In math classrooms, there’s something that shows up again and again: resistance. It can come from students, from teachers, and sometimes even from the school system itself. And over time, it can start to feel like your job is to constantly push against it—trying to convince, redirect, and move people forward.

But what if we’ve been thinking about resistance all wrong? What if it’s not something people are, but something they’re experiencing in the moment? Because when students push back or teachers hesitate to try something new, it’s easy to label that as unwillingness. In reality, it’s often rooted in something deeper—fear of being wrong, uncertainty about expectations, past experiences with math, or a lack of trust. And in many cases, the system itself creates the very conditions that lead to resistance in the first place.

In this episode, you’ll explore:

• Why resistance is a state—not a trait
• What’s really behind student and teacher pushback in math
• How trust plays a critical role in reducing resistance
• Why fear and past experiences influence willingness to try new approaches
• How inconsistent systems and shifting priorities can reinforce resistance
• What coaches, leaders, and teachers can do to build trust over time

If you’ve ever struggled with resistance in your classroom, your coaching, or your school, this episode will help you reframe what’s really happening—and how to respond more effectively.

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

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.

In math classrooms, what is the most common frustration that keeps showing up? Not enough time. Interrupted lessons. Lost instructional minutes. The constant feeling of trying to cover more math than the time allows. It’s not just about lost time. It’s about lost momentum. Lost focus. Lost thinking. At the same time, schools are balancing another priority—community and culture. Assemblies. Events. Activities that matter.

So the question becomes:
Is it possible to protect instructional time and still build a strong school culture? Or does it have to be one or the other?

In this episode, you’ll explore:

• Why lost instructional minutes impact more than just pacing
• What happens to student thinking when lessons are constantly interrupted
• Why strong beginnings and endings matter more than we think
• How predictable routines can help reclaim lost time
• What teachers can do to maximize instructional minutes on a typical day
• How school leaders can create more predictable, protected instructional time

If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly behind—or like your math block disappears before it even starts—this episode will help you rethink how to protect and make the most of every instructional minute.

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

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.

In this episode, hosts Jon Orr and Yvette Lehman unpack a tension that’s been debated in math education for decades: conceptual understanding vs. procedural fluency.

Yvette shares a powerful realization from her math classroom experience: in striving to teach conceptually, she may have unintentionally neglected opportunities for students to build automaticity and recall. Meanwhile, Jon highlights the importance of helping students move fluidly between visual models, strategies, and algorithms.

Together, they explore:

• Why the “either/or” debate in math instruction is a false dichotomy
• How different learners benefit from different approaches
• What happens when math teaching becomes too rigid in one direction
• The role of tutoring, parents, and community partners in shaping math success
• Why strong math instruction should leverage strengths while building other proficiencies
• How educators can balance reasoning, understanding, and efficiency

This conversation is a reminder that great math teaching isn’t about choosing sides—it’s about creating access, building flexibility, and meeting students where they are.

👉 What if the real goal isn’t picking a side… but helping students move between them?

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

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.

We talk about planning all the time in math education. But here’s the question:

How much time should you realistically be spending planning your math lessons each day?

Because the reality is—you’re not just planning math. You’re planning multiple subjects or courses, managing everything else on your plate, and at the same time trying to make sense of a new math curriculum, new models, and new expectations for how math instruction should look in your classroom.

And when that happens, math planning can quickly turn into a daily cycle of planning for tomorrow, feeling behind, and trying to keep up.

Especially when you’re trying to design math lessons that move beyond procedures and actually build student thinking, reasoning, and understanding.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

• Why planning math lessons day-by-day leads to burnout
• How to shift to unit-based math planning so you can see the big mathematical ideas
• A simple strategy: focus on one meaningful math experience per day
• How to reduce planning time while still improving the quality of your math instruction
• Why unpacking the math (not just the lesson) matters when using a new curriculum
• How to build repeatable planning routines that make math teaching more manageable
• Ways to improve your math practice without sacrificing your time or well-being

As you think about your next math lesson, consider this:

What if you didn’t try to perfect everything tomorrow?

Instead, choose one moment in your math block to focus on—one opportunity for students to think, reason, or engage more deeply with math.

Start there. Because improving your math instruction isn’t about doing more.

It’s about making small, intentional shifts in your math planning that build over time.

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 lesso

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.

You’ve got protected time for Tier 2 math intervention…

…but what are you actually supposed to do during that time?

