we speak with Tom Marker, a 14 year veteran sixth grade teacher from Ohio! Tom reached out to us to tackle the big struggle of trying to convince his students to avoid rushing to standard algorithms and instead value strategies that can be more meaningful outside the classroom. This is another Math Mentoring… Read more

Today we speak with Liesl McConchie! Liesl is a former math teacher with nearly 20 years of experience training school leaders and teachers across the globe. She has partnered with over 300 schools to implement the science behind what really improves achievement for all students as well as co-authored two books on… Read more

Today we speak with Jason Garner, a veteran teacher of 13 years and currently teaching 5th grade. Jason has been diving deep into changing his classroom over the last year. He’s taken the Making Math Moments That Matter Workshop and is currently applying what he’s learned with great success. He chats with us about how… Read more

Today we speak with George Garza - a high school teacher who strives to make a difference in his students' lives is struggling with engagement, pacing, and reaching his students who are falling behind. In this conversation you’ll hear George reflect on his practice and realize where he needs to focus his efforts. Stay… Read more

Today we speak to Kat Hendry a teacher from Jon’s hometown of Kingston Ontario! Kat has shown her passion for MANY areas of mathematics education, however in particular, she’s very keen on the importance of diagnostics and descriptive feedback in math class and has been digging into why we need to focus more attention… Read more

Do you find students give up too easily when working on math problems that are unfamiliar? Do you find yourself stuck pre-teaching concepts to students BEFORE they have a chance to truly engage in the problem solving process just so they can “get through the problem”? Our constant pre-teaching of concepts is just one… Read more

In this episode we catch up with Nathan Vaillancourt who was on episode 28 of the podcast. This time around Nathan unpacks where he was in his journey the last time we spoke and the progress he’s made since then. He also shares how he’s transitioned to more of a standards based grading practice to help him with… Read more

This is Michelle Rinehart from HowWeTeachMath.com. Michelle is an innovative educational leader who pushes us to take action to empower female students to take risks, encourages us to add math talks to our daily routines, and how you can shift your practice in manageable ways. You’ll Learn: How to empower female math… Read more

Today we speak with Sheldon Eakins from The Leading Equity Center blog and podcast. Sheldon L. Eakins, Ph.D. is an accomplished K-12 educator and administrator. He has taught at the elementary, middle, and high school levels during his career in the states of Florida, Louisiana and in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. We… Read more

In this mentoring moment episode we speak with Adam Love; a first year teacher from Myrtle Beach South Carolina. Adam shares what his first few weeks have looked like in his classroom. Like many teachers he wonders how to generate curiosity and engagement around abstract math concepts in senior classes. This is… Read more

Erica Heinzman joins us to discuss important aspects of pre service programs for math educators. She highlights the importance of humanizing mathematics and how those big ideas help define how a teacher structures their classroom. Stick around while Erica helps you see the parallels of teaching pre service teachers… Read more

Hey there, In this episode we’re sharing two assessment strategies that are widely used every single day in math classes everywhere that we should stop using. These two strategies hinder our goal of building a math classroom that allows all students to think and access to mathematics! Stick with us and you’ll learn:… Read more

We’re speaking with Danitte Kozai today about how to prevent that student who shows up to your online class for attendance and then disengages and walks away from the computer. We’ll brainstorm with Danitte on how to engage students while teaching online through the use of low floor high ceiling tasks. This is another… Read more

Christina Lincoln-Moore an innovative Constructivist educational leader who is tenacious and profoundly dedicated to mindful project-based learning to engender formidable mathematics identities. She is currently an Assistant Principal as well as a featured speaker focused on the humanization of mathematics for… Read more

In this episode we hear from the members of the Math Moment Maker Community. Numerous educators share daily routines that we teachers use to keep us healthy, loving our jobs, or frankly just keep us sane in this crazy time. You’ll hear about morning routines to kick start their day; routines to use in the classroom to… Read more

