A student rounds 847 to the nearest hundred as 850 and explains it by saying the 7 turns the 4 into a 5. That might not be a rounding problem.

Rather than assuming a student just needs more practice, you should probably look at their place value understanding and number sense. This episode connects rounding struggles back to their root cause and walks through a visual way to help students reason about numbers instead of memorizing a rhyme.

In this episode, you'll explore:

• Why place value and number sense both matter when teaching rounding
• Why using rounding rhymes and tricks can cause misconceptions
• A visual tool that replaces rounding rhymes with real reasoning

If your students are only leaning on a rounding rhyme or a memorized procedure instead of using what they know about place value and distance, this episode will help you see exactly where to focus your instruction instead.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Color-Coded Number Path
• Free Resource: The Rounding Cheat Sheet
• Episode 09: Your Place Value Chart Might Be Teaching the Wrong Thing

Want more support differentiating math instruction and running small groups with confidence? Check out my membership for third-grade teachers. → Elementary Math Fam

If you liked this, follow the show so you never miss an episode and come visit me on Instagram @mrelementarymath.

A student can fill in a place value chart perfectly, every digit in the right column, and still have no idea what those digits actually mean.

Rather than asking whether students filled in the chart correctly, the better question is whether they understand what each digit represents. This episode walks through how a place value chart can quietly become a labeling tool instead of a reasoning tool, and what to do differently so students build understanding instead of just following a routine.

In this episode, you'll explore:

• Why a perfectly filled-in place value chart doesn't guarantee real understanding
• An instructional move that gets students thinking with the chart, not just filling it in
• A question worksheets rarely ask that pushes place value understanding deeper

If your students can fill in a place value chart but struggle to justify their thinking, this episode will show you how to get them explaining their thinking, not just filling in boxes.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Free Resource: The Place Value Cheatsheet

Want more support differentiating math instruction and running small groups with confidence? Check out my membership for third-grade teachers. → Elementary Math Fam

If you liked this, follow the show so you never miss an episode and come visit me on Instagram @mrelementarymath.

If five different people in your building explained Tier 2, would you get five different answers?

Some people think it means small group instruction. Others think it's a curriculum activity, a program, or just more practice, when it's really none of those things on their own. This episode clears up what Tier 2 really means, what it doesn’t, and ways to shift your mindset about providing support.

In this episode, you'll explore:

• What Tier 2 requires beyond just working with a small group
• How the language we use can shape how we teach students
• 3 questions to ask when considering the need for Tier 2 intervention

If terms like 'low group' or 'red group' sound familiar, this episode will help you rethink how you talk about and plan for Tier 2.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Episode 07: What Tier 1 Math Instruction Actually Means (And What It Doesn't)

Want more support differentiating math instruction and running small groups with confidence? Check out my membership for third-grade teachers. → Elementary Math Fam

If you liked this, follow the show so you never miss an episode and come visit me on Instagram @mrelementarymath.