Whether we know it or not, math teachers in America have a default teaching script that is so engrained into our cultural DNA that we don't even know it exists. Yet that cultural script – largely described as "I do, We do, You do" – is preventing us from experiencing the math joy our students deserve.

In recent episodes we have been proposing Teaching Through Problem Solving as a new cultural script for teaching mathematics. This time Katie goes into depth on HOW to plan for a TTP lesson. She points out all the opportunities in a TTP-style lesson where the teacher can naturally embed Mathematical Language Routines (MLRs) and the Eight Standards for Mathematical Practices (SMPs) without making the MLRs and SMPs feel like add-ons to an already crowded lesson.

Katie's previous episode (Episode 53) in which we talk about the power of a curriculum-based professional learning protocol we call Collaborative Lesson Design. 

Episode 53 on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4qDfVAigez9YPgEw1G3jDl?si=SdkLITgtTzejZv6pv0WIfw

Episode 53 on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/LGytsImcQUY

Here is a Teaching through Problem Solving slide deck we use at Merced County Office of Education:

https://tinyurl.com/MCOE-TTP

REGISTER FOR OUR CONFERENCES:

✚  CMC Central Symposium in Bakersfield, March 13 & 14, 2026:

      https://www.cmcmath.org/cmc-central-symposium   

LEARN with the California Mathematics Council…

✚  Join us in our monthly Inspiring Math Minds webinars and get on our mailing list to be notified:

     https://www.cmcmath.org/cmc-central/virtual-learning-series 

✚  Visit the California Math Council website:

     https://www.cmcmath.org/ 

✚  Become a member of the California Math Council:

     https://camc.memberclicks.net/member-info-join-renew 

SUBSCRIBE!

✚  YouTube (video & audio):

     https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvolZqLMhJmlKZXVW-HMWHmGsXXaeH09f 

✚  Spotify (video & audio):  

     https://open.spotify.com/show/7A17FvtyV8FiFJ0SWoTiQm?si=44d81611497e4c7a 

✚  Apple Podcast (audio only):  

     https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/math-on-the-rocks/id1728772089  

As the mathematics instruction community adds to our understanding of how mathematics should be taught and learned, teachers now face the prospect of having to change how they teach. This is a challenge in a profession that historically neither provides the support to learn what changes need to be made nor the time to practice making those changes. Cole shares his thinking about how to support teachers to grow.

Deskilling due to AI:

https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/08/19/nx-s1-5506292/doctors-ai-artificial-intelligence-dependent-colonoscopy

Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath: How screen time hurts kids:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd-_VDYit3U 

Here are all the symposium sessions. Ask your principal to send you to this nationally known professional learning opportunity.

https://web.cvent.com/event/64508313-27b3-4253-9cce-f00f664d7d3b/websitePage:15580fe6-047c-4bbd-bb8a-7738500bff66 

HQIM resources on CMC website

• https://www.cmcmath.org/resources 

REGISTER FOR OUR CONFERENCES:

✚  CMC Central Symposium in Bakersfield, March 13 & 14, 2026:

      https://www.cmcmath.org/cmc-central-symposium   

LEARN with the California Mathematics Council…

✚  Join us in our monthly Inspiring Math Minds webinars and get on our mailing list to be notified:

     https://www.cmcmath.org/cmc-central/virtual-learning-series 

✚  Visit the California Math Council website:

     https://www.cmcmath.org/ 

✚  Become a member of the California Math Council:

     https://camc.memberclicks.net/member-info-join-renew 

SUBSCRIBE!

✚  YouTube (video & audio):

     https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvolZqLMhJmlKZXVW-HMWHmGsXXaeH09f 

✚  Spotify (video & audio):  

     https://open.spotify.com/show/7A17FvtyV8FiFJ0SWoTiQm?si=44d81611497e4c7a 

✚  Apple Podcast (audio only):  

     https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/math-on-the-rocks/id1728772089  

We start out by talking about the goings on of California Math Council as we get ready for our symposium in March. Then we switch to continuing our conversation about the Teaching Through Problem Solving instructional script. Duane wants the world to adopt TTP as the primary form of instruction. Of course we'll still need to occasionally use the instructional script of "I do, We do, You do", but TTP should be your default script.

