Experience First, Formalize Later - An Interview With Sarah Stecher

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 the entire high school math curriculum. The discussion today will focus around the teaching model developed for Math Medic -- Experience First, Formalize Later (or EFFL for short!). In this teaching model, students interact in small groups on an activity before the teachers formalize the learning with a whole group discussion. Sarah has found that this teaching model promotes curiosity and engagement, opens up access to a wider variety of students, and produces confident learners capable of flexible thinking. You’ll Learn: What is the Experience First, Formalize Later (EFFL) way of teaching and learning?How to promote curiosity in your classroom, foster positive collaborative discussions, and create learners capable of flexible thinking. Free resources to start teaching with this model. Resources: Why teach using Experience First, Formalize Later? www.mathmedic.com www.statsmedic.com www.calc-medic.com How to Debrief an EFFL Lesson Redefining What it Means to be Good at Math Reframing Mistakes in the Math Classroom Twitter: @mathmedic Love the show? Text us your big takeaway! We’ve partnered with them to help bring more collaborative learning into classrooms. Whether you’re supporting one class or math instruction across multiple schools, find the right way to get started at wipebook.com/mathmoments. Are you wondering how to create K-12 math lesson plans that leave students so engaged they don’t want to stop exploring your math curriculum when the bell rings? In their podcast, Kyle Pearce and Jon Orr—founders of MakeMathMoments.com—share over 19 years of experience inspiring K-12 math students, teachers, and district leaders with effective math activities, engaging resources, and innovative math leadership strategies. Through a 6-step framework, they guide K-12 classroom teachers and district math coordinators on building a strong, balanced math program that grows student and teacher impact. Each week, gain fresh ideas, feedback, and practical strategies to feel more confident and motivate students to see the beauty in math. Start making math moments today by listening to Episode #139: "Making Math Moments From Day 1 to 180.