Making Math Moments That Matter

Kyle Pearce & Jon Orr

Helping you transform your K-12 math lesson plans by building confidence in effective teaching practices, guiding you to transform your math curriculum, and inspiring classroom strategies to engage all students.

As a teacher are you wondering how to create K-12 math lesson plans where students don't want to stop exploring your math curriculum when the bell rings?

As a mathematics coordinator or leader are you wondering how to support teachers when implementing engaging math lessons that fuel student sense making?

Over the last 19 years, Kyle and Jon, the founders of MakeMathMoments.com have been engaging students, teachers, and district program leaders with effective mathematics pedagogy, accessible resources, and inspiring learning environments in K-12 math classrooms.

Now, in this podcast they coach you - K-12 classroom teachers and district leaders of mathematics through a 6 step plan that cultivates and fosters your mathematics program like a strong, healthy and balanced tree.

If you master the 6 parts of an effective mathematics program, the impact you have on students or teachers will grow and reach far and wide.

Every week, you’ll hear insight from practicing classroom teachers and leaders in math education so you’ll get the feedback, guidance, and fresh ideas you need to stop feeling overwhelmed, gain back your confidence, and inspire the students and fellow teachers you serve to enjoy the beauty of mathematics once again.

Start making math moments today by listening to Episode #139: Making Math Moments From Day 1 to 180

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#510
Today · 35 min
How Vertical Non-Permanent Surfaces Changed the Math Classroom
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 assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ K-12 Math Leaders: Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Partner with us to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem-based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units In this episode, Jon Orr talks with Frank Bouchard, co-founder of Wipebook, the Canadian company behind the whiteboard flip charts found on classroom walls and in PD sessions across North America. Frank shares how a laminated notebook he made to practice engineering math became a surprise Kickstarter success, and how a request from an Ottawa school district led to the flip charts so many math teachers now use. Jon and Frank discuss how Building Thinking Classrooms and vertical surfaces grew together, why students returned from remote learning craving social and collaborative learning, and how the same approach can transform professional development. Jon connects the conversation to the Results Pyramid and the role experiences play in shifting teacher beliefs, and Frank closes with his math moment and a playful take on AI in education. In this episode, you'll explore: How Frank’s experience as a kinesthetic learner shaped his passion for engaging learning How a laminated notebook built for engineering problems turned into a business Why a school district’s request led to giant whiteboard flip charts How teachers were cutting up shower board to create whiteboard space How Building Thinking Classrooms and vertical surfaces helped each other grow Why the return from remote learning renewed the focus on social, collaborative math How whiteboard surfaces can make professional development more interactive Why the Results Pyramid suggests teacher beliefs change through experiences Frank’s math moment, and what it taught him about the teacher’s role How playing with new AI tools may open up fresh ways to engage students Think about your next math lesson or PD session and ask: Where are students or teachers sitting and listening when they could be standing, collaborating, and thinking together? Choose one task where small groups could work on a vertical surface instead. Then notice what changes in the conversation, and consider what that experience might do to shift beliefs about what learning math can look like. Show Notes Page Love the show? Text us your big takeaway! Get a Customized Math Improvement Plan For Your District. Are you district leader for mathematics? Take the 12 minute assessment and you’ll get a free, customized improvement plan to shape and grow the 6 parts of any strong mathematics program. Take the assessment 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.
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#509
Tuesday · 31 min
Chris Luzniak & Kerry Smith: Using Improv in Math Class to Listen as a Learner
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 assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ K-12 Math Leaders: Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Partner with us to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem-based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units In this episode, Jon Orr talks with Kerry Smith and Chris Luzniak about their upcoming session at the 2026 Make Math Moments Virtual Summit, Listen as a Learner. Drawing on Chris’s background in theater improv and Kerry’s elementary experience, they explain why heavily scripted lessons can keep teachers focused on getting the right answer instead of listening to what students are actually thinking. Kerry and Chris share the three Bs of improv, why clarity about your lesson goal gives you permission to adjust, and how to respond to unexpected answers in ways that keep students in the conversation. They also explain why improvising well still requires careful planning, and what “yes, and” really looks like in a math classroom. In this episode, you'll explore: Why Chris hopes students see math as connected and beautiful, not isolated rules Why Kerry wants math to feel like a natural part of the day where every student belongs How scripted lessons can work against listening and responding to students The three Bs of improv: be present, be positive, and be curious How clarity about your lesson goal gives you freedom to adjust in the moment What a tour guide analogy reveals about responding to the group in front of you How to respond to unexpected or incorrect answers with an asset mindset Why you still need to plan carefully in order to improvise well Why responsive teaching may lead to less reteaching later What “yes, and” really means in math class, and why it starts with accepting a student’s thinking The next time a student gives you an unexpected answer, pause before responding. Ask yourself: What is this student’s thinking, and what is reasonable about it? Try a “yes, and” response that accepts their reasoning as a starting point, then build from it toward your learning goal. Afterward, reflect on how the response affected that student and the rest of the class. Show Notes Page Love the show? Text us your big takeaway! Get a Customized Math Improvement Plan For Your District. Are you district leader for mathematics? Take the 12 minute assessment and you’ll get a free, customized improvement plan to shape and grow the 6 parts of any strong mathematics program. Take the assessment 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.