HQIM resources on CMC website

• https://www.cmcmath.org/resources 

Become a member of the California Math Council:

•   https://camc.memberclicks.net/member-info-join-renew 

Kissing cousins to TTP

• Math Medic:  https://mathmedic.com/

• 5 Practices:  https://www.nctm.org/Store/Products/5-Practices-for-Orchestrating-Productive-Mathematics-Discussions,-2nd-edition-(Download)/

• Upside Down Teaching:  https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1157349 

Here is our Teaching through Problem Solving slide deck:

https://tinyurl.com/MCOE-TTP

REGISTER FOR OUR CONFERENCES:

✚  CMC Central Symposium in Bakersfield, March 13 & 14, 2026:

      https://www.cmcmath.org/cmc-central-symposium   

LEARN with the California Mathematics Council…

✚  Join us in our monthly Inspiring Math Minds webinars and get on our mailing list to be notified:

     https://www.cmcmath.org/cmc-central/virtual-learning-series 

✚  Visit the California Math Council website:

     https://www.cmcmath.org/ 

✚  Become a member of the California Math Council:

     https://camc.memberclicks.net/member-info-join-renew 

SUBSCRIBE!

✚  YouTube (video & audio):

     https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvolZqLMhJmlKZXVW-HMWHmGsXXaeH09f 

✚  Spotify (video & audio):  

     https://open.spotify.com/show/7A17FvtyV8FiFJ0SWoTiQm?si=44d81611497e4c7a 

✚  Apple Podcast (audio only):  

     https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/math-on-the-rocks/id1728772089  

Howie Hua (professor, speaker, and social media communicator) joins us to explore what it really means to be “good at math” and how we can help students build a strong math identity. Through quick routines, mindset moves, and rich examples, Howie shows how shifting from answer-getting to sensemaking can transform classrooms into safe, collaborative spaces where students truly believe: I can do hard things.

This episode is equal parts practical and inspiring, and it gave the MoTR crew a lot to reflect on.

CONTACT / RESOURCES:

Howie Hua

[email protected] (email for the slide deck)

Find Howie on social media for math explainer videos, teaching tips, and math memes.

REGISTER FOR OUR CONFERENCES:

✚  CMC Central Symposium in Bakersfield, March 13 & 14, 2026:

      https://www.cmcmath.org/cmc-central-symposium   

LEARN with the California Mathematics Council…

✚  Join us in our monthly Inspiring Math Minds webinars and get on our mailing list to be notified:

     https://www.cmcmath.org/cmc-central/virtual-learning-series 

✚  Visit the California Math Council website:

     https://www.cmcmath.org/ 

✚  Become a member of the California Math Council:

     https://camc.memberclicks.net/member-info-join-renew 

SUBSCRIBE!

✚  YouTube (video & audio):

     https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvolZqLMhJmlKZXVW-HMWHmGsXXaeH09f 

✚  Spotify (video & audio):  

     https://open.spotify.com/show/7A17FvtyV8FiFJ0SWoTiQm?si=44d81611497e4c7a 

✚  Apple Podcast (audio only):  

     https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/math-on-the-rocks/id1728772089  

It has been a while since we got together to record an episode of Math On the Rocks, so Scott and Duane got together to catch up. We refresh our conversation about the Teaching Through Problem Solving instructional strategy. TTP is like Building Thinking Classrooms…but different. TTP is like the 5 Practices…but different. Listen to this episode to begin your journey to learn about TTP.