Today we speak with Adrianne Burns - a middle school math coach and interventionist from Wisconsin. During our chat with Adrianne, we discuss a challenge that is on her might right now and we’re sure is on yours too! What issue are we talking about? Well, that HUGE issue of student absenteeism and what we can do to… Read more

Today we speak with Ann Elise Record. Ann Elise is a seasoned educator with a career spanning over two decades of elementary classroom experience. These days she’s a K-5 math coach who works with districts on developing strategies to increase students’ fact fluency as well as how to use manipulatives in the classroom.… Read more

In another “Where are they now?” episode series we bring back on 3rd grade teacher Bill Zbozny Del Percio from Pittsburgh. Bill’s back to talk about the changes he made in how he managed student learning with trying problem based tasks. He also chats with us about how he can embed the math process… Read more

Jon and Kyle were on the Unprofessional Development Podcast with Tudisco and Mealy discussing how to make math moments that matter. This episode is a rebroadcast of that show. You’ll Learn: How to Make Math Moments That Matter; What teachers can do to engage their students; What techniques can teachers use to fuel… Read more

Today we speak with Nat Banting, from Saskatoon Saskatchewan! Nat is a high school math teacher turned pre-service instructor who’s created amazing free resources like Fractiontalks.com and MenuMath. Nat was also the winner of 2019 Rosenthal Prize for Innovation and Inspiration in Math Teaching awarded by the National… Read more

Today we speak with Shawn Seeley from the Tahoma School District. Shawn is seeking advice on transitioning from his 4th grade class into teaching middle school math at a new school all while teaching 100% remotely. Whew, that’s a lot of changes to start his school year. This is another Math Mentoring Moment episode… Read more

In this Math Mentoring Moment episode we speak with Marnie Geltman; a 6th grade math/science teacher from Queens, New York. Marnie shares how transitioning from an active and hands-on face to face classroom to a completely online model is killing engagement. Together we brainstorm how to deal with "Dead Air" fear on… Read more

Mary Kemper is the Director of Mathematics for Coppell ISD in Coppell, Texas. She’s an Apple Distinguished Educator, and the outgoing president of the Texas Association of Supervisors of Mathematics. In this episode we chat with Mary about what professional learning and support needs to look like; how to nudge… Read more

Today we speak with Nancy from St. Louis. Nancy is a math specialist at her school and is frustrated with an ineffective model of supporting students in need. You’ll hear how she wants a better plan to help the students she works with and together we help her realize what she can influence and how she can proceed to… Read more

Today we bring back Carmen Sinatra from Richmond Hill Ontario for a 3rd time on the show. Carmen continues her chat with us about teaching during a pandemic both face-to-face and online! By sticking around you’ll hear us discuss two big struggles: how to use portfolios for assessments instead of tests without… Read more

In this episode we chat with Ed Campos Jr. who is building inclusive classrooms through music, technology, and dry-erase paint! Stick around to hear about 360Math and why you need to be teaching it; what super-moves help students think and feel safe in the classroom and, how to choose ed-tech tools to use with your… Read more

In this episode we speak with author, early years math curriculum designer Doug Clements. Doug is a professor at the university of Denver. He’s published over 130 research studies, authored 23 books on early years mathematics. He’s served on the U.S. President's National Mathematics Advisory Panel and he’s a… Read more

Today we bring back Carmen Sinatra from Richmond Hill Ontario. Carmen is back in the classroom with COVID protocols firmly in place and shares what it has been like teaching from a distance online and preparing for the part of her schedule where she’ll be teaching from a distance face-to-face. By sticking around… Read more

Today we speak with Howie Hua, an instructor from Fresno State in California. Howie’s love of mathematics, students, and mental health are driving forces he uses to help pre-service teachers along their mathematics learning journeys. Stick around as Howie gives a master class on how to help teachers and students shift… Read more

