Making Math Moments That Matter

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 & UnitsAs an instructional math coach, walking into a classroom means balancing observation with intentional support. But what happens when a teacher is in the early stages of implementing an effective practice? In this episode, we explore how to apply the 5 Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematics Discussions to plan meaningful coaching moves. We'll dive into the power of assessing and advancing questions—both for guiding student learning and for fostering rich coaching conversations. How can we anticipate the questions that will move a teacher forward? Let’s practice together and refine our approach to coaching with purpose.Key discussion points include:How to enter a classroom with a clear focus on an effective teaching practice.How to prepare questions in advance to guide reflection and next steps.Real-world examples of assessing and advancing questions in action.How thoughtful questioning supports gradual implementation and teacher growth.Rather than pushing against resistance, this approach amplifies successful implementation.Show NotesLove the show? Text us your big takeaway!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.

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 & UnitsThis episode explores the concept of “expired math rules or math tricks”—rules, tricks, and shortcuts commonly taught in early mathematics that become problematic as students advance in their learning. Based on the article 13 Rules That Expire by Karen S. Karp, Sarah B. Bush, and Barbara J. Dougherty, the discussion highlights how overgeneralizing strategies, using imprecise vocabulary, and relying on procedural tricks can lead to misconceptions. The conversation emphasizes the importance of fostering deep mathematical understanding rather than rote memorization of rules that don’t hold true in all contexts.Key Takeaways:Many tricks (e.g., “you can’t subtract a bigger number from a smaller one”) work in early math but break down with more advanced concepts like negative numbers.Teaching why math works builds deeper understanding and helps students apply knowledge flexibly, rather than relying on rules that later fail.Imprecise wording (e.g., "always move the decimal when dividing") can cause confusion when students encounter different representations of numbers.Encouraging reasoning and sense-making allows students to adapt their thinking to new problems, rather than getting stuck when a memorized rule no longer applies.By recognizing these expired rules, educators can modify instruction to prioritize reasoning and problem-solving over rote tricks.Show NotesLove the show? Text us your big takeaway!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.

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 & UnitsMany math leaders face a common challenge: after delivering PD and putting support in place, only a small percentage of teachers adopt the new teaching practice or resource. This episode explores a shift in Math PD approach—focusing on the teachers who are making changes to create compound growth across the system.By leveraging an adoption model rooted in exponential growth, districts can create momentum for sustained instructional math improvement. Key discussion points include:Establish a shared vision for effective math instructionCreate showcase classrooms to highlight quality teaching practicesSupport teachers through shoulder-to-shoulder coachingBuild a sustainable system that scales change district-wideRather than pushing against resistance, this approach amplifies successful implementation, empowering teachers as leaders and accelerating instructional transformation.Show NotesLove the show? Text us your big takeaway!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.

Dive into the world of Building Thinking Classrooms and discover how to boost engagement in math while avoiding pitfalls like passive participation. The podcast discusses balancing collaborative work and individual assessment, ensuring students think deeply rather than just talk. It emphasizes strategic planning to integrate various teaching practices effectively, enriching the learning experience. With reflections on teaching journeys, the conversation inspires educators to enhance math programs and embrace innovative ideas for better student outcomes.

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 & UnitsIn this episode, we dive into the key conditions that make large-scale, pull-out math professional development sessions worthwhile. We’ll discuss when it makes sense to invest time and resources in large math PD events and how to ensure they drive meaningful change. From skilled facilitation to aligning with district priorities, discover what it takes to maximize the impact of large-scale PD initiatives for math improvement.Key Takeaways:Why the expertise and experience of the facilitator are critical to the success of large-scale math PD.How integrating math PD into a broader, coordinated system ensures alignment and sustained growth.The importance of tailoring math PD content to the specific needs and goals of the district.How getting the right people in the room ensures the message reaches those who can act on it.Practical tips for creating math PD sessions that go beyond inspiration and lead to action.Show NotesLove the show? Text us your big takeaway!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.

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 & UnitsDiscover practical instructional routines from Shannon McCaw’s 2025 NCTM Spring Conference session to elevate meaningful mathematical discourse. Learn how structured discourse routines and sentence frames can increase student engagement—especially during direct instruction.With many districts focusing on mathematical discourse, Shannon shared practical instructional protocols to help students engage in meaningful conversations. Learn how structured routines, sentence frames, and intentional strategies can boost participation—especially during direct instruction. If keeping students engaged in discourse is one of your biggest pebbles, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways you can implement right away!What Listeners Will Get From This Episode:Students engage more in discourse when provided with familiar structures and sentence frames.Practical instructional protocols to make direct instruction more interactive and engaging.Implementing small, structured routines can lead to big improvements in student participation.Show NotesLove the show? Text us your big takeaway!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.