All our webinars are published on our MOtR channel, but there are also found here: https://www.cmcmath.org/online-learning

Here is our Teaching through Problem Solving slide deck:

https://tinyurl.com/MCOE-TTP

REGISTER FOR OUR CONFERENCES:

✚  CMC Central Symposium in Bakersfield, March 13 & 14, 2026:

      https://www.cmcmath.org/cmc-central-symposium   

LEARN with the California Mathematics Council…

✚  Join us in our monthly Inspiring Math Minds webinars and get on our mailing list to be notified:

     https://www.cmcmath.org/cmc-central/virtual-learning-series 

✚  Visit the California Math Council website:

     https://www.cmcmath.org/ 

✚  Become a member of the California Math Council:

     https://camc.memberclicks.net/member-info-join-renew 

SUBSCRIBE!

✚  YouTube (video & audio):

     https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvolZqLMhJmlKZXVW-HMWHmGsXXaeH09f 

✚  Spotify (video & audio):  

     https://open.spotify.com/show/7A17FvtyV8FiFJ0SWoTiQm?si=44d81611497e4c7a 

✚  Apple Podcast (audio only):  

     https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/math-on-the-rocks/id1728772089  

Odalis Amparo joins us all the way from Massachusetts and shares best practices for multilingual learners. Odalis was a teacher and now works for Student Achievement Partners. She says math is NOT a universal language. Rather, math is multilingual. Join us in this episode and learn what role language plays in mathematics.

This is one of the most thought-provoking episodes we've done! Odalis is brilliant.

CONTACT:

Odalis Amparo (she/her/ella)

[email protected]

www.linkedin.com/in/odalis-amparo-al515a255

REGISTER FOR OUR CONFERENCES:

✚  CMC Central Symposium in Bakersfield, March 13 & 14, 2026:

      https://www.cmcmath.org/cmc-central-symposium   

LEARN with the California Mathematics Council…

✚  Join us in our monthly Inspiring Math Minds webinars and get on our mailing list to be notified:

     https://www.cmcmath.org/cmc-central/virtual-learning-series 

✚  Visit the California Math Council website:

     https://www.cmcmath.org/ 

✚  Become a member of the California Math Council:

     https://camc.memberclicks.net/member-info-join-renew 

SUBSCRIBE!

✚  YouTube (video & audio):

     https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvolZqLMhJmlKZXVW-HMWHmGsXXaeH09f 

✚  Spotify (video & audio):  

     https://open.spotify.com/show/7A17FvtyV8FiFJ0SWoTiQm?si=44d81611497e4c7a 

✚  Apple Podcast (audio only):  

     https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/math-on-the-rocks/id1728772089  

In this rebroadcast of our Inspiring Math Minds webinar Richard Sgroi teaches us the algebra and finance connection and how we can use real world, real math, and real interest to engage our students. This is NOT consumer math. Teaching Advanced Algebra with Financial Applications is a life-long learning tool that all students should have access to. We need to think deeply about recognizing that learning about FINANCE has the power to empower our students. 

This episode gave the MOtR crew lots to explore!

Richard's website:  http://financialalgebra.com 

Get his slides here: https://www.financialalgebra.com/resources

Richard's email:  [email protected] 

REGISTER FOR OUR CONFERENCES:

✚  CMC Central Symposium in Bakersfield, March 13 & 14, 2026:

      https://www.cmcmath.org/cmc-central-symposium   

LEARN with the California Mathematics Council…

✚  Join us in our monthly Inspiring Math Minds webinars and get on our mailing list to be notified:

     https://www.cmcmath.org/cmc-central/virtual-learning-series 

✚  Visit the California Math Council website:

     https://www.cmcmath.org/ 

✚  Become a member of the California Math Council:

     https://camc.memberclicks.net/member-info-join-renew 

SUBSCRIBE!

✚  YouTube (video & audio):

     https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvolZqLMhJmlKZXVW-HMWHmGsXXaeH09f 

✚  Spotify (video & audio):  

     https://open.spotify.com/show/7A17FvtyV8FiFJ0SWoTiQm?si=44d81611497e4c7a 

✚  Apple Podcast (audio only):  

     https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/math-on-the-rocks/id1728772089  

Our most controversial episode yet! Ki Karou, an EdTech product director, brings in the heat with some strong opinions…and then he defends them like heck. Listen to the audience; they had a hard time PRETENDING to be skeptical. Ki skillfully gets us thinking deeply about the role of language in learning mathematics. His ideas will grab your attention and keep you thinking for a long time.