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#508
Monday · 31 min
Grace Kelemanik and Amy Lucenta - Making Math Discourse Visible
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 assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ K-12 Math Leaders: Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Partner with us to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem-based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units In this episode, Jon Orr talks with Grace Kelemanik and Amy Lucenta about their upcoming session at the 2026 Make Math Moments Virtual Summit, Annotation: Making Discourse Visible. They explain why so many math discussions happen only out loud, and how that can leave behind students who don’t process information best by listening. Grace and Amy describe teacher annotation as highlighting and connecting student ideas in real time, using purposeful color, as students speak. They share why annotation is high leverage, why it looks different from class to class, and the lessons they’ve learned about anticipating student thinking. They also offer practical strategies for moments when you’re not sure how to annotate an idea. In this episode, you'll explore: Why Grace hopes students leave with questions they can ask themselves to get started How asking “What’s the job of this number?” helps students make sense of problems Why being believed in shapes students’ and teachers’ mathematical confidence What teacher annotation is, and how it differs from scribing or reteaching How purposeful color and lasting visual residue help students connect ideas Why the same task can lead to very different annotations in different classrooms What a Lady Gaga story teaches about planning ahead and staying responsive Why annotation supports working memory, language, and visual-spatial strengths How annotation can transfer to students through co-annotation and turn and talks Practical tips, like annotating on the rephrase and layering annotation over time Think about your last whole-class math discussion. How much of the thinking stayed visible after students finished talking? Before your next discussion, anticipate two or three ways students might approach the task and decide which colors you could use to connect their ideas. Then try annotating on the rephrase, giving yourself and your students a second chance to hear the idea before it goes on the board. Show Notes Page Love the show? Text us your big takeaway! Get a Customized Math Improvement Plan For Your District. Are you district leader for mathematics? Take the 12 minute assessment and you’ll get a free, customized improvement plan to shape and grow the 6 parts of any strong mathematics program. Take the assessment 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.
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#507
November 5 · 25 min
James O’Neal Jr: Reaching Hard-to-Reach Learners
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 assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ K-12 Math Leaders: Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Partner with us to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem-based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units In this episode, Jon Orr talks with James O’Neal Jr. about his upcoming session at the 2026 Make Math Moments Virtual Summit on motivating and supporting hard-to-reach students. James describes these students as learners who carry years of what they believe is failure in math, and explains why picking up a pencil can feel heavy when it’s tied to memories of not getting it. James shares why he builds math motivation around four connected cultures: praise, competence, belonging, and autonomy. He explains why students need opportunities to win, how sense-making builds ownership, and why the first shift for teachers is believing that students can. Jon connects James’s ideas to the Results Pyramid and the role experiences play in shaping beliefs. In this episode, you'll explore: What James hopes former students will say about their math experience years from now What makes a student hard to reach, and why years of perceived failure matter Why praise, competence, belonging, and autonomy are central to math motivation How competence and belonging are closely connected in math class Why James asks teachers: Where will your kids win today? How routines like Which One Doesn’t Belong and Notice and Wonder give every student an entry point How letting students discover why anything to the zero power is one builds ownership Why the first lift for teachers is believing that students can Why students may need several positive math experiences to outweigh a negative one How experiences shape beliefs, and beliefs shape the actions students take in math class As you plan your next lesson, ask yourself James’s question: Where will my students win today? Look for one moment where a hesitant student can enter the math successfully, and one idea you usually summarize for students that they could discover on their own. Then notice how those students respond, and think about how you could build more of those positive experiences into the weeks ahead. Show Notes Page Love the show? Text us your big takeaway! Get a Customized Math Improvement Plan For Your District. Are you district leader for mathematics? Take the 12 minute assessment and you’ll get a free, customized improvement plan to shape and grow the 6 parts of any strong mathematics program. Take the assessment 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.