This is one of the most common questions we hear from teachers and leaders. You know Tier 2 matters—but without a clear vision, it can quickly turn into reteaching the same lesson, louder and slower.

In this episode, we unpack what effective Tier 2 math instruction really looks like, sounds like, and feels like in the classroom.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

• Why Tier 2 is not just reteaching the same math lesson
• How to structure small groups based on student thinking, not labels
• What purposeful practice should look like for the rest of the class
• How to use formative assessment and self-assessment (red/yellow/green) to form groups
• Why Tier 2 should focus on targeted moves (models, misconceptions, representations)
• How to build a classroom where students support each other, not just rely on the teacher
• The connection between strong Tier 2 and deep understanding of math big ideas

Take a moment and reflect:

If someone walked into your classroom during Tier 2…
Would they clearly see targeted support happening?

If not, start small:

• Identify one learning goal
• Pull one group
• Focus on one specific need

That’s where powerful Tier 2 begins.

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

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.

We talk about Tier 1 instruction all the time in math education.

But here’s the question:

Do we actually have a shared understanding of what strong Tier 1 math instruction looks like… or are we all picturing something slightly different?

Because when terms like rigorous, engaging, and grade-level instruction aren’t clearly defined, things start to drift.

In one classroom, students might be working through step-by-step procedures, focused on accuracy and speed. In another, they’re exploring multiple strategies, discussing their thinking, and making connections.

And both are labeled “strong Tier 1.”

That’s where the tension lives—not in effort, but in alignment. If we’re not clear on what we mean, it becomes really difficult to support teachers, measure progress, or build consistency across a school or system.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

• What Tier 1 instruction actually means within MTSS—and why it’s designed to support most learners
• Why staying at grade-level math matters, even when students are struggling
• What rigor really looks like in a math classroom (and what it’s often mistaken for)
• The difference between students completing math and students thinking mathematically
• How to recognize when students are reasoning, representing, and explaining—not just following steps
• Why access and entry points are essential for engagement
• How teams can reduce “interpretation drift” and build a shared understanding across classrooms

As you reflect on your own classroom—or the classrooms you support—consider this:

If someone walked in during a math lesson, what would they actually see and hear?

Would students be making sense of the math, explaining their thinking, and engaging with the task… or mostly following a set of steps?

That small shift in awareness is where stronger Tier 1 instruction begins.

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.

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.

It’s April, and in math class the countdown is on.

There is limited time left before standardized math testing or the end of the school year—and many math teachers are feeling the pressure to either rush through remaining math content or coast to the finish.

This time of year creates a real tension in math instruction. Teachers want to maximize the time that’s left, but they also know that flying through math units won’t lead to retention or confidence. At the same time, no one wants to lower expectations or lose momentum in the final stretch.

So what does strong end-of-year math instruction actually look like?

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

• Why rushing through math content at the end of the year often undermines lasting math understanding
• How to identify priority math standards and focus your remaining math time wisely
• Why end-of-year math units like measurement, geometry, probability, or data can be powerful opportunities for applying prior math learning
• How rich math tasks and cognitively demanding math problems can consolidate a year’s worth of math learning
• What math coaches and math leaders can do to support teachers in making end-of-year math decisions
• How spiraling math instruction can reduce end-of-year math pressure altogether

If you’re feeling the pressure of end-of-year math instruction, take a step back and ask:

What math learning is most important for students to carry forward from this year?

Let that answer guide how you finish strong in math.

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

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.

As math testing season approaches, many teachers and leaders feel the tension. We want students to succeed. We know they’re capable. But too often, that message turns into stress, anxiety, and even math avoidance.

So how do we walk the line between pushing for excellence in math and protecting student confidence?

In this episode, we unpack the difference between high expectations and pressure in math classrooms—and why they’re not the same thing.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• The critical difference between math expectations and math pressure
• Why focusing on math outcomes (scores) can increase anxiety
• How shifting to process-based goals in math reduces stress
• What it looks like to build a math classroom culture of confidence and capability
• How to use leading indicators (like persistence and engagement) instead of just test scores
• Why student math identity and disposition matter just as much as achievement
• Practical ways to support students during math testing season without lowering expectations

If you’re heading into math testing season and want your students to feel confident—not overwhelmed—this episode will help you rethink how to maintain high expectations in math while minimizing pressure.

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

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.