Making Math Moments That Matter

Helping you transform your K-12 math lesson plans by building confidence in effective teaching practices, guiding you to transform your math curriculum, and inspiring classroom strategies to engage all students. As a teacher are you wondering how to create K-12 math lesson plans where students don't want to stop exploring your math curriculum when the bell rings? As a mathematics coordinator or leader are you wondering how to support teachers when implementing engaging math lessons that fuel student sense making? Over the last 19 years, Kyle and Jon, the founders of MakeMathMoments.com have been engaging students, teachers, and district program leaders with effective mathematics pedagogy, accessible resources, and inspiring learning environments in K-12 math classrooms. Now, in this podcast they coach you - K-12 classroom teachers and district leaders of mathematics through a 6 step plan that cultivates and fosters your mathematics program like a strong, healthy and balanced tree. If you master the 6 parts of an effective mathematics program, the impact you have on students or teachers will grow and reach far and wide. Every week, you’ll hear insight from practicing classroom teachers and leaders in math education so you’ll get the feedback, guidance, and fresh ideas you need to stop feeling overwhelmed, gain back your confidence, and inspire the students and fellow teachers you serve to enjoy the beauty of mathematics once again. Start making math moments today by listening to Episode #139: Making Math Moments From Day 1 to 180

Making Math Moments That Matter is a education podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 0 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Making Math Moments That Matter, a education show with 0 episodes published.

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  Episode #488

  STOP Rushing Math Improvement: Lessons From This School District

  Aug 17, 202624 min

  If you’ve ever wondered what to actually do during small group time in math, this episode will give you a clear and practical way to support students without lowering expectations. We built a simple Math Coherence Compass to help district and school leaders make aligned decisions around math—without adding another initiative. Get your free copy and training here https://makemathmoments.com/coherence-compass/ 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 Yvette's Summer Task List. School and district leaders often feel pressure to create widespread change as quickly as possible. But sustainable math improvement doesn't happen by trying to reach everyone at once—it starts by building the capacity of the people who will eventually lead the work. In this episode, we share the first year of one district's mathematics improvement journey. Rather than launching a system-wide initiative immediately, they focused on developing a small team of instructional leaders who first deepened their own understanding of computational fluency before supporting others. Through a summer leadership boot camp, monthly "book do" sessions, classroom implementation, and facilitator practice, they created a strong foundation for long-term success. Their story illustrates how learning fast, implementing slowly, and investing in leadership capacity can create momentum that lasts well beyond a single school year. In this episode, you'll explore: How one district launched a sustainable mathematics improvement journey Why building leadership capacity should come before large-scale implementation The value of a summer leadership boot camp for establishing vision and focus How "book do" sessions moved professional learning from discussion to action Why facilitator development is essential for scaling improvement How grade-band leadership structures support distributed leadership Lessons leaders can apply when planning multi-year mathematics improvement If you're leading mathematics improvement in a school or district, this episode offers a practical example of how to build leadership capacity, create momentum, and lay the foundation for sustainable change—one intentional step at a time. Show Notes Page Love the show? Text us your big takeaway! Get a Customized Math Improvement Plan For Your District. Are you district leader for mathematics? Take the 12 minute assessment and you’ll get a free, customized improvement plan to shape and grow the 6 parts of any strong mathematics program. Take the assessment 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.

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  Episode #487

  Why Teaching Math Is Hard—and Improving Achievement Is Even Harder

  Aug 10, 202622 min

  If you’ve ever wondered what to actually do during small group time in math, this episode will give you a clear and practical way to support students without lowering expectations. We built a simple Math Coherence Compass to help district and school leaders make aligned decisions around math—without adding another initiative. Get your free copy and training here https://makemathmoments.com/coherence-compass/ 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 Yvette's Summer Task List. Why do so many mathematics improvement efforts begin with energy and optimism, only to lose momentum months later? Schools invest in professional learning, adopt high-quality instructional materials, launch coaching cycles, and create pacing guides—yet lasting instructional change often remains frustratingly elusive. In this episode, we revisit Alan Schoenfeld's influential article, Why Are Learning and Teaching Mathematics So Difficult? , through the lens of school and district leadership. His framework reveals that improving mathematics isn't simply a classroom challenge—it's a systems challenge. We explore why teacher understanding, coherent learning environments, and organizational structures must work together to create lasting change. Along the way, we connect Schoenfeld's ideas to concepts like the Math Improvement Flywheel, leading indicators, distributed leadership, and coherent systems that continue improving even as people move through them. In this episode, you'll explore: Alan Schoenfeld's three-circle framework for mathematics education Why deep mathematical understanding matters more than instructional moves alone How systemic coherence supports stronger classroom practice The difference between leading and lagging indicators of improvement Why distributed leadership creates more sustainable math improvement How the Math Improvement Flywheel helps systems build lasting momentum Questions every math leader should ask before launching another initiative If you're leading mathematics improvement in a school or district, this episode will help you evaluate your current improvement strategy, identify where momentum is being lost, and build the systems needed for long-term success. Show Notes Page Love the show? Text us your big takeaway! Get a Customized Math Improvement Plan For Your District. Are you district leader for mathematics? Take the 12 minute assessment and you’ll get a free, customized improvement plan to shape and grow the 6 parts of any strong mathematics program. Take the assessment 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.

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  Episode #486

  Math Homework in 2026-2027: What Should It Really Look Like?