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#506
November 2 · 40 min
Building Math Professional Development Teachers Want
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 assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ K-12 Math Leaders: Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Partner with us to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem-based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units In this episode, Jon Orr talks with Hillary Larbus, Mallory Messenger, and Courtney Fain, elementary math coaches in Dublin City Schools near Columbus, Ohio. As part of a team of eight math coaches serving 15 elementary schools, they noticed their math professional development felt disjointed, especially while much of the district’s attention was on literacy. They share how the team used the Make Math Moments District Program Assessment to align, narrowed a detailed district vision to two priorities, and chose teacher content knowledge as their focus. They describe the eight-session, for-credit course they built where teachers do the math first and bring back student work, and how monthly and weekly team meetings, content leads, and coaching cycles keep their work connected and sustainable. In this episode, you'll explore: What a team of elementary math coaches learned about planning and meeting teachers where they are How the Make Math Moments District Program Assessment helped eight coaches find common ground How the team distilled a detailed district vision into student discourse and problem solving Why building teacher content knowledge became the highest-leverage focus How an eight-session, for-credit course gave teachers time to do the math themselves How teachers brought student work back to reflect on what they tried in their classrooms What participant feedback revealed about teachers’ appetite for math PD How a month-by-month coaching plan supported the rollout of a new curriculum How content leads, opt-in coaching cycles, and administrator partnerships extend the team’s reach Why shared decision making helps math improvement survive turnover Look at the math professional development your team offered last year and ask: Was it connected by a clear focus, or was it a collection of one-off sessions? Choose one priority that matters across all of your schools, map out how teacher learning could build toward it over the year, and decide how you’ll gather feedback from the teachers doing the work in classrooms. We are grateful to join the Making Math Moments That Matter Podcast to share the story behind the math professional development series that our team created in Dublin City Schools and the coaching model that supports it. This work reflects a shared commitment to meaningful math learning and would not be possible without the collaboration, encouragement, and expertise of our district, administrators, and colleagues. A special thank you to Lori Marple, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning; Christina Hutchison, PK-12 Coordinator of Curriculum; Kate Baker, Math Intervention Lead Teacher; and our fellow Math Instructional Coaches, Alex Abbadie, Alex Schlater, Kami Wenning, Kiley Wilkins, and Lauren Gallerno. We appreciate your partnership and thoughtful collaboration. We are proud of what we've built together and thankful for the educators and leaders who help make this work possible. If you would like to get in contact with Mallory, Hillary, and Courtney, please reach out to the Make Math Moments team, and they will connect you with us! Thank you for all that you are doing for the Math Ed Community! Mallory MessengerTeaching & Learning Coach, Scottish Corners | Wyandot Dublin City Schools Show Notes Page Love the show? Text us your big takeaway! Get a Customized Math Improvement Plan For Your District. Are you district leader for mathematics? Take the 12 minute assessment and you’ll get a free, customized improvement plan to shape and grow the 6 parts of any strong mathematics program. Take the assessment 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.
- Transcript
#505
October 28 · 28 min
Mona Iehl: Building Problem Solvers With the Curriculum You Have
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 assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ K-12 Math Leaders: Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Partner with us to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem-based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units In this episode, Jon Orr talks with Mona Iehl about her upcoming session at the 2026 Make Math Moments Virtual Summit. Mona, a former math avoider turned author, explains why students need opportunities to talk about their thinking in math, and why teachers don’t need more word problems. They need ways to bring the problems already in their curriculum to life. Mona shares the moment she realized she was recreating the math classroom she hated, how a math coach introduced her to the idea of nudging instead of telling, and the daily routine she built around one rich task. She also names a barrier many teachers overlook: helping students learn to listen to each other. In this episode, you'll explore: Why Mona hopes her students leave believing their voice matters in math How talk gives students a low-stakes way to try out their reasoning Why we don’t need more word problems, just better ways to use the ones we have How teachers can adapt curriculum tasks to fit the students in front of them The moment a self-described math avoider realized she was recreating the classroom she hated What a “nudge” is and how it differs from simply telling students what to do A daily routine of launch, grapple time, sharing, discussion, and one more problem How replacing textbook characters with students’ own names makes strategies personal Why listening is the barrier most teachers don’t see coming How changing “tell me” to “tell us” shifts who students are talking to Choose one word problem from tomorrow’s lesson and ask: How could I bring this off the page? Plan a short launch, give students time to grapple, and pick two students to share their strategies with the class. Then notice your language as you circulate. When a student is stuck, what nudge could you offer instead of an explanation? And when students share, are you saying “tell me” or “tell us”? Show Notes Page Love the show? Text us your big takeaway! Get a Customized Math Improvement Plan For Your District. Are you district leader for mathematics? Take the 12 minute assessment and you’ll get a free, customized improvement plan to shape and grow the 6 parts of any strong mathematics program. Take the assessment 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.