In this, the 100th episode of the Making Math Moments That Matter Podcast, Jon and Kyle reflect on the past 100 “weeks” of learning and why the 2nd annual FREE 2020 Make Math Moments Virtual Summit should be on your calendar. They’ll discuss how many “listens” the podcast has had over the almost two years of weekly… Read more

Today we speak with Farshid Safi from the University of Central Florida. We reached out to Farshid after his presentation in NCTM 100 Days of Learning. In Farshid’s work with educators he helps teachers see how context and connection must take priority above all else. He weaves the mathematical content we have to… Read more

In this episode we speak with the godfather of the Thinking Classroom Peter Liljedahl. We spoke with Peter way back on episode 21 of the podcast about how he built the components of the thinking classroom and we needed to bring him back on because we only got through a fraction of what we needed to! If you haven’t… Read more

In this episode we chat with past mentoring moment guest Stephanie Moore from North Carolina! We’ve brought Stephanie back on so she can share her plans for an upcoming lesson with us so she can get some feedback on the learning she’s done in our Online Workshop and Academy. Like Stephanie, many of us are struggling… Read more

In another “Where are they now?” episode series we bring back on 5th grade math teacher Matt Makuch from Victoria BC. Matt’s back to talk about the changes he made in his classroom around Vertical non-permanent surfaces, anticipating student solutions, and differentiating his instruction to meet all levels of learners… Read more

In this episode Eli Luberoff, the CEO of Desmos not only shares why he thinks most ed-tech software doesn’t make the grade he shares significant insight on what makes Desmos a thought leader in math education. Stick around while we chat about how ed-tech can hinder learning and how ed-tech can help learning; how a… Read more

Today we speak with Maia from the Boston area. Maia is a middle school math teacher and is working hard to make all students feel a sense of belonging in her classroom just like they felt when they were in Grade 2. You’ll hear about her own Math Moment that she remembers from math class and how it inspires her to… Read more

Today on this Where Are They Now Math Mentoring we speak with Laura Tomas from Palm Beach county in Florida. Laura ‘s been teaching for 28 years and she’s an instructional coach for her school. Laura chats with us today about how she’s applied the suggestions and learning from our conversation back on episode 46 to… Read more

Today we speak with Carmen Sinatra from Richmond Hill Ontario. Carmen is gearing up for her new school year during the pandemic and like many teachers she’s asking questions like: How can we safely use vertical non-permanent surfaces in our classrooms? How do we create groups? How do I plan a 2.5 hour math block? This… Read more

This week, Jon and Kyle reflect on their experience teaching remotely and realize that while the experience was (and continues to be) a struggle for many, with hardship comes new learning. Stick around as we search for the silver linings that can easily go unnoticed. You’ll Learn: What distance learning has taught us… Read more

That there is Whitney Becker - a middle school math teacher from Alabama. Whitney joined us to discuss what activities are great on the first day of school to show students what we as teachers value instead of just going over the rules and syllabus. This is another Math Mentoring Moment episode where we talk with a… Read more

Today we speak with the creator of the 3-act math structure, Guinness Book of World Record holder, national speaker, and Chief Academic Officer at Desmos, Dan Meyer. We get the dirt on Dan’s background as a student and early days as a teacher. He shares his insights on what lessons should look like, sound like and he… Read more

Kyle and Jon share their insights on what was working and what needed improvement from their emergency remote teaching time before summer and provide suggestions on how you can start this coming school year off on the right foot. Stick around and you’ll hear how to set the stage to inspire curiosity throughout the… Read more

In this episode we speak with Math Moment Maker Stephanie Moore from North Carolina. Stephanie is a college instructor recently became a Making Math Moments Certified Educator after enrolling in our Full Online Workshop. We chat with Stephanie about how to prepare students who are underprepared, how to handle lesson… Read more

Today we’re speaking with Robert Q. Berry, he’s the current NCTM president, he’s a professor in the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia, and author of numerous books and articles on equity issues in mathematics education. Stick around to hear Robert discuss math moments he’s had as a student and a… Read more

