Modern Math Teacher- Teaching Strategies for High School and Middle School Math Teachers
The Modern Math Teacher helps you make math class the best part of your 6-12 students' day. Join Kristen Moore for quick, real-talk episodes on Project Based Learning, student-centered teaching strategies, AI and technology inspired lesson planning and boosting student engagement—without burning out.New episodes every Tuesday. 👉 Join the conversation inside ✨The Modern Math Teachers Community Facebook Group!
192 Your First Five Days Matter More Than Your Next Five Months
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The first week of school isn't just about procedures, seating charts, and syllabus review. It's when students begin forming beliefs about what mathematics feels like—and who they believe they are as mathematicians.
In this episode, I share how my thinking about the first week has changed over the years, why students walk into our classrooms carrying mathematical identities, and how we can intentionally design experiences that foster confidence, curiosity, and belonging from day one.
In this episode you'll learn:
191 When My Favorite Math Project Stopped Working
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One of my favorite classroom projects completely stopped working—and it ended up becoming one of the most important lessons of my teaching career.
In this episode, I share the story of a once-successful cell phone plan project that unexpectedly fell flat and how it completely changed the way I think about designing meaningful mathematics.
We'll explore why real and relevant aren't always the same thing, how I adapt lessons from Illustrative Math without reinventing the curriculum, and why sometimes the most meaningful part of a l...
Just-in-Time Math Intervention with Juliana Tapper
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What if math intervention didn’t mean going back three grade levels and trying to fill every gap a student has before they’re allowed to move forward?
In this episode of The Modern Math Teacher, I’m joined by my friend and math intervention expert Juliana Tapper, author of Teaching 6–12 Math Intervention: A Practical Framework to Engage Students Who Struggle, to talk about a different approach: just-in-time intervention.
And selfishly? I had questions.
This year I’m teaching an Algebra 1 Pro Lab designed to help studen...
What Happens When the Math Teacher Needs Math Therapy? with Vanessa Vakharia
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We spent the summer reading Math Therapy together—and now we’re sitting down with the author herself, Vanessa Vakharia, to talk about what happens when we take these ideas off the page and into our classrooms.
And, apparently, what happens when the math teacher needs a little Math Therapy of her own.
In this conversation, Vanessa and I start by talking about how Math Therapy has almost become a co-creation. The book may be published, but the work keeps evolving as teachers take these ideas, adapt th...
188 You Don't Have to Become a Different Teacher
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After four weeks of reading Math Therapy together, we've reached the final chapter—and it ends with a powerful reminder.
You don't have to become a different teacher.
You simply have to become a more intentional version of the teacher you already are.
In this episode, I reflect on the biggest lessons from the book, how my own classroom plans have evolved, and why helping students build healthier relationships with mathematics is a journe...
187 Does Your Grading System Match Your Growth Mindset?
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We often tell students:
"Progress matters more than perfection."
But does our assessment system communicate the same message?
In this episode, we're continuing our Math Therapy summer book study with Chapter 7, where Vanessa Vakharia explores the connection between assessment, growth mindset, and mathematical identity.
This chapter challenged me to reflect on my own grading practices, my experience with competency-based learning, and the conversations my department is currently having as we c...
186 Rewrite the Story. Rewire the Brain.
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How do students begin to see themselves differently in mathematics?
In this episode, we're continuing our Math Therapy summer book study with Chapter 6: Makeover.
This chapter may be the most personal one yet. It challenged me to reflect on my own math story and reminded me that students don't simply need better grades—they need opportunities to build a healthier mathematical identity.
I also share one of my favorite implementation ideas from the book...
185 Students Aren't Asking "When Will I Use This?" They're Asking "Why Should I Care?"
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What if we've been answering one of our students' most common questions the wrong way?
When students ask:
"When am I ever going to use this?"
they're often not asking about future careers.
They're asking something much deeper:
"Why should I care?"
In this episode, we're continuing our summer Math Therapy book study with Chapter 5: Motivate, and exploring how relevance, purpose, and...
184 We Don't Need to Lower Expectations. We Need to Lower the Threat.
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How do we create a classroom where students feel safe enough to struggle?
In this episode, we're continuing our summer Math Therapy book study with Chapter 4: Moderate.
This chapter challenged me to rethink the difference between mathematical challenge and emotional threat. Productive struggle is an essential part of learning mathematics—but unnecessary fear, embarrassment, and fixed labels can prevent students from ever engaging in that struggle.
I also share some of my own math s...
183 Mythbusting the Biggest Lies Students Believe About Math
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What does it actually mean to be good at math?