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#504
October 26 · 31 min
Are You Setting The Wrong Math Improvement Goals?
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 assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ K-12 Math Leaders: Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Partner with us to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem-based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units In this episode, Jon Orr and Yvette Lehman tackle a common problem in math improvement planning: leaders setting key results for teachers. They explain why year-long targets are often too far away to drive action, why quarterly milestones keep momentum going, and why the people creating the change should be the ones setting the targets. Yvette walks through a K–12 school that chose the first Standard for Mathematical Practice as its objective, then had each PLC commit to its own short-term change, including a key result focused on just three students. Jon and Yvette also share advice for system leaders supporting many schools: learn the conditions for success in one place before trying to scale. In this episode, you'll explore: Why key results should be set by the people who will create the change Why six- or nine-month targets are too far out, and why quarterly milestones work better How key results differ from end-of-year achievement scores How a K–12 school used the first Standard for Mathematical Practice as its shared objective How each PLC chose its own short-term change based on what students were showing A real key result focused on three students retelling a problem without the numbers What makes a strong key result: a baseline, a clear bar, a date, and multiple sources of evidence The leader’s role in protecting PLC time and connecting every team back to the objective Why system leaders should learn the conditions for success in one school before scaling to many Look at the key results or targets your team is working toward right now and ask: Who wrote these? If they were set at the leadership level, consider bringing your PLCs together to choose their own short-term change instead. Ask each team what they’re seeing in students, what one move they could realistically commit to this quarter, how they’ll gather evidence, and when they’ll bring it back to share. Show Notes Page Love the show? Text us your big takeaway! Get a Customized Math Improvement Plan For Your District. Are you district leader for mathematics? Take the 12 minute assessment and you’ll get a free, customized improvement plan to shape and grow the 6 parts of any strong mathematics program. Take the assessment 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.
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#503
October 22 · 24 min
Sue Looney: Using Stories to Build Resilient Problem Solvers
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 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 assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ K-12 Math Leaders: Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Partner with us to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem-based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units In this episode, Jon Orr talks with Sue Looney about her upcoming session at the 2026 Make Math Moments Virtual Summit. Sue, who began her career as an English major, explains why stories are a powerful and often overlooked way to help students build resilience in math. She describes resilient problem solvers as students who aren’t afraid when the fog rolls in, and shares how characters, historical math tasks, and a four-step story lens can help students see those qualities in themselves. Jon and Sue also tackle the question every teacher and coach will ask: where does this fit in an already busy day? Sue offers practical ways to start small, connect with what’s already happening in ELA, and build toward regular problem solving time. In this episode, you'll explore: What Sue hopes teachers will say about teaching math 15 years from now What resilient problem solving looks and sounds like in a math classroom Why students need “foggy” problems instead of packaged ones with an obvious path How stories help students connect with characters who show resilience How an ancient magic squares legend became a children’s book about perseverance A preview of the four-step story lens Sue will share at the summit Why holding up a mirror to students may be the most important step How to find time for stories by starting small and connecting to ELA Why human qualities like curiosity and perseverance matter more as technology advances Think about a story you already love, whether it’s a picture book, a novel, or a classic like The Odyssey. What problem does the main character face, and how do they stay with it when things get hard? Look for one place in the coming week where you could share that story with students, name the resilient qualities you notice, and then ask: Do you see yourself in this character? What would it take to bring those qualities into our math class? Show Notes Page Love the show? Text us your big takeaway! Get a Customized Math Improvement Plan For Your District. Are you district leader for mathematics? Take the 12 minute assessment and you’ll get a free, customized improvement plan to shape and grow the 6 parts of any strong mathematics program. Take the assessment 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.