While many of us are passionate about teaching mathematics, we’ve found that more often than not many educators do not leave ourselves enough time, energy, or maybe just aren’t interested in learning about money management and in particular, investing despite how mathematically centered finance is. This episode is a… Read more

Today we speak with Ryan Foley from Spokane, Washington. Ryan is a 6th grade math and science teacher, who became a Making Math Moments That Matter Certified Teacher after taking our online workshop! What you’re about to hear is another Math Mentoring Moment episode where we speak with a math moment maker like you who… Read more

In this episode we speak with Ilana Horn - A professor of math education at Vanderbilt University. Llana’s work is motivated by the underperformance of students in mathematics. Today we talk with Llana about her book Motivated and what is needed to START to motivate your students. Ilana calls her book the prequel to… Read more

Francis Su is a professor at Harvey Mudd College in California, he’s a past president of the Mathematical Association of America, he’s won multiple awards for teaching, and he’s the author of a new book Mathematics for Human Flourishing. In this episode we chat with Francis about how learning mathematics can help us… Read more

In another “Where are they now?” episode series we bring back on 6th grade math teacher Sam Brotherton from St. Louis Missouri. Sam’s back to talk about the changes he made in his classroom around assessment, lesson design and how practice fits in. He also talks to us about his new challenges around personalized… Read more

That is Hema Khodai, an educator who lives relatively close to Kyle and I in Mississauga Ontario. Hema is a high school math teacher turned instructional resource teacher. We speak with Hema today about her 2019 Make Math Moments Virtual Summit presentation called “Who is a Mathematician”. Hema’s session was one of… Read more

Listen in to Craig Guthrie share his insights on comparing learning and teaching math in Israel to learning and teaching math here in North America. Both Craig and our own Kyle Pearce recently visited Tel Aviv to learn what math looks like in Israel and share the Make Math Moments 3-Part Framework with their fantastic… Read more

In this episode we chat with Jennifer L’Arrivee a high school science and math teacher from British Columbia. After learning about spiralling in our online workshop this past Fall, Jennifer is on a mission to implement a content organizational structure that will maximize retention and understanding in her science and… Read more

You’re listening to the ever so charming math teacher & department chair at the Archer School for Girls in Los Angeles, and debate guru Chris Luzniak. We chat with Chris about why we should have students debate in math class, how you can get started with this routine in any classroom, what pitfalls to watch out for,… Read more

Hey there, Math Moment Makers! This episode is a little different from our usual episodes as we look to give you a glimpse of some of the other places that we’re trying to learn with Math Moment Makers like YOU from around the world. In addition to hosting this podcast each week and working our day jobs in classrooms,… Read more

In today’s episode, we welcome Math Moment Maker, John Stevens to the podcast! John is an instructional coach for mathematics and technology, who not only supports the teachers he works with throughout his district, but educators from around the world with his many resources. Dive into this episode with John and we’ll… Read more

In another in a series of “Where Are They Now?” episodes we chat with Kirsten Dyck a part-time teacher and part-time math coach. We chatted with Kirsten way back in episode #9 about Intentionality and learning goal. In this episode we hear from Kirsten how she’s made progress on her goals since we last spoke. Stick… Read more

Cathy Yenca is a middle school teacher from Austin, Texas who has been leading the charge in effective math teaching pedagogy and effective use of technology in math class. The Mathy Cathy blog is a go-to spot not only because she routinely shares great resources and reflections, but because she is constantly sharing… Read more

In another “Where Are They Now?” episode we chat with Katrien Vance a teacher of 25+ years from Charlottesville, Virginia who has participated in our online workshop over a year ago; she’s a member of the Make Math Moments Academy, and she’s a make math moments podcast alumni. We spoke with Katrien way back on episode… Read more

