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 Jennifer Bay Williams and she’s this week’s guest! Many educators struggle with helping students achieve math fact fluency without resorting to rote memorization. This episode dives into...
Nov 25, 2024•36 min•Ep. 323
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 your teachers’ math assessments helping students grow as learners or are they hindering student achievement? In this episode, Jon Orr and Yvette Lehman dive into the role of assessm...
Nov 21, 2024•29 min•Ep. 322
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 address student engagement and math anxiety in grades 6-12. Drawing on insights from her new book and 2024 Make Math Moments Virtual Summit Session, Juliana shares practical strategies f...
Nov 18, 2024•34 min•Ep. 321
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/ Are you struggling to make a real impact in your math program, constantly adding new initiatives but not seeing the results you hoped for? In this video, Jon Orr dives into the idea...
Nov 14, 2024•8 min•Ep. 320
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 “knower” at the front of the room to becoming facilitators of authentic student-driven discourse. If you’re struggling with balancing direct instruction and student-centered learning, thi...
Nov 11, 2024•37 min
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 in the moment; you need to create lasting impact that continues well beyond the day of learning. Discover how to integrate reflection and self-assessment strategies to foster ...
Nov 07, 2024•5 min•Ep. 318
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 strategies that directly address the challenge of making math approachable and accessible for all learners. By tuning in, you'll learn: How to lower students' anxiety aroun...
Nov 04, 2024•30 min•Ep. 317
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/ Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units Ever wonder why teachers' implementation of the ...
Oct 31, 2024•15 min•Ep. 316
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 in early childhood mathematics. Many educators face the challenge of moving beyond rote memorization, especially when teaching foundational concepts like counting. This episode addr...
Oct 28, 2024•33 min•Ep. 315
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 working together, you can read the room more effectively, adjust on the fly, and improve the learning experience for everyone involved. Imagine being able to tackle tough questions con...
Oct 24, 2024•5 min•Ep. 314
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 Fractions. Tune in now and learn how a deeper understanding of fractions and a focus on student ownership can make math more meaningful and engaging. You’ll: Gain insights from educato...
Oct 21, 2024•38 min•Ep. 313
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/ Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units Struggling to select the perfect math curriculum for ...
Oct 17, 2024•21 min•Ep. 312
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 confidently approach division and see its connection to fractions, proportional reasoning, and algebraic thinking. In this episode, you’ll uncover two types of division by using fri...
Oct 14, 2024•31 min•Ep. 311
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. This episode tackles how engaging in well-chosen math tasks during professional development can help strengthen educators’ conceptual understanding of mathematics, while also modeling ...
Oct 10, 2024•9 min•Ep. 310
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 multiplication in grades 3-6 using models that connect concrete and abstract thinking. Brittany will share the details of her upcoming Make Math Moments Summit session on multiplication. Whethe...
Oct 07, 2024•32 min•Ep. 309
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: building teacher capacity and improving student outcomes in math. Discover how to protect your time for instructional leadership, even when distractions are constant. Learn practical stra...
Oct 03, 2024•11 min•Ep. 308
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 Piedmont IB Middle School in Charlotte, NC. He holds an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from UNC-Charlotte and was a 2022 finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in M...
Sep 30, 2024•37 min•Ep. 307
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 of the session and foster meaningful learning and collaboration. Listen in and learn that by starting with a focus on wins and successes, you can energize your participants and creat...
Sep 26, 2024•10 min•Ep. 306
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 from Corwin dive into practical strategies for making math classrooms more effective and engaging. Whether you're a teacher or a coach, this discussion on the 5 practices for ...
Sep 23, 2024•47 min•Ep. 305
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 teacher clarity significantly affects learning outcomes, and the same principle applies to PD. When facilitators clearly articulate their objectives, participants are more engaged ...
Sep 19, 2024•13 min•Ep. 304
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 you're a teacher aiming to boost your students' math scores or a math coordinator, coach, or administrator seeking sustainable change, this conversation provides actionable...
Sep 16, 2024•52 min•Ep. 303
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 of Mathematics. Sunil is an author, educator, and advocate for the teaching and learning of the beauty of mathematics! Stick with us and you’ll hear how viewing mathematics as a la...
Sep 09, 2024•43 min•Ep. 302
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 as Chris Luzniak, author of Debate Math shares his insights on how to get your students arguing in math class. Chris is here to give you a sneak peek of his upcoming 2024 Make Math...
Sep 02, 2024•31 min•Ep. 301
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. Whether you're struggling to balance content standards with the need to teach mathematical practice standards or looking to implement deeper thinking methods, like The Thinking ...
Aug 26, 2024•48 min•Ep. 300
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 solutions that could transform your classroom experience. We speak with Kindergarten teacher Nichole Collins who’s on a journey to engage all the young minds in her classroom e...
Aug 19, 2024•36 min•Ep. 299
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 Classroom and we share how to structure your lessons so you are in position to use powerful formative assessment techniques so you can save time and achieve more. Pamela shares the imp...
Aug 12, 2024•35 min•Ep. 298
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 learning. We’ll also help you understand which components of effective math lessons you should focus on so you’re prepared to give a full year of impactful learning to your students. You’...
Aug 05, 2024•25 min•Ep. 297
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 the standards for your current grade level. If you’re a math leader or administrator you’ll learn how to decide where to focus and make the most amount of impact so teachers and stude...
Jul 29, 2024•20 min•Ep. 296
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 teaching and learning math looks like worldwide and is here to help compare your math class to international classrooms. Whether you're a math teacher seeking fresh perspective...
Jul 22, 2024•35 min•Ep. 295
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 like dyslexia and economic disadvantages. Tune in to this enlightening episode to see how adapting teaching strategies can transform student engagement and success in math. You’ll lear...
Jul 15, 2024•49 min•Ep. 294