  Aug 3, 202631 min

  If you’ve ever wondered what to actually do during small group time in math, this episode will give you a clear and practical way to support students without lowering expectations. We built a simple Math Coherence Compass to help district and school leaders make aligned decisions around math—without adding another initiative. Get your free copy and training here https://makemathmoments.com/coherence-compass/ 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 Yvette's Summer Task List. Homework has long been a part of the mathematics classroom, but opinions about its value continue to vary. Should students be completing pages of practice each night, or is there a better way to extend learning beyond the classroom? Rather than asking whether homework should exist, perhaps the better question is: What purpose should it serve? In this episode, we explore what meaningful math homework could look like if it were designed to reinforce learning instead of creating stress. From fluency games and student choice to strengthening home-school partnerships and building productive routines, we discuss how homework can become a purposeful extension of classroom learning without overwhelming students or families. We also examine why homework shouldn't be used to evaluate student learning and how teachers can use classroom formative assessment to understand what students know instead. In this episode, you'll explore: The purpose of homework in mathematics education Why less homework can often lead to better learning How choice and flexibility can make homework more meaningful Ways to strengthen partnerships between home and school through homework Why homework shouldn't be used as evidence for grades Alternatives to whole-class homework review that maximize instructional time Considerations for school and district homework policies If you're rethinking the role homework plays in your mathematics classroom or school, this episode offers practical ideas for creating homework experiences that reinforce learning, engage families, and make better use of valuable instructional time. Show Notes Page Love the show? Text us your big takeaway! Get a Customized Math Improvement Plan For Your District. Are you district leader for mathematics? Take the 12 minute assessment and you’ll get a free, customized improvement plan to shape and grow the 6 parts of any strong mathematics program. Take the assessment 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.

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  Episode #485

  Is Math Intervention Working? Learn to Build A Better Fence

  Jul 27, 202615 min

  If you’ve ever wondered what to actually do during small group time in math, this episode will give you a clear and practical way to support students without lowering expectations. We built a simple Math Coherence Compass to help district and school leaders make aligned decisions around math—without adding another initiative. Get your free copy and training here https://makemathmoments.com/coherence-compass/ 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 Yvette's Summer Task List. Every school system wants to improve student achievement in mathematics. Yet when students struggle, the immediate response is almost always the same: more intervention, more support programs, more people working at the bottom of the cliff. While these efforts are essential, they often come at the expense of investing in the work that could prevent students from struggling in the first place. Using the classic "ambulance at the bottom of the cliff" parable, this episode explores why school systems consistently prioritize rescue over prevention. It's not because leaders don't believe in strong Tier 1 instruction—they do. The challenge is that prevention is harder to see, slower to measure, and more difficult to defend. We unpack why intervention feels more urgent, why leading indicators matter more than waiting for test scores, and how systems can make the invisible work of prevention visible through classroom evidence and instructional coherence. In this episode, you'll explore: Why intervention often receives more attention and funding than prevention The "ambulance vs. fence" metaphor and what it means for math improvement Why Tier 1 instructional coherence is the foundation of long-term success The difference between leading and lagging indicators of improvement How to measure instructional shifts before test scores change Why sustained professional learning outperforms one-off professional development Practical questions leaders can ask to rebalance investment toward prevention If you're leading mathematics improvement in a school or district, this episode will challenge you to rethink where your time, resources, and attention are focused—and help you build stronger systems that prevent students from falling behind in the first place. Show Notes Page Love the show? Text us your big takeaway! Get a Customized Math Improvement Plan For Your District. Are you district leader for mathematics? Take the 12 minute assessment and you’ll get a free, customized improvement plan to shape and grow the 6 parts of any strong mathematics program. Take the assessment 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.

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #484

  What Should You Grade in Math Class?

  Jul 20, 202632 min

  If you’ve ever wondered what to actually do during small group time in math, this episode will give you a clear and practical way to support students without lowering expectations. We built a simple Math Coherence Compass to help district and school leaders make aligned decisions around math—without adding another initiative. Get your free copy and training here https://makemathmoments.com/coherence-compass/ 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 Yvette's Summer Task List. Assessment is one of the most powerful tools teachers have—but it's also one of the most misunderstood. Too often, every task, activity, or game is expected to produce a grade, making it difficult to distinguish between supporting learning and evaluating it. What happens when we stop asking, "How do I grade this?" and start asking, "What can I learn from this?" In this episode, we explore the critical difference between formative and summative assessment, and why that distinction changes everything. You'll hear why games, observations, conversations, and exit tickets are powerful sources of evidence—not because they belong in the gradebook, but because they help teachers make better instructional decisions. We also discuss backward design, student ownership of learning, professional judgment, and the importance of building coherent assessment practices across classrooms and schools. In this episode, you'll explore: The difference between assessment for, as, and of learning Why not every classroom activity should generate a grade How formative assessment informs instructional decisions The role of backward design in planning meaningful assessment Why professional judgment matters more than averaging marks How collaborative conversations can strengthen assessment practices across a school or district Ways to build a stronger body of evidence for student learning over time If you're looking to move beyond grading everything and create assessment practices that truly support student learning, this episode will help you rethink the purpose of assessment and build greater confidence in using evidence to guide instruction. Show Notes Page Love the show? Text us your big takeaway! Get a Customized Math Improvement Plan For Your District. Are you district leader for mathematics? Take the 12 minute assessment and you’ll get a free, customized improvement plan to shape and grow the 6 parts of any strong mathematics program. Take the assessment 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.

  ListenShow Notes

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