Today we interview Pam Harris; a former high school teacher turned mathematics consultant living in Austin Texas. When she’s not teaching pre-service teachers at Texas State University, she’s out and about leading K-12 mathematics professional development sessions, writing books, and courses. We’re eager to share this… Read more

That is the Math Moment Maker Takiesha Martinez from San Antonio Texas. Takiesha talks with us about how to decide which resources are the best for her students, how to create an inclusive learning environment, how to increase mathematical discourse and collaboration, and how to plan with intentionality so that you… Read more

In this extra episode of the Making Math Moments That Matter Podcast we’re sharing a recording of our Monthly Live Q and A call with the Make Math Moments Academy members. In this live chat Jon & Kyle discuss the COVID-19 Pandemic and how it’s affecting our home-work life and the home-school life of our students. They… Read more

Today we speak with a 23 year veteran teacher from Alabama; Tiffany Roddy. Tiffany joins us on this Math Mentoring Moment episode where we will explore a struggle or challenge she is working on and together we’ll brainstorm next steps to ignite her teacher moves! Stick around and you’ll learn how you can move away… Read more

In this episode, we’ll dive into a conversation with Dr. Kristopher Childs, a Mathematics Educator, Presenter, and Speaker from Orlando, Florida. Kris joins us for an insightful conversation about shifting mathematics instruction from the “I do, We do, You do” approach to a problem based teaching model broken down… Read more

In episode 67 we speak with Karen Huber, a third grade math teacher from San Antonio Texas. Karen has taken a deep dive with us in our Full Online workshop, she’s a member of the make math moments academy and today in this Math Mentoring Moment Episode we talk about how to promote reasoning and proving with our… Read more

Today we speak with Mike Fynn, a national speaker on teacher education, the director of mathematics education at Mount Holyoke College and all around super nice guy! Mike shares with us how to spark change amongst teachers you work with, how to make habits that stick, why some moments from math class stick with us and… Read more

We are bringing you another Make Math Moments MASTERCLASS! Do you know what concept is holding your students back the most? PROPORTIONAL REASONING! We have found that reasoning proportionally is the concept that prevents many students from developing a deeper level of thinking towards number sense, algebra,… Read more

Today we have GFletchy himself! Yes, today on the podcast we have 3-Act Math Task Builder, National Speaker, and Math Specialist Graham Fletcher. Stick around while we chat with our good ol Canadian friend who’s transplanted in America on what it really means to assess, how to leverage engagement in your math class,… Read more

Christina Marin a dedicated and reflective middle school teacher from the Bay Area in California. We talk with christina today about struggles around how students are resistant to learning through productive struggle. Especially students who have been successful in traditional math classes. In our conversation we talk… Read more

We have a treat for you today. We’re speaking with the great and obviously passionate Dr. Nicki Newton. By the end of this episode you’ll wish Nicki could just keep on going. She shares with us today her passion about learning trajectories and why we all need to learn them for various mathematical ideas. She fills us… Read more

Ever felt like you were blindly teaching through the textbook to "cover" the curriculum? We have too! Teaching math exclusively from your textbook is like teaching with a bag over your head. The textbook doesn’t allow you to SEE your students. It doesn’t take into account who your students are and where they are on… Read more

In this Math Mentoring Moment Episode we speak with Patrick Kosal. Patrick a math coach from Mooresville, North Carolina - who isn’t seeing that ongoing drive to continue striving effective teaching practices in the teachers he works with. Stick with us as we learn how working with teachers is similar to working with… Read more

Today we speak with Sarah Schaefer who is the go-to person when learning about the Singapore Methodology. Sarah is the Principal at M4thodology in Atlantic beach Fl and unleashes a bunch of great tips and ideas on how to use the singapore methodology in your classroom. You’ll also hear about how the Singapore method… Read more

Today we speak with Craig Guthrie and Brenda Delduca as they share their insights, wisdom and experience on starting up a math council in their school. Craig and Brenda both joined our very own Kyle Pearce among others in an international project with Canada and Norway. Stick with us as they’ll also share what they… Read more