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 & UnitsHow can you create a clear and measurable vision for mathematics instruction that drives real change across your district?Many district math leaders struggle with fragmented professional development, shifting priorities, and a lack of cohesion in their approach to improving math instruction. In this episode we speak with Beth Grabois, the math and science director from Jefferson County in Colorado. You’ll hear how Jeffco overcame their alignment issues to create real momentum around what matters in math instruction.If you’re looking to align your team, define measurable goals, and implement sustainable strategies, this episode is for you.You’ll learn:Discover how Jeffco’s math and science director established a district-wide vision that fosters teacher buy-in and instructional consistency.Learn the three key pillars that helped streamline math professional learning, lesson internalization, and measurable progress tracking.Gain insights into how structured learning walks, PLC processes, and assessment analysis can create a lasting impact in math classrooms.Tune in now to hear how crafting a math improvement plan that is both actionable and sustainable can set your district up for long-term success!Show Notes PageLove the show? Text us your big takeaway!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.

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 & UnitsShould students be grouped by similar abilities in math class, or is it better to mix them up? In this episode, we explore the research and practical implications of ability-based and heterogeneous grouping in math classrooms. When does grouping in math class by ability help students thrive, and when does it reinforce inequities? What benefits come from diverse groupings, and how can teachers ensure all students are engaged and challenged? We’ll unpack best practices, common pitfalls, and strategies for making informed decisions about student collaboration and grouping in math class.What Listeners Will Get From This Episode:Practical strategies for grouping students in math class—when to use ability-based groups for targeted support and when to use heterogeneous groups for richer discussions.Guidance on choosing the right math tasks—how to match math tasks with the most effective grouping strategy.Ideas for keeping groups dynamic—ways to ensure students aren’t stuck in fixed ability groups and have opportunities to grow.Techniques to foster equitable participation in math class—how to structure groups so all students contribute and benefit, regardless of skill level.Ways to prevent unintentional tracking—tips for avoiding the pitfalls of long-term ability grouping.Insights on teacher mindset—how beliefs about student potential shape grouping decisions and learning outcomes.Tools for ongoing reflection—how to assess and adjust groupings to maximize engagement and challenge for every student.Show NotesLove the show? Text us your big takeaway!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.

Are you a math leader struggling to create meaningful math improvement plans that actually make a difference in your schools?In this episode of the Making Math Moments That Matter podcast, we sit down with Blaine McInosh, a Divisional Mathematics Support Teacher from the Winnipeg School Division who has partnered with our District Improvement Program. We unpack Blaine’s journey to uncover how to move beyond surface-level plans and create authentic, sustainable growth in math classrooms. Whether you're a math coach, math coordinator, or principal, if you've ever felt overwhelmed by improvement goals or unsure where to start, this conversation will resonate with you.Discover how to shift from checklist-driven plans to purposeful, goal-oriented strategies that empower both teachers and leaders.Learn the power of asking "why" five times to uncover the root cause of challenges in your math programs.Gain actionable insights on fostering a growth mindset among educators while building a culture of continuous improvement without the pressure of perfection.Hit play now to learn how Blaine’s approach to math leadership can help you transform your school’s improvement efforts into meaningful, lasting change.Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/?utm_source=youtube 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 & UnitsShow Notes PageLove the show? Text us your big takeaway!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.

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 & UnitsA new trimester or semester brings the perfect opportunity to reflect, reset, and reignite your classroom culture. In this episode, we explore how math educators can leverage this fresh start to learn from past experiences, establish a strong sense of community, create new norms, and set the tone for a successful semester. Whether it’s improving math routines or sparking excitement for math learning, this episode will help you create a strong foundation for the months ahead.What Listeners Will Get From This Episode:Strategies for evaluating what worked (and what didn’t) in the previous semester to make intentional improvements.Tips for building trust, community, and excitement from Day 1 of the semester or the year.How to co-create and implement effective norms that support learning and collaboration.Ideas for generating enthusiasm and motivation among students.Actionable advice on refining classroom procedures and habits to maximize learning.How to set achievable goals for students and yourself to maintain focus and energy throughout the year.Show NotesLove the show? Text us your big takeaway!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.