TL is a 3rd / 4th grade educator from Grove City Pennsylvania. We welcome TL joined us back on Episode 198: Assessing Multiplication Facts. Back then we chatted all about math fact strategies and how we can use assessments to promote growth. 

TL joins us now to fill us in on her continued growth around developing math fact strategies and she also shares her carefully designed math blocks where she’s available to work in small groups. 

Stick around and you’ll hear her current pebble in her shoe: What standards should she focus on to get the “best bang for her buck”?

This is another Math Mentoring Moment episode where we chat with a teacher like you who is working through some problems of practice and together we brainstorm ways to overcome them. 

You’ll Learn: 

• How problem strings can give you a wealth of assessment data on your students;
• How can I structure my intervention time so students grow? 
• How do we identify which standards are the most important to focus on? 
• How can I use data to differentiate a learning path for my students?

Resources: 

• Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units

District Math Leaders: 

How are you ensuring that you support those educators who need a nudge to spark a focus on growing their pedagogical-content knowledge? 

What about opportunities for those who are eager and willing to elevate their practice, but do not have the support? 

Book a call with our District Improvement Program Team to learn how we can not only help you craft, refine and implement your district math learning goals, but also provide all of the professional learning supports your educators need to grow at the speed of their learning. 

Book a short conversation with our team now. 

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.

In this episode, we speak with Guillaume Paré, a high school math teacher from Quebec City, Quebec. Guillaume has transformed his assessment and evaluation practices over the years to move away from overemphasizing grades and focusing more of the attention on growth. 

Guillaume is struggling with how to determine what should impact and influence both the feedback and grade for a specific standard when an error or misconception is not directly related to the learning goal of focus.

Listen in as we help Guillaume weed through what really matters in his assessment and evaluation process by breaking things down and building it back up again.

This is another Math Mentoring Moment Episode where we speak with a member of the math moment maker community where together we brainstorm strategies and next steps for teachers to overcome pebbles they have in their shoe. 

You’ll Learn: 

• How evaluation practices can affect student perceptions of mathematics regardless of how “high” the grade might be;
• Why feedback is more helpful (and less hurtful) than assigning grades on student work;
• How much impact or influence mistakes should have on a final grade when using standards based grading (SBG);
• What areas of mathematics should we assess that are NOT standards in my course?

Resources: 

• Assessment For Growth [Course] - Module One is Free

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.

In this episode we’ll share why we believe that an effective mathematics program must be cultivated and fostered like a strong, healthy and balanced tree. 

Most school districts that are underperforming in math are most likely impoverished in at least one of the 6 areas we’ll discuss in this episode. 

Stick around to learn how you can build your healthy tree so it stretches far, wide, and produces quality fruit and seeds that will strengthen the next generation. 

You’ll Learn: 

• How to identify the areas to improve in your school district to strengthen your math program; 
• What areas should you focus on next to obtain improved results in your math program; 
• What first step you can take to put your school/team/district on the right path towards achieving success. 

Resources: 

District Leader Resources:

Take the Make Math Moments District Assessment 

The Make Math Moments District Planning Workbook [First 3 pages] 

Learn About Our District Improvement Program

Are you a district mathematics leader interested in crafting a mathematics professional learning plan that will transform your district mathematics program forever? Book a time to chat with us!

Other Useful Resources and Supports: 

Make Math Moments Framework [Blog Article]

Make Math Moments Problem-Based Lessons & Units

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.

In this episode we speak with Megan Garner, a 4th grade math teacher from Liberty Hill Texas. Megan is just in her 5th year of teaching and is aiming her sights on helping her students develop flexible strategies around division and other basic number sense skills but she’s finding it frustrating when students want to always resort to the standard algorithm. 

Together we help Megan see how starting with models and strategies before rushing to algorithms will strengthen students' proficiency. 

This is another Math Mentoring Moment episode where we talk with a member of the Math Moment Maker Community who is working through problems of practice and together we brainstorm possible next steps and strategies to overcome them. 

You’ll Learn: 

• How to approach multiple representations and why they are important for building mathematical proficiency;
• Why it is important for students to show how and why they got their answer;
• Why building fluency and flexibility with strategies and models before introducing an algorithm is extremely important; and, 
• What you might do if an algorithm was introduced before fluency and flexibility was achieved with prior strategies and models.