In this last episode of 2019 Kyle and Jon share their big success for the year, dive behind the scenes on the podcast, and discuss their plans and goals for 2020. You’ll Learn: How the podcast came to be; How the podcast reaches educators worldwide; What’s the process from start to end to make a podcast; What big… Read more

That there is the highly respected math educator Lauren Baucom. Lauren is from North Carolina and we chat with her today about her powerful and eye opening 2019 NCTM presentation “Whose Mathematics Is It anyways? (De)Tracking of Teachers & Students” Stick around to hear how you can help students author their… Read more

This week we chat with Sara VanDerWerf, former K-12 Math Lead with Minneapolis Public Schools who taught grades 7 through 12, the President of the Minnesota Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and independent mathematics consultant. Lean in as we chat with Sara about her journey from being a fast “calculator” in her… Read more

Today we speak with Rob Baier, a math learning specialist from southern Pennsylvania who is wondering what a truly effective math learning block should look like. What you’re about to hear is another Math Mentoring Moment Episode where we speak with a math moment maker like you who is struggling with an idea and… Read more

This week we sit down with problem creator, national presenter, and now author, Robert Kaplinsky. In this tip-filled episode we chat with Robert about how to implement problem based lessons so kids high 5 each other, how we can squeeze open middle problems into our routines and why we should, and finally we chat about… Read more

Today we talk about a big concern from many teachers!! --- Assessment in math class. More specifically we speak with Steven Sevel, a teacher from Vaughan Ontario and our online Make math Moments Academy who has joined us for a math mentoring moment episode. Like many of us in the Math Moment Maker Community, Steven is… Read more

This week we talk with Jose Vilson, an educator from Harlem New York. Jose is a national speaker, an author he was named one of GOOD Inc.’s GOOD100 in 2013 of leaders changing their worlds and an Aspen Ideas Scholar in 2013. He has also spoken at TEDxNYED, Education Writers Association Annual Conference, Netroots… Read more

Join Jon & Kyle in this episode while they share why they created a math PD virtual summit, how it works, and why you NEED to register. Listen in as they outline classroom struggles many teachers have and how the summit sessions will help minimize those struggles. You’ll Learn: How to access high impact math PD from… Read more

We have two wonderful and hilariously entertaining educators who are passionate about helping parents navigate math education. Hilary Kresiberg and Matthew Beyranevand have co authored an amazing book called Adding Parents To The Equation. Stick around and learn how to help parents help their children with math at… Read more

This week we chat with an eighth grade teacher in his 6th year of teaching trying to hash through resource overwhelm, assessment techniques, frameworks, and community building. In this Math Mentoring Moment episode Aseem Kelly shares with us the three levels of learning goals in math class, how to choose the best… Read more

Today we speak with our good friend and colleague David Petro. David is the Math Coordinator for the Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board in Windsor Ontario Canada, the current OAME President, and Ontario’s resident math lessons curator. David has been actively sharing resources on his website and on twitter… Read more

Today on this Math Mentoring Episode we speak with Laura Tomas from Palm Beach county in Florida. Laura ‘s been teaching for 27 years and she’s an instructional coach for her school. Laura chats with us today about how we can spark the love of learning in our fellow teachers and colleagues. Stick around while we talk… Read more

Today we bring back one of our very first guests: James Tanton back on the show! We love talking to James because he is so passionate about the discipline of mathematics and he has some exciting, timely news to share! We chatted with James way back in episode #6 where we discussed his math background, his memorable… Read more

Today we speak with the recovering traditionalist Christina Tondevold. Christina previously taught mathematics traditionally much like we did and Now she gets to work with teachers in developing students’ mathematical understandings in ways that are not limited by the traditional ways of doing and teaching mathematics… Read more

