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We’ve all heard about the importance of productive struggle in math—but what does it actually look like in practice? In this episode, I share why Grapple Time is one of the most powerful parts of Word Problem Workshop, how to prepare students to persevere, and the exact four teacher moves you can make while students are solving.

Wondering what this looks like day-to-day? I walk you through my four concrete teacher moves during Grapple Time:

1. Scan – Take the first 30 seconds to see who’s stuck, who’s thriving, and where you may need to step in.
2. Walk – Move around the room neutrally, observing and jotting down strategies without telling students what’s “right.”
3. Zone In – Focus on a few students who are showing interesting strategies or who need redirection.
4. Ask – Hold brief conferences, nudging students with questions like, “What are you thinking?” or “How did you start?”

These moves keep you active and intentional without stealing the struggle from students.

🎧 Ready to learn the full details of how to facilitate Grapple Time? Listen to the full podcast episode now!
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