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

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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.