First, it's National Toilet Paper Day! So we talk about how we will celebrate... 

Then, what happens when a school district shifts from traditional math instruction to collaborative learning? Holly McCarty, Coordinator of Curriculum Instruction at Shawnee Mission School District in Kansas, takes us behind the scenes of their successful CPM implementation journey.

When Holly joined Shawnee Mission—a district serving 25,000 students across five high schools, five middle schools, and 34 elementary schools—she brought a vision for transforming mathematics instruction. Her goal was clear: move away from passive note-taking toward active learning environments where students develop lasting understanding through collaboration and problem-solving.

The implementation story offers valuable insights for any district considering curriculum change. Rather than mandating adoption across all classrooms simultaneously, Holly invited teacher teams who were ready and willing to pioneer the approach. This organic strategy created momentum as educators across all five high schools voluntarily chose to implement CPM with their Integrated Math courses.

What makes this story particularly compelling are the results. Holly shares a powerful anecdote about a high school student who, at the end of a Friday afternoon class, asked, "Can we do this again sometime? I was really engaged in what we were doing." Students have recognized the value of collaborative learning, with one noting that working together in teams "is just like real life."

Teachers report feeling more energized teaching with CPM than with traditional methods. The curriculum provides comprehensive resources to implement research-based instructional strategies without the exhausting hunt for quality materials that often burns educators out.

Whether you're a mathematics leader considering curriculum changes, a teacher curious about collaborative learning approaches, or an administrator supporting instructional shifts, this episode offers practical wisdom about implementation, professional development, and creating classrooms where both students and teachers thrive in their mathematical journey.

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The More Math for More People Podcast is produced by CPM Educational Program.
Learn more at CPM.org
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