Resources: 

• Make Math Moments Tasks
• Sowing Seeds - 2-Digit By 1-Digit Division Unit
• Niagara Falls - 3-Digit and 2-Digit by 2-Digit Division Unit
• How to Teach Division: What Teachers Need To Know [VIDEO]

Take Your Learning To The Next Level:

• Join the Make Math Moments Academy

District Math Leaders:

• Learn if your district is a good fit for our Make Math Moments District Improvement Program

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.

This episode is our first episode of the year 2023. What better topic to dig into than goal setting now that you may have set your New Year's Resolution for this new calendar year - be it personal or professional.

We’ll dig into some of the reasons why your resolutions of years past may have failed and what you can do to increase the probability that the goal you set for yourself this year will not only be worthwhile, but one that you can position yourself to actually achieve!

You’ll Learn: 

• Why most people fail at achieving their resolutions; 
• How to avoid the common mistakes around creating a resolution or goal; 
• How to use OKRs to achieve the goals you set for yourself personally or professionally; and,
• How to craft goals for your classroom and/or school improvement programs. 

Resources: 

16 Reasons Why New Year's Resolutions Fail - Life Hack.org

Top 3 Reasons Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail - Forbes

How To Start The School Year Off Right

Measure What Matters [Book] - John Doerr

District Leader Resources:

The Make Math Moments District Planning Workbook [First 3 pages] 

Learn About Our District Improvement Program

Are you a district mathematics leader interested in crafting a mathematics professional learning plan that will transform your district mathematics program forever? Book a time to chat with us!

Other Useful Resources and Supports: 

Make Math Moments Framework [Blog Article]

Make Math Moments Problem-Based Lessons & Units

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.

In this episode, we speak with Kyle Greenholt, a 15-year teaching veteran from Pennsylvania about the common struggle educators face when designing and facilitating math intervention classes to help students who have had ongoing struggles with mathematics. 

Kyle is in a tug of war with two competing ideas in his mind and heart. He knows and wants to teach his students using problem-based lesson utilizing strategies while at the same time knows his students need more individualized support. 

In this episode we help Kyle realize why a “one size fits all” strategy may not be appropriate for his classroom and that sometimes a problem based lesson is not the most effective approach for his intervention class. 

You’ll Learn: 

• Why “breaking the script” is more likely to be a moment your students remember from your math class;
• Why doing what you’ve always done in a standard grade level classroom may not be the best approach in an intervention class;
• Whether a problem based lesson is the most effective approach for use in an intervention class; and,
• An approach those teaching math intervention or support classes will find helpful to reach more students.

Resources: 

• Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units
• Walk Out - Problem Based Distance Time Graph Tasks

District Math Leaders: 

How are you ensuring that you support those educators who need a nudge to spark a focus on growing their pedagogical-content knowledge? 

What about opportunities for those who are eager and willing to elevate their practice, but do not have the support? 

Book a call with our District Improvement Program Team to learn how we can not only help you craft, refine and implement your district math learning goals, but also provide all of the professional learning supports your educators need to grow at the speed of their learning. 

Book a short conversation with our team now. 

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.

In this episode, Jon & Kyle discuss what role (if any) that homework should play in math class across the K-12 grade bands. Stick around as we dig into some common “rules of thumb” such as the “10 minutes of homework per day per grade” rule, what different groups and organizations are suggesting, and of course, what the research tells us. 

As always, we’ll be giving you some of our perspectives based on some of the opinions and research out there as well as dig into some of the strategies we’ve used over the years to help you get a hold of your homework situation.

Grab on to your homework binders and grab a pencil because class is out and it’s time to dig into your homework for the day!

You’ll Learn: 

• When you should give homework and when you should hold off from assigning it; 
• Should we follow the “10 minutes per day per grade rule?
• What your homework assignment should look like; and, 
• How to decide if you should assign homework; 

Resources: 

Is the 10 Minute Rule for Homework Accurate? 