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#502
October 19 · 29 min
How to Build Teacher “Buy-In” for Math Improvement
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 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 assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ K-12 Math Leaders: Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Partner with us to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem-based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units In this episode, Jon Orr and Yvette Lehman respond to a question they heard three times in a single week: what do you do when your math team pushes back on every new idea? Drawing on Change the Culture, Change the Game by Roger Connors and Tom Smith, they explain why widespread resistance is usually a culture problem rather than a personality problem, and how the Results Pyramid can help leaders design the experiences that shift beliefs and lead to lasting action. They contrast two teams they support: a 6–12 group that built trust through a co-constructed vision and three years of consistent messaging, and a 9–12 team stepping into the work feeling anxious and skeptical. Along the way, they share practical first steps for listening, building relational trust, and helping more people move above the line. In this episode, you'll explore: Why widespread resistance is a culture problem, not a personality problem What “above the line” and “below the line” thinking looks like in math PD and PLCs How the Results Pyramid connects experiences, beliefs, actions, and results Why math improvement plans that jump straight to actions often stall How one district built trust by co-constructing a shared vision and repeating it for three years How transparency around observations and data collection builds relational trust Why listening to teachers’ fears is the first step toward buy-in How trusted informal leaders can help pull a team above the line How teams can hold each other accountable without shutting down honest venting Think about the last time your team pushed back on a new math initiative. What past experiences might have shaped that response? Identify one interaction you lead regularly, such as a PLC, department meeting, or PD session, and ask: What experience am I creating here, and what belief is it reinforcing? Then decide on one change you could make next time to help pull people above the line. Show Notes Page Love the show? Text us your big takeaway! Get a Customized Math Improvement Plan For Your District. Are you district leader for mathematics? Take the 12 minute assessment and you’ll get a free, customized improvement plan to shape and grow the 6 parts of any strong mathematics program. Take the assessment 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.
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#501
October 15 · 34 min
Dr. Nicki Newton: Rethinking Math Fact Fluency.
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. https://makemathmoments.com/coherence-compass/ Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ K-12 Math Leaders: Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Partner with us to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem-based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units In this episode, Jon Orr and Dr. Nicki Newton explore why fact fluency is bigger than a classroom strategy. They unpack what fluency really means, why timing matters, and what changes when schools treat fact fluency as a coherent, long-term system priority. In this episode, you'll explore: What efficiency, flexibility, and accuracy with understanding really mean for fact fluency Why instant recall can be a goal without making timed tests the starting point Why fact fluency needs to be approached as a system-wide priority How differentiated practice can better meet students where they are Why public displays of students' math fact performance can do more harm than good How data conversations can shift from identifying what's “wrong” with students to examining instruction Why schools need to interrogate the practices they've inherited around math facts How leaders, coaches, teachers, students, and families can contribute to a coherent fluency approach Start by uncovering your school's current fluency story. What do you believe about fact fluency? What practices have become routine, and why? Then ask whether those practices are actually producing the outcomes you want for students. Show Notes Page Love the show? Text us your big takeaway! Get a Customized Math Improvement Plan For Your District. Are you district leader for mathematics? Take the 12 minute assessment and you’ll get a free, customized improvement plan to shape and grow the 6 parts of any strong mathematics program. Take the assessment 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.
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#500
October 12 · 28 min
Is Productive Struggle One Of Your Math Classroom Pillars? Should It Be?
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 practices—without adding another initiative. https://makemathmoments.com/coherence-compass/ Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ K-12 Math Leaders: Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Partner with us to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem-based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units In this episode, Jon Orr and Yvette Lehman revisit four classroom pillars—growth, curiosity, collaboration, and struggle—and ask whether they still hold up years later. They explore what happens when beliefs become more than words and begin shaping assessment, instruction, expectations, and every interaction students experience. In this episode, you'll explore: Why every math teacher should identify the beliefs they won't waver from How classroom pillars connect beliefs to everyday instructional decisions Why saying you value growth means your assessment practices should honor growth How curiosity, collaboration, and productive struggle shape students' mathematical experiences Why classroom pillars shouldn't simply become another checklist Whether practice, precision, and mathematical reasoning deserve a place among your core beliefs How expectations for rigor can communicate a fundamental belief that students are capable How teachers and teams can co-construct their own classroom pillars At your next team meeting, ask one question: What do we truly believe students should experience and get from mathematics? Identify the few ideas you aren't willing to compromise on, then look at whether your everyday practices actually bring those beliefs to life. Show Notes Page Love the show? Text us your big takeaway! Get a Customized Math Improvement Plan For Your District. Are you district leader for mathematics? Take the 12 minute assessment and you’ll get a free, customized improvement plan to shape and grow the 6 parts of any strong mathematics program. Take the assessment 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.