Today we speak with the author of The Missing Voices in Edtech: Bringing Diversity into Edtech. Rafranz Davis. Rafranz is an instructional technologist and national speaker that uses her voice to challenge those in education communities on topics of edtech, equity, and diversity in education. In this episode we speak… Read more

This week Michael Rubin from our Math Mentoring Moment Episode #40 is back to continue the conversation from proceeding vs. pivoting to organizing his course content. Yes, this episode packs in a great conversation about Spiralling your math standards WITHOUT spiralling out of control. If you haven’t yet listened to… Read more

In this episode we speak to Chrissy Newell, a math projects coordinator from California who has been leading the #MathGals movement. We chat with Chrissy about how we can raise awareness to underrepresented women in the field of mathematics and also what we can do to empower girls in math class so they can thrive… Read more

This week we speak with Michael Rubin, a Math Moment Maker who has been diving into a TON of Math Professional Learning over the past year as he gears up to make a return to the math classroom. Join in on the conversation as Michael shares his recent successes learning from the many math educators sharing online, our… Read more

We are excited to bring you this episode with Alice Aspinall, author of the children’s book Everyone Can learn Math. Alice is a high school math teacher here in the Windsor Ontario area. We chat with Alice about how her book is helping families change the way they talk about math at home. Why you should read Everyone… Read more

In this Math Mentoring Moment episode we speak with a year 1 (first grade) teacher Sierra Classen in her second year of teaching from Melbourne, Australia. Listen in as we work through this common struggle we have all faced - either currently or in the past - related to students hyper focusing on answer getting over… Read more

This week we speak with an Aussie John Rowe. John is a Math Coach from Adelaide Australia he’s put together a great resource for you on tasks for the math class and he’s also a Demsos wizard! Listen in as John shares his 5-day professional development plan for teachers, why he thinks Twitter is one of the most useful… Read more

Summer vacation is soon coming to a close. If you’re like us, you've been thinking about that first day for that last week or so. You’ve prepared activities, organized classrooms, laminated everything you can get our hands on, and scrounged the internet for the best deal on dry-erase markers. School is back in and we… Read more

This week we speak with John Hattie, a co-author of the Visible Learning Book series which has been a foundation for effective teaching practice and change for so many districts across the world. We chat with John about the research into good learning strategies, how he conducted his research and how he uses effect… Read more

This week we chat with Sarah Bush, an Associate Professor of K-12 STEM Education University of Central, she’s on the Board of Directors for the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and she’s co-authored the book Step Into STEAM. We sat down with sarah to get the inside scoop on what steam is, how it looks in… Read more

We want to welcome NCTM Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient and co-author of one of the books we reference MOST OFTEN on this podcast: 5 Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematical Discussions The wonderful Dr. Peg Smith. Listen in as we take a deep dive to unpack ALL 5 Practices AND you’ll hear from Peg… Read more

In this episode we speak with Skip Fennell, math teacher, principal, A Maryland Council of Teachers of Mathematics' Educator of the Year , Past NCTM President, He's also the author of dozens of articles and books and is a coauthor of the book The Formative Five. We chat with Skip about all things formative assessment.… Read more

We chat with John SanGIovanni - a Math Supervisor from Baltimore and Author of the book series Daily Routines To Jump-Start Math Class. In this episode John shares why your traditional warm up / bell ringer activities need to change, how to build number sense at any grade level and save time doing it, why traditional… Read more

Join us on Episode 30 of the Making Math Moments That Matter Podcast as we welcome Gabrielle Mejia and Jedidiah Butler as we take a deep dive into the Most Effective PD You’re Not Doing: Lesson Study. Sure, many of us have had an opportunity through a district-led initiative or grant to possibly engage in this type of… Read more

In this episode, we’ll dive into a great conversation about shifting mathematics teaching from what many of us remember from our K-12 learning journey to a more progressive, inquiry approach to teaching mathematics conceptually. In particular, we’ll discuss with Jennifer Chang-Wathall how to be brave in your classroom… Read more