Lagging Homework by Henri Picciotto

Is Homework Good for Kids? Here’s What The Research Says

Does Homework Improve Academic Achievement? A Synthesis of Research, 1987-2003

Stanford Research Shows Pitfalls of Homework 

District Leader Resources:

The Make Math Moments District Planning Workbook [First 3 pages] 

Learn About Our District Improvement Program

Are you a district mathematics leader interested in crafting a mathematics professional learning plan that will transform your district mathematics program forever? Book a time to chat with us!

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.

In this episode we speak with Laura Compean about the common struggle educators face when designing and facilitating a math support class to help students who have traditionally struggled with mathematics. How can we build a welcoming classroom culture that might help to heal bruised relationships with mathematics while ensuring that students are engaging in the learning necessary for them to be successful in their mainstream math class? 

We will talk about this pebble in Laura’s shoe through this Math Mentoring Moment episode where we talk with a member of the Math Moment Maker Community who is working through problems of practice and together we brainstorm possible next steps and strategies to overcome them. 

You’ll Learn: 

• Why mimicking isn’t enough when students reach higher mathematics courses;
• How we can bridge the strategies students are using in problem based lessons to the abstract math concepts;
• How to focus on fluency and flexibility to prepare students for algebra 1; 
• How we should consolidate our lessons to make them most impact with students; and,
• What a math support class should look like. 

Resources: 

Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units

Which One Doesn’t Belong

Would You Rather Math

Are you a district mathematics leader interested in crafting a mathematics professional learning plan that will transform your district mathematics program forever? Book a time to chat with us!

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.

In this episode, you’ll hear a slightly different episode style as the tables are turned as Ali Melia interviews  Kyle Pearce as a means to gather more research data for her Master of Teaching work at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). Ali digs into questions for MathletePearce around how teachers in Ontario can effectively foster a growth mindset while assessing students in mathematics.  

Let the table turning begin as Ali grabs the mic, tosses Jon to the curb and digs into some really important topics by asking Kyle for his perspectives on all things mindset, assessment and mathematics instruction!

You’ll Learn: 

• The experiences Kyle has engaged in to push is practice from delivering the mathematics curriculum in a teacher-centric manner to a more student-centric manner;
• Why a growth mindset is essential in helping students to develop a productive disposition towards mathematics;
• What it means to truly learn mathematics and what approaches we see in many classrooms are actually not helping students to learn mathematics; 
• How developing a growth mindset and implementing that learning in a mathematics classroom affects the assessment and evaluation process; and,
• How to know whether you are “walking the walk” of a growth mindset in math class or simply “talking the talk”. 

Resources: 

• Assessment For Growth [Course - Module 1 has Open Access]
• NORCAN Project - Tecumseh Vista Academy Video Summary
• Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units

District Math Leaders: 

How are you ensuring that you support those educators who need a nudge to spark a focus on growing their pedagogical-content knowledge? 

What about opportunities for those who are eager and willing to elevate their practice, but do not have the support? 

Book a call with our District Improvement Program Team to learn how we can not only help you craft, refine and implement your district math learning goals, but also provide all of the professional learning supports your educators need to grow at the speed of their learning. 

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.

In this episode Jon & Kyle compare the consolidation and connection phase of your math lesson to the Oblivious Viewer Loop phenomenon in common mystery TV shows. 

Stick around and you’ll learn how focusing on the intentionality of your learning goal can help shape how your consolidate your lesson so that we can avoid students “missing the point” of our lesson and instead make the connection to the learning goal. 

You’ll Learn: 

• What is the oblivious viewer loop why we need to consider it when teaching our lessons; 
• Why focusing on the intentionality of your problem based lesson will help make more connections during the consolidation of your lesson;
• What you can do when some kids are ‘getting it’ and others aren’t quite there yet;

Resources: 

Episode 160: How To Make Connections In Your Problem-Based Lessons

Episode 177: Making The Consolidation Count

Episode 153: The Hero’s Journey In Math Class 

District Leader Resources:

The Make Math Moments District Planning Workbook [First 3 pages] 

Learn About Our District Improvement Program

Are you a district mathematics leader interested in crafting a mathematics professional learning plan that will transform your district mathematics program forever? Book a time to chat with us!

Other Useful Resources and Supports: 

Make Math Moments Framework [Blog Article]

Make Math Moments Problem-Based Lessons & Units

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.