If you asked your students that question, what would they say?
In this episode, we're continuing our summer book study of Math Therapy by Vanessa Vakharia and diving into Chapter 3: Mythbust.
While growth mindset may not be the educational buzzword it once was, the ideas behind it remain incredibly important. Students cannot build a healthier relationship with mathematics if they continue believing unhealthy myth...
182 What Is Math Therapy? (And Why You're Probably Already Doing It)
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Welcome back to our summer Math Therapy book study series!
This week we're discussing Chapter 2 and exploring a question many teachers may be asking:
What exactly is math therapy?
One of the biggest takeaways from this chapter is that math therapy isn't about becoming a licensed therapist. Instead, it's about becoming more intentional about the human side of mathematics.
As teachers, we already help students:
navigate frus...181 Math Trauma, Teen Talk Barbie, and the Myth of the "Math Person"
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This week, we're kicking off our summer book study of Math Therapy by Vanessa Vakharia.
Rather than providing a chapter-by-chapter summary, this series is designed as a conversation around the ideas that resonate most, the questions they raise, and how they might influence our classroom practices.
In Chapter 1, one idea kept surfacing again and again:
The stories we tell ourselves about mathematics matter.
From cultural stereotypes and family messaging to o...
180 Listener Q&A: PBL, Building Thinking Classrooms, Real-World Data & More!
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You asked, I answered!
In this special Listener Q&A episode of The Modern Math Teacher, I'm tackling some of your biggest questions about project-based learning, Building Thinking Classrooms, real-world math connections, and professional learning.
Whether you're just getting started with PBL or looking for new ways to make your math classroom more engaging, this episode is packed with practical ideas you can use right away.
💡 In This Episode:
179 Why Support Doesn't Lower Rigor in Math Class
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Struggle Is Learning. Drowning Is Not.
One of the biggest lessons I've learned this year is that not all struggle is productive.
As math teachers, we want students to wrestle with ideas, persevere through challenges, and make sense of mathematics. But there's a fine line between productive struggle and overwhelming frustration.
In this episode, we're exploring what productive struggle actually looks like, why support and rigor aren't opposites, and how to challenge students without leaving them...
178 Should Honors Math Be Different? Here's What I'm Wrestling With
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What I'm Still Figuring Out About Teaching Honors Math
After more than 15 years in the classroom, I'm about to do something new:
Teach Honors Algebra 2 and Grade-Level Algebra 2 at the same time.
And honestly?
I'm still figuring out what that should look like.
In this episode, I'm sharing the questions I've been wrestling with as I prepare for next year—from rigor and procedural fluency to pacing...
177 The Best Technology in Math Class Isn't Always New Technology
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Are we using technology because it improves learning—or because it's available?
After reflecting on student engagement, Chromebook fatigue, and intentional lesson design, I've been rethinking how technology fits into my math classroom.
And the more I think about it, the more I realize:
👉 The goal isn't more technology.
👉 The goal is better technology.
In this episode, I'm sharing how my thinking has evolved, the tools I'm keeping, the tools I'm re...
176 The Digital Delusion: Why I'm Rethinking Technology in Math Class
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Technology isn't going away.
But that doesn't mean we should use it for everything.
After years of integrating digital tools into my math classroom, I've found myself asking a different question:
👉 Not "Should we use technology?"
👉 But "When should we use technology?"
In this episode, I'm reflecting on student device use, Chromebook fatigue, productive struggle, and why I'm becoming more intentional about when—and how—technology sho...
175 Why Every Math Teacher Should Study Above and Below Their Grade Level
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One of the best things that ever happened to me as a math teacher was teaching multiple grade levels.
Because the more I taught Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, and intervention classes together… the more I realized:
👉 Math is one connected story.
In this episode, we’re talking about:
mathematical coherenceconceptual progressionactivating prior knowledgeand why understanding where students are coming from and where they’re headed changes your instruction completely.
💡 In This Episode:
174 The Math Concepts I Finally Understand More Deeply as a Teacher
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Can I admit something?
There are math concepts I taught for years that I didn’t fully understand conceptually myself.
I could teach the procedure.
I could explain the steps.
But true sense-making? That took time.
In this episode, I’m reflecting on the math ideas I’ve come to understand more deeply as a teacher—and how that deeper understanding has completely changed my instruction.
💡 In This Episode:
173 Why Teaching the Same Lesson Five Times Never Actually Works
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Ever had one class LOVE a lesson… and another class completely flop with the exact same activity?
Same teacher.
Same lesson.
Same day.
This year completely changed the way I think about differentiation, responsiveness, and what intentional teaching actually looks like in a real math classroom.