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#499
October 8 · 26 min
Graham Fletcher: Are We Making Math More Disjointed Than It Needs to Be?
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 aligned instructional practices—without adding another initiative. https://makemathmoments.com/coherence-compass/ Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ K-12 Math Leaders: Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Partner with us to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem-based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units In this episode, Jon Orr and Graham Fletcher explore the idea of finding a through line in mathematics. They unpack how greater coherence in both context and content can help students make connections, build conceptual understanding, and access the mathematics more deeply. In this episode, you'll explore: What a “through line” looks like in mathematics Why constantly changing contexts can create unnecessary barriers for students How a familiar context can give students more space to focus on the mathematics Why variety in problem types doesn't require a new context every time How mathematical properties can connect strategies that often appear unrelated Why unitizing provides a through line from whole numbers to fractions and rates How understanding mathematical progressions helps teachers respond to the range of thinking in their classrooms What it means to become a wiser consumer of curriculum resources Look back at the last couple of weeks of your math instruction. How often did the strategy, context, and mathematical idea change? Consider where a stronger through line could help students see connections that may currently be hidden. Show Notes Page Love the show? Text us your big takeaway! Get a Customized Math Improvement Plan For Your District. Are you district leader for mathematics? Take the 12 minute assessment and you’ll get a free, customized improvement plan to shape and grow the 6 parts of any strong mathematics program. Take the assessment 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.
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#498
October 5 · 39 min
From Classroom Observations to a Focused Math Improvement Plan
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 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 assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ K-12 Math Leaders: Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Partner with us to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem-based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units In this episode, Jon Orr and Yvette Lehman unpack a recent three-day visit with a K–12 school working to strengthen its math improvement plan. They share how the team moved from a broad vision to classroom evidence, one focused instructional move, and short-term key results designed to build momentum. In this episode, you'll explore: Why a shared vision needs to describe what students and teachers will actually be doing How a Math Coherence Compass can create alignment across multiple campuses The difference between student participation and independent mathematical thinking How classroom observations can reveal strengths and opportunities without becoming evaluative Why the team focused on student confidence, risk taking, perseverance, and curiosity How one existing part of the curriculum became a high-leverage instructional move Why short-term key results can help turn a long-term goal into immediate action How accountability and follow-up help new practices become part of the system Look at your current math improvement goal and ask: What is one observable change we could realistically make this quarter? Get specific about the action, how you'll support it, what evidence you'll collect, and when you'll come back together to see what you're learning. Show Notes Page Love the show? Text us your big takeaway! Get a Customized Math Improvement Plan For Your District. Are you district leader for mathematics? Take the 12 minute assessment and you’ll get a free, customized improvement plan to shape and grow the 6 parts of any strong mathematics program. Take the assessment 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.
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#497
October 1 · 36 min
Zak Champagne: Creating Curious Kids in the Math Classroom
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 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 assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ K-12 Math Leaders: Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Partner with us to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem-based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units In this episode, Jon Orr and Zak Champagne, author of Curious Kids in the Math Classroom, explore how small shifts in classroom practice can foster authentic curiosity. They discuss creating safe spaces, modeling genuine curiosity, using cliffhangers, and adapting the curriculum you already have. In this episode, you'll explore: Why curiosity is something we can foster rather than force How repeated moments of curiosity can shape students' relationship with mathematics Why authentic teacher curiosity matters more than manufactured “wonder” How classroom community creates the safety students need to share unfinished ideas How cliffhangers and uncertainty can invite students into mathematical thinking Simple ways to adapt existing math tasks without replacing your curriculum Why fostering curiosity is a long game, not a checklist of strategies How small, sustainable changes can transform classroom experiences over time Don't try to overhaul every lesson. Choose one small move that creates a little more room for students to wonder, ask questions, or explore an unfinished idea—and keep building from there. Show Notes Page Love the show? Text us your big takeaway! Get a Customized Math Improvement Plan For Your District. Are you district leader for mathematics? Take the 12 minute assessment and you’ll get a free, customized improvement plan to shape and grow the 6 parts of any strong mathematics program. Take the assessment 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.
