You’re teaching math to 34 students. You slow math pacing to support the middle, but you can feel yourself losing students who are ready to move.

A listener emailed us after our episode on rigorous Tier 1 math instruction: they don’t want to create opportunity gaps by slowing math down—but they also don’t know how to actually run small group math instruction after the main lesson. We also connect this to a real conversation with a district math team wrestling with Tier 2 math and Tier 3 math supports.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

• Why “high/middle/low” labels get in the way of effective math small grouping
• How CRA math (concrete–pictorial/representational–abstract) can guide flexible math groups after the lesson
• Why CRA in math is not a ladder—and why abstract math isn’t automatically the “top group”
• How to use formative math assessment (including exit tickets) to identify what students need next in math
• How to structure math class so random groups drive discourse, then targeted math groups drive practice and support
• A coaching/leadership math move: “live the math work” in a classroom for a full unit before scaling the strategy
• Why sustained math coaching support (not one-off math PD) builds coherence in math instruction across a system

If you’re a math leader or math coach, ask: What’s one unit where we can co-teach, gather formative math assessment daily, and build CRA-informed math small groups—so we can scale what actually works in real math classrooms?

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/ 

Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com 

Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem-based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units 

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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.