In this episode, we’re talking about:
class-to-class differentiationresponsive teachingstudent dynamicsand why consistency does not mean every class should look identical
💡 In This Episode:
172 Why I Stopped Winging It as a Math Teacher This Year
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This year changed the way I think about teaching math.
Between piloting a new curriculum, beginning National Board Certification, and teaching students with very different needs, I realized something important:
👉 Knowing math content is not the same thing as intentionally designing mathematical experiences.
In this episode, I’m reflecting on the instructional shifts that made the biggest difference in my classroom this year—and why becoming more intentional transformed the way I teach.
💡 In This Episode:
171 Turn Any Math Lesson Into a Real-World Experience (In About 15 Minutes)
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Ever feel like your math lessons are… fine, but not really connecting?
You’re covering the content, following the curriculum—but students aren’t fully engaged.
In this episode, we walk through a simple, repeatable process to turn any math lesson into a real-world experience—without starting from scratch or spending hours planning.
💡 In This Episode:
170 You Don’t Have Time for This… Or Do You? (3 Biggest Myths About Real-World Math)
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Think you don’t have time for projects?
Feel stuck with your curriculum?
Worried your students can’t handle it?
Let’s talk about it.
In this episode, we’re breaking down the 3 biggest myths about real-world math and project-based learning—and why they might be the exact things holding you back.
💡 In This Episode:
169 You Don’t Need a Full PBL Unit—Start With This Instead
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Think you need a full project-based learning unit to bring real-world math into your classroom?
You don’t.
In this episode, we’re breaking down how to start with smaller, meaningful project experiences—without overhauling your entire curriculum or spending hours planning.
💡 In This Episode:
168 Why Most Math Projects Don’t Work (And How to Fix Them
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Ever tried a math project that should have worked… but didn’t?
Maybe students were off task, confused, or the math just didn’t stick.
👉 You’re not alone.
In this episode, we’re breaking down why many math projects fall flat—and what actually makes them work in a real classroom.
💡 In This Episode:
What Actually Makes a Math Lesson “Real-World”? (It’s Not What You Think)
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Most “real-world math” problems don’t actually feel real to students.
In this episode, we break down what real-world math really means—and how to make small shifts that help students actually connect to what they’re learning.
In This Episode:
✨ Key Takeaway: Real-world math isn’t about the story—it’s about the connection.
...
The Difference Between Fun Math and Meaningful Math
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Not all engagement leads to learning.
In this episode, we break down the difference between fun math and meaningful math—and how to start designing lessons that actually stick.
In This Episode:
Key Takeaway: Meaningful math = real + relevant + rigorous.
Free Guide: Project or Practice?
Downloa...
165 Why Students Keep Asking “When Will I Ever Use This?” (And What That’s Really Telling You)
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When students ask this question, it’s not about attitude.
👉 It’s about relevance.
In this episode, we break down what students are really asking—and how to start making math feel more meaningful without redesigning your entire curriculum.
In This Episode:
Key Takeaway: Students enga...
164 You’re Not Boring—Your Math Lessons Might Be
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If your students feel disengaged during math class… it’s probably not you.
👉 It’s the lesson design.
In this episode, we break down why students check out—and why trying to be more “fun” isn’t the fix. Instead, we’re shifting toward what actually works: real, relevant, meaningful math.
In This Episode:
✨ Why engagement ≠ entertainment
✨ The real reason students lose interest in math
✨ The difference between fun vs. meaningful lessons
✨ One simple shift to try r...
#163 What AI Is Revealing About Our Classrooms (And Why Students Are Using It)
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Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming part of everyday classroom life—but the real conversation may be bigger than whether students should be using it.
Students using AI isn’t the real story.
The real story is what their use of AI is revealing about how school currently works.
In this episode, I’m joined by Aron Boxer, CEO and Founder of Diversified Education Services and a former special education teacher and executive functioning specialist. Aron has more than 15 years of e...
162 AI Feedback That Actually Reaches Students (Before It's Too Late)
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You spend the time grading. You write the comments. And then students look at the grade and move on. Sound familiar?
In this episode, Kristen tackles two of the biggest feedback problems math teachers face: feedback that comes too late to matter, and feedback that isn't personalized enough to actually help. She walks through the real tools she's using in her classroom to solve both — so your judgment as a teacher can reach every student, faster.
Tools mentioned:
ChatGPT / Claude (feedback prompt...161 Lesson Plan AI: What Teachers need and What We Don't
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Lesson plan AI is everywhere — but is it actually helping teachers?
