A student solves 3 x 4 without hesitation. Hand them 4 x 3 a minute later, and they treat it like a brand-new fact they've never seen.

Rather than treating every multiplication fact as its own separate thing to memorize, what if your students already know more facts than they think they do? This episode walks through a simple way to build that connection using a hands-on model students can see and touch.

In this episode, you'll explore:

• Why defining a property and actually using it as a strategy are two different things
• A simple instructional move that helps students see facts as related, not brand new
• Questions that help students make connections between facts

If you're re-teaching the same multiplication facts twice without realizing it, this episode will show you how to help your students see relationships instead.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Free Training: Why Your 3rd Graders STILL Don't Know Their Multiplication Facts
• Multiplication Facts Blueprint 

Want more support differentiating math instruction and running small groups with confidence? Check out my membership for third-grade teachers. →  Elementary Math Fam

If you liked this, follow the show so you never miss an episode and come visit me on Instagram @mrelementarymath.

Your math block is already packed, and fact fluency practice still needs a place to live, so where's it supposed to go?

Rather than searching for one more big chunk of time, the better question is: “Where you already have small pockets of the day fact fluency practice could quietly live?” 

This episode walks through several natural spots already you already have in your teaching day, plus what the research says about why shorter, spread-out practice sessions build more fluency than one long sitting.

In this episode, you'll explore:

• Why "finding more time" isn't actually the problem to solve
• Five simple places already in your day for fact fluency practice
• What the research reveals about shorter, spaced-out fluency practice

If you've been searching for one more big chunk of time for fact fluency and coming up empty, this episode will show you a simpler way to fit it in without changing your schedule.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Free Training: Why Your 3rd Graders STILL Don't Know Their Multiplication Facts

Want more support differentiating math instruction and running small groups with confidence? Check out my membership for third-grade teachers. →  Elementary Math Fam

If you liked this, follow the show so you never miss an episode and come visit me on Instagram @mrelementarymath.

What tools do you reach for to check multiplication fact fluency? If a timed test is the first thing that comes to mind, you're not alone, but that number on the page might be telling you less than you think. 

In this episode, we take an honest look at what a timed test actually measures, what it leaves out entirely, and why the tool most of us were handed might not be built for the job we're asking it to do. 

In this episode, you'll explore: 

• What a timed test score can and can't actually tell you about a student 
• Why a low score doesn't tell you what to do next, and a high score might be hiding something 
• A better question to ask yourself before you reach for a timed test 

If you've ever looked at a timed test score and wondered what to actually do with it, this episode will help you rethink what to look for instead. 

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

• Free Training: Why Your 3rd Graders Still Don't Know Their Multiplication Facts 
• Episode 3:  What It Actually Means for a Student to Be Fluent in Multiplication Facts  

Want more support differentiating math instruction and running small groups with confidence? Check out my membership for third-grade teachers. → The Elementary Math Fam 

If you liked this, follow the show so you never miss an episode and come visit me on Instagram @mrelementarymath. 

When you picture a fluent student, is speed the first thing that comes to mind? That instinct might be leading you to miss the bigger picture of what fluency actually is. 

In this episode, we break down a common misconception about multiplication fact fluency and what it actually takes for a student to be truly fluent. 

In this episode, you'll explore: 

• The most common misconception about fluency 
• Why speed alone isn't the whole picture 
• The three characteristics that define true fluency 

If you've ever equated "fast" with "fluent," this episode will help you see the bigger picture. 

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

• Free Training: Why Your 3rd Graders Still Don't Know Their Multiplication Facts 

Want more support differentiating math instruction and running small groups with confidence? Check out my membership for third-grade teachers. → The Elementary Math Fam 

If you liked this, follow the show so you never miss an episode and come visit me on Instagram @mrelementarymath. 

"Every year, my centers start out strong and quietly fall apart within a few weeks." Does this sound like your classroom? Here's what may be really going wrong. 

In this episode, we walk through what your first week should actually look like, day by day. 

In this episode, you'll explore: 

• The first-week mistake most teachers don't realize they're making 
• The real reason centers fall apart later in the year 
• How to know when your class is ready for teacher-led small groups 

If you're heading into a new school year wondering how to make centers run smoothly in the long term, this episode will give you a clear starting point. 

Want more support differentiating math instruction and running small groups with confidence? Check out my membership for third-grade teachers. → The Elementary Math Fam 

If you liked this, follow the show so you never miss an episode and come visit me on Instagram @mrelementarymath. 

How many times have you looked at the clock during your math block and wondered where the time went? You had a plan, you felt good about it, and then reality hit.

In this episode, we break down a four-part framework for structuring your math block so transitions tighten up, small-group time stays protected, and you stop losing minutes you didn't even realize were disappearing.

In this episode, you'll explore:

• The real reason your math block keeps running short on time
• A framework that can help your math block flow effortlessly
• How a predictable routine protects your small group time

If you've ever felt like your math block is running you instead of the other way around, this episode will give you a framework to bring structure and flow back to your block.

Want more support differentiating math instruction and running small groups with confidence? Check out my membership for third-grade teachers. → The Elementary Math Fam

If you liked this episode,follow the show so you never miss an episode and visit me on Instagram @mrelementarymath. 

New here? Start with this one. 

Teaching Math Made Easy is a weekly podcast for elementary math teachers who want practical ideas to help their students learn and more confidence walking into math class. Hosted by Greg, a former classroom teacher, math coach, and school administrator with over 20 years in education, each episode brings real, usable strategies covering everything from teaching strategies to differentiation to the everyday challenges of running your math block. No fluff, no filler. 

Episodes are short, so you can listen between planning periods, on your commute, or whenever you've got a few minutes to spare. 

New episodes drop every Tuesday.  

Hit subscribe now so you don't miss the first one. 

Follow the show so you never miss an episode and visit me on Instagram @mrelementarymath.