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#496
September 28 · 37 min
Math Wars: Why Conceptual vs. Procedural Is the Wrong Math Debate
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 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 assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ K-12 Math Leaders: Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Partner with us to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem-based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units In this episode, Jon Orr and Yvette Lehman explore what changes when we stop debating how math should be taught and start examining the knowledge students need to access today’s learning. Mathematics is cumulative, and those prerequisite ideas may be far more complex than the curriculum progression suggests. In this episode, you'll explore: Why the conceptual-versus-procedural debate may be missing the bigger issue What it means for mathematics to be “ruthlessly cumulative” Why grade-level curriculum progressions don't always reveal true prerequisite knowledge How specialized content knowledge helps teachers respond to student misconceptions What multiplying fractions reveals about factoring, scaling, ratios, and proportional reasoning Why high-leverage visual models can help uncover the mathematics beneath an algorithm How teachers can build their mathematical knowledge one concept at a time Why strengthening teacher capacity needs to be a long-term system priority Choose one concept you're teaching and look beneath the expectation: What does a student actually need to understand to access this idea? Try representing it with an area model, ratio table, or double number line and see what prerequisite ideas become visible. Show Notes Page Love the show? Text us your big takeaway! Get a Customized Math Improvement Plan For Your District. Are you district leader for mathematics? Take the 12 minute assessment and you’ll get a free, customized improvement plan to shape and grow the 6 parts of any strong mathematics program. Take the assessment 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.
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#495
September 24 · 32 min
Peter Liljedahl: Can We Teach Students to Be Resilient?
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, 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 assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ K-12 Math Leaders: Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Partner with us to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem-based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units In this episode, Jon Orr and Peter Liljedahl – author of Building Thinking Classrooms explore the difference between states and traits and what that distinction means for teaching mathematics. Peter shares how thoughtfully designed experiences can create moments of confidence, productive struggle, and resilience—and how repeated experiences can eventually shape who students become as mathematical thinkers. In this episode, you'll explore: The difference between a state and a trait Why resilience isn't something students either “have” or “don't have” How repeated states can eventually develop into traits Why productive struggle is more likely when challenge follows success How task sequencing can build confidence before students encounter greater challenge Why showing students how to solve problems isn't the same as helping them become problem solvers How Building Thinking Classrooms practices can create conditions for resilience Why teachers have an important role in designing environments that invite different student behaviours Instead of asking, “Why aren't my students more resilient?” consider asking, “What conditions could I create that give them an opportunity to step into resilience?” We can't expect different student behaviours without creating environments that invite those behaviours. Show Notes Page Love the show? Text us your big takeaway! Get a Customized Math Improvement Plan For Your District. Are you district leader for mathematics? Take the 12 minute assessment and you’ll get a free, customized improvement plan to shape and grow the 6 parts of any strong mathematics program. Take the assessment 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.
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#494
September 21 · 17 min
How to Spiral Your Math Curriculum: A Better Alternative to Cramming and Reteaching
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 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 assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ K-12 Math Leaders: Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Partner with us to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem-based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units In this episode, Jon Orr breaks down what it actually means to spiral your math curriculum and why spacing and retrieval can support longer-lasting learning. He also shares what didn't work when he first tried spiraling and offers practical ways to start without rebuilding your entire course. In this episode, you'll explore: The difference between blocked instruction and spiraling Why spacing and retrieval can improve long-term retention How blocked units can create an “illusion of understanding” Why randomly mixing lessons isn't the same as thoughtfully spiraling How mini-units can balance developmental progression with spaced learning Three low-lift ways to begin spiraling without rebuilding your course How warm-ups, math talks, and lagged practice can keep previous learning alive What leaders can do to create the conditions for spiraling to actually stick Choose one topic students consistently seem to forget. Instead of teaching it once and hoping it sticks, consider how you could intentionally bring it back three times this term, going a little deeper each time. Start small, build deliberately, and give students repeated opportunities to retrieve and reconnect their learning. Show Notes Page Love the show? Text us your big takeaway! Get a Customized Math Improvement Plan For Your District. Are you district leader for mathematics? Take the 12 minute assessment and you’ll get a free, customized improvement plan to shape and grow the 6 parts of any strong mathematics program. Take the assessment 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.