In this episode we speak with another Math Moment Maker who reached out to us for a Math Mentoring Moment Episode. Nathan Vaillancourt, a jack of all trades teacher talks to us today about how he can change the way he assess his students. We discuss questions like: How do I adjust my assessments to match the way I’m… Read more

In this episode, we’ll dive into a great conversation about Andrew Stadel’s math teaching journey, where he came up with the idea to create the math class favourite resource, Estimation180.com and how we can maximize the use of this resource to build number sense in our students and promote mathematical discourse in… Read more

In this episode you’ll get to spend some time with Jon and I as we share the story of a recent school walk-through that we participated in recently while attending a conference. The story leads into a common math teaching myth about how we prepare our students for the next grade level. Show Notes:… Read more

In this math mentoring moment you’ll meet Carol Edlin, a travel bug who entered teaching with a business degree, slowly but surely began teaching math courses. What is she to do when your background is not mathematics and you’re trying to make math moments that matter for all of your students? Stick around while Carol… Read more

On episode 24, we welcome the Queen of Context for Learning Mathematics, Cathy Fosnot! We are so excited for our Math Moment Maker Community to dig into this great episode with a Champion of Fuelling Sense Making in Math Class as she will share her mathematics journey - including some discriminatory barriers that she… Read more

In this Math Mentoring Moment episode, you’ll meet Bill Zbozny Del Percio, a Grade 3 teacher from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who always felt drawn to teaching, but feels like he’s struggling to squeeze as much mathematical thinking out of each task as possible. Having built familiarity and confidence in sparking… Read more

In this Jon & Kyle only episode we’ll introduce math classroom challenges that we’ve heard from educators we’ve talked to in person, educators that have emailed us, and also Math Moment Makers who filled out filled out some of of our surveys and how we can work toward fixing those challenges. You’ll Learn: What can we… Read more

In this Math Moment Interview, we talk with Dr. Peter Liljedahl, Professor of mathematics education at Simon Fraser University who has been researching ways to get students to become resilient problem solvers through ideas such as using vertical non-permanent surfaces, visible random groupings, selecting tasks with… Read more

We speak with Lisa Geggie, a teacher of 24 years and self proclaimed perfectionist. and a brave, caring human being. Lisa, like many of us, spends countless hours of after school time, weekends, and evenings planning her lessons and activities for her students benefit…..She’s been eating, breathing, and sleeping math… Read more

One of the biggest challenges WE teachers have right now is helping kids not give up when problem solving in math class. It troubles us when students are working on problems that are slightly different from classroom examples and they either SHUT DOWN, or quickly raise their hands and say, “I don’t know what to do!”… Read more

We chat with Dr. Raj Shah from Math Plus Academy about how how to harness the elements of video games that make them so addictive and how we can apply them to our math classes. We chat about how to build a culture of discussion, creativity and problem solving in our classrooms, and we also chat about how to use the… Read more

On today’s show, we’re bringing on Matt Makuch from Victoria, British Columbia to share his mathematics professional learning journey thus far. Matt shares some of the influencers who inspired him initially to begin thinking differently about teaching his math class including Marcy Cook, Kim Sutton, and Sherry… Read more

Join us while we chat with the great Marian Small. For us, Marian has been a rock and a foundation for how we’ve changed our teaching practice! She’s an author, math education influencer, and Open question guru! In this discussion we talk with Marian about the origin story of open questions, how open questions compare… Read more

Conference season is just around the corner for us at the time of this recording. We attend various conferences throughout the year and a big question that we always have is, “Is this going to be worth it?” In episode 15 we want to give you 5 TIPS on how to get the most out of the conferences you attend and also what… Read more

We’re bringing on a colleague, friend, and fellow Ontarian from the math education world. He’s the author of Pi of Life and his soon to be released book, Math Recess, an international keynote speaker and a part of the BuzzMath team. We talk about the simplicity of mathematics, how learning mathematics should be more… Read more