REGISTER FOR OUR CONFERENCES:

✚  CMC Central Symposium in Bakersfield, March 13 & 14, 2026:

      https://www.cmcmath.org/cmc-central-symposium   

LEARN with the California Mathematics Council…

✚  Join us in our monthly Inspiring Math Minds webinars and get on our mailing list to be notified:

     https://www.cmcmath.org/cmc-central/virtual-learning-series 

✚  Visit the California Math Council website:

     https://www.cmcmath.org/ 

✚  Become a member of the California Math Council:

     https://camc.memberclicks.net/member-info-join-renew 

SUBSCRIBE!

✚  YouTube (video & audio):

     https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvolZqLMhJmlKZXVW-HMWHmGsXXaeH09f 

✚  Spotify (video & audio):  

     https://open.spotify.com/show/7A17FvtyV8FiFJ0SWoTiQm?si=44d81611497e4c7a 

✚  Apple Podcast (audio only):  

     https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/math-on-the-rocks/id1728772089  

In this LIVE episode, our guests Suzanne Huerta and Stephanie Williamson drop some major bombs of wisdom that sparks the audience into sharing points of skepticism. Huerta and Williamson share their profound beliefs that every student is capable of learning meaningful mathematics. All students deserve access to grade-level mathematics content and the standards of mathematical practices. Listen to the skeptics in the audience!

REGISTER FOR OUR CONFERENCES:

✚  CMC Central Symposium in Bakersfield, March 13 & 14, 2026:

      https://www.cmcmath.org/cmc-central-symposium   

LEARN with the California Mathematics Council…

✚  Join us in our monthly Inspiring Math Minds webinars and get on our mailing list to be notified:

     https://www.cmcmath.org/cmc-central/virtual-learning-series 

✚  Visit the California Math Council website:

     https://www.cmcmath.org/ 

✚  Become a member of the California Math Council:

     https://camc.memberclicks.net/member-info-join-renew 

SUBSCRIBE!

✚  YouTube (video & audio):

     https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvolZqLMhJmlKZXVW-HMWHmGsXXaeH09f 

✚  Spotify (video & audio):  

     https://open.spotify.com/show/7A17FvtyV8FiFJ0SWoTiQm?si=44d81611497e4c7a 

✚  Apple Podcast (audio only):  

     https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/math-on-the-rocks/id1728772089  

Yeah…yeah…we had some technical difficulties as is typical with our Math On the Rocks vibe. But don't let that stop you from enjoying this live episode from Palm Springs. Dr. Brian Buckhalter, affectionately known as Dr. Buck, is the President of NCSM, the premier mathematics education leadership organization. Dr Buck shares his vision of math education that focuses on more than just speed and rote memorization and instead incorporates problem solving and sense making. Listen to the skeptics in the audience!

Dr Buckhalter's website:

https://sites.google.com/view/buckwildaboutmath/home

REGISTER FOR OUR CONFERENCES:

✚  CMC Central Symposium in Bakersfield, March 13 & 14, 2026:

      https://www.cmcmath.org/cmc-central-symposium   

LEARN with the California Mathematics Council…

✚  Join us in our monthly Inspiring Math Minds webinars and get on our mailing list to be notified:

     https://www.cmcmath.org/cmc-central/virtual-learning-series 

✚  Visit the California Math Council website:

     https://www.cmcmath.org/ 

✚  Become a member of the California Math Council:

     https://camc.memberclicks.net/member-info-join-renew 

SUBSCRIBE!

✚  YouTube (video & audio):

     https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvolZqLMhJmlKZXVW-HMWHmGsXXaeH09f 

✚  Spotify (video & audio):  

     https://open.spotify.com/show/7A17FvtyV8FiFJ0SWoTiQm?si=44d81611497e4c7a 

✚  Apple Podcast (audio only):  

     https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/math-on-the-rocks/id1728772089