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#493
September 17 · 32 min
Rewarding Student Thinking: An Interview with Dr. Pamela Seda
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 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 assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ K-12 Math Leaders: Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Partner with us to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem-based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units In this episode, Jon Orr and Dr. Pamela Seda explore the disconnect between the mathematics we say students need and what our systems actually value. They examine how assessment, classroom routines, walkthroughs, and professional learning can unintentionally send competing messages—and what leaders and teachers can begin changing within their control. In this episode, you'll explore: The two competing visions of mathematical success Why speed and correct answers don't tell us the whole story of student understanding How classroom and school systems communicate what we truly value Why collecting evidence of student thinking matters more than judging an answer alone How formative assessment can prioritize reasoning, justification, and critical thinking Why standardized assessments can be treated as the floor rather than the goal How leaders can better align what they say matters with what their systems actually reward How to recognize when you're operating within the “old system” so you can begin changing it Take a closer look at one system you control—your formative assessment, lesson routines, walkthrough tool, or professional learning. What does it communicate to students and teachers about what counts as success in mathematics? Recognizing the old system is the first step toward building something different. Show Notes Page Love the show? Text us your big takeaway! Get a Customized Math Improvement Plan For Your District. Are you district leader for mathematics? Take the 12 minute assessment and you’ll get a free, customized improvement plan to shape and grow the 6 parts of any strong mathematics program. Take the assessment 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.
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#492
September 14 · 27 min
How Strong Math Teams Turn Decisions Into Action
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 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 assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ K-12 Math Leaders: Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Partner with us to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem-based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units In this episode, Jon Orr and Yvette Lehman explore why strong teams can still get stuck in cycles of discussion and consensus. They unpack how clear ownership, predictable structures, shared direction, and psychological safety can create the right balance of autonomy and accountability—so people feel confident leaving the meeting and getting to work. In this episode, you'll explore: Why consensus can sometimes slow down math improvement How to create greater clarity around roles, responsibilities, and ownership The difference between seeking input and asking permission Why predictable meeting structures create greater accountability between meetings How a Math Coherence Compass can become a filter for everyday decision-making What high autonomy and high accountability can look like on a leadership team Why psychological safety matters when we want people to take action How leaders can determine whether their team has a clarity problem or a confidence problem If your team is spending more energy deciding what to do than actually doing the work, take a look at the conditions surrounding the team itself. Ask whether people know what they own, whether they have a clear framework for making decisions, and whether they feel safe enough to act without knowing they'll get everything right the first time. The goal isn't less collaboration. It's creating the clarity, autonomy, accountability, and trust that allow collaboration to lead to action. Show Notes Page Love the show? Text us your big takeaway! Get a Customized Math Improvement Plan For Your District. Are you district leader for mathematics? Take the 12 minute assessment and you’ll get a free, customized improvement plan to shape and grow the 6 parts of any strong mathematics program. Take the assessment 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.
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#491
September 7 · 28 min
Why Do Students Struggle With Math Word Problems and What To Do About It
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 problems to practice, but what if the real challenge lies somewhere deeper? 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 assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ K-12 Math Leaders: Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Partner with us to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem-based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units In this episode, Jon Orr and Yvette Lehman dig into adaptive reasoning, one of the five interconnected strands of mathematical proficiency described in Adding It Up. They explore the important difference between having strategies in your mathematical toolkit and knowing when, why, and how to choose among them. From think-alouds and metacognition to mathematical discourse and varied problem contexts, the conversation looks at how we can help students become more flexible problem solvers. It also challenges us to look beyond “students can’t reason” and consider whether they have the background knowledge, task clarity, and familiarity with the context needed to demonstrate their reasoning in the first place. In this episode, you'll explore: What adaptive reasoning means within the five strands of mathematical proficiency Why knowing how to use a strategy is different from knowing when to choose it How think-alouds can make mathematical decision-making visible to students Why reflection and metacognition matter when students solve unfamiliar problems How mathematical discourse supports adaptive reasoning Three conditions to consider before concluding that students are struggling with reasoning Why background knowledge and meaningful, familiar contexts matter in problem solving How strengthening our own mathematical proficiency can better position us to support students If your students can complete straightforward calculations but struggle when mathematics appears in unfamiliar or multi-step problems, this episode offers a different place to look. Rather than simply adding more practice, consider what opportunities students have to choose strategies, explain those choices, reflect on their thinking, and strengthen the adaptive reasoning that helps weave mathematical proficiency together. Show Notes Page Love the show? Text us your big takeaway! Get a Customized Math Improvement Plan For Your District. Are you district leader for mathematics? Take the 12 minute assessment and you’ll get a free, customized improvement plan to shape and grow the 6 parts of any strong mathematics program. Take the assessment 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.
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