In this episode, we explore what teachers truly need from AI lesson plan generators and why many educational technology trends miss the mark. You’ll learn how AI can support planning, differentiation, and feedback without adding more overwhelm.
In this episode, we cover:
Why many AI lesson plan generators fall shortWhat teachers actually need from lesson plan AIHow teaching with technology can protect teacher energyPractical ways AI can support instructional decision...160 How Can AI Be Used in Education Without Killing Thinking?
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How can AI be used in education without killing thinking?
In this episode, we explore how teachers can use AI education tools responsibly — without replacing productive struggle or meaningful learning. You’ll learn how AI can support lesson planning, reflection, and feedback while keeping student thinking at the center.
You’ll hear about:
Why AI itself isn’t the problem — design isHow AI literacy helps teachers use tools responsiblyPractical ways AI can support teacher planning...#159 What 10 Million Students + 30 Years Taught us About Math Engagement
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What if 10 million students could tell us what keeps them engaged in math — and what pushes them away?
In this episode, I sit down with veteran educator Sheila Robitaille (30 years in classrooms and administration across the U.S. and Canada, now with 3P Learning) to unpack what nearly two decades of World Maths Day participation reveals about math engagement, productive struggle, and that critical middle school-to-Algebra transition.
This conversation isn’t just about a contest. It’s about what happens to students’...
158 Effective Math Teaching Strategies: What Comes After Productive Struggle?
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Productive struggle is an essential part of effective math teaching strategies, but it only works when teachers plan intentionally for what comes next.
In this episode, we explore instructional teaching strategies that help students reflect, receive feedback, and formalize learning after challenging math tasks. You’ll hear examples of teaching strategies mathematics teachers use to turn struggle into lasting understanding.
Topics include:
Teaching strategies that support reflection after struggleHow feedback differs from fixing student thinkingWhy formalizing learning matters in math instruction157 Productive Math Struggle in Practice: A Conversation with John SanGiovanni
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In this special capstone episode of The Modern Math Teacher Podcast, I’m joined by John SanGiovanni, co-author of Productive Math Struggle, for a reflective conversation on what productive struggle looks like in real classrooms—and how educators can support it intentionally.
This episode wraps up our six-part Productive Math Struggle mini-series and is guided by questions shared directly from teachers I’ve been working with across my district and county. Together, we reflect on the impact of this work, common challenges teachers face, and practical ways to support stu...
156 Student Reflection Activities That Makes Struggle Stick
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Productive Math Struggle Series — Action 6: Reflecting on Productive Struggle
In the final episode of our Productive Math Struggle series, we explore the power of reflection — the often-missing piece that transforms struggle into lasting learning.
Grounded in research from Phillips (1987) and Sousa (2008), this episode focuses on how intentional reflection helps students make meaning of both what they learned and how they learned it. We share simple, flexible reflection routines that reinforce productive struggle, strengthen math identity, and build habits of perseverance.
🔑Key Takeaways
155 Teaching Strategies to Support Productive Struggle in Real Time
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Productive Math Struggle Series — Action 5
In Part 5 of our Productive Math Struggle Series, we shift from planning to real-time classroom action: What do you actually do when students struggle?
Instead of panicking, rescuing, or over-explaining (we’ve ALL been there), we walk through five high-leverage, easy-to-implement teacher moves that keep struggle productive — not painful. Using insights from Warschauer (2014), Smith & Stein’s 5 Practices, Mona Iehl, and practical classroom experience, this episode gives you the exact moves to support student thinking without stealing the learning.
🔑 Key Ta...
154 Designing Lesson Plans for Productive Struggle
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Productive Math Struggle Series — Action 4: Plan a Lesson with Productive Struggle
In Part 4 of our Productive Math Struggle series, we dig into the HEART of rigorous math instruction: lesson planning that intentionally creates space for student thinking, sense-making, and meaningful struggle.
If you’ve been craving practical, teacher-ready strategies for selecting or modifying tasks, anticipating student thinking, and balancing conceptual understanding, fluency, and application — this is your masterclass. 🎓✨
🔑 Key Takeaways
153 Building Classroom Community in Your Math Class
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Productive Math Struggle Series — Action 3: Build Community for Productive Struggle
In Part 3 of our Productive Math Struggle series, we’re diving into what may be the single most important ingredient of productive struggle: Community is not a “nice-to-have.”
👉 It’s the foundation that makes productive struggle possible.
A math classroom community is a living, breathing ecosystem where students feel safe, valued, and supported enough to take academic risks. And when students are asked to think deeply, share ideas, make mistakes, and try...
