What does your educational landscape look like, and what role do you play in it?

In this episode, I share what I’ve been noticing in classrooms just three weeks into the school year: disengagement. Students with heads down, hesitant to participate, off-task behaviors — a reality many teachers are facing. But instead of getting stuck in frustration, we need to ask: What can we do about it?

I’ll walk through three key areas that shape how students experience our classrooms:

1. Relationships – why listening, observing, and setting expectations matter more than using slang or doing dances.
2. High Expectations – how structure, consistency, and belief in student ability create conditions for engagement.
3. Preparedness – why every moment counts, from greetings at the door to purposeful transitions that build urgency and flow.

Classrooms won’t be perfect, but they can be safe, consistent, and affirming when we focus on what we can control: how we show up.

Tune in to reflect on your role in shaping the learning environment — and how you can take steps today to Make Math Happen.

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Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Make Math Happen podcast! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe on your favorite listening platform, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

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