Making Math Moments That Matter Kyle Pearce & Jon Orr

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Can you see the light at the end of the tunnel? Can you feel the change that is happening in your district’s math program? Are you on the right pathway to improve math instruction and ultimately student success in your school or school district? 
These are all questions our guests, Michael Scott and Morgan Siler have asked themselves (and us) on their journey to transforming their math district’s math program from the inside out. 
Michael and Morgan are two math coordinators from Ohio and their district has partnered with us in the Make Math Moments District Improvement Program and have had a “night and day” experience from where they were to where they are now on achieving their goals. 
This podcast episode dives into the real-world experiences and strategies of Michael & Morgan who are navigating the complexities of supporting math teachers in their district, focusing on developing depth of understanding for their educators, effective coaching methods, and vision and goal alignment. 

Stick around and you’ll:
Discover effective strategies for supporting students and educators in grasping the "why" behind math concepts, fostering a deeper comprehension.Learn about the transformative impact of consistent and structured professional development in mathematics.Gain insights into the personal and professional growth journeys of educators transitioning into coaching roles, and the tools they use to succeed.Listen to this insightful episode to learn how you can implement these transformative strategies in your educational practice and start making a significant difference in how you lead or will lead math educators today. 


Resources: 
Make Math Moments District Improvement Program


District Math Leaders: 
How are you ensuring that you support those educators who need a nudge to spark a focus on growing their pedagogical-content knowledge? 
What about opportunities for those who are eager and willing to elevate their practice, but do not have the support? 
Book a call with our District Improvement Program Team to learn how we can not only help you craft, refine and implement your district math learning goals, but also provide all of the professional learning supports your educators need to grow at the speed of their learning. 
Book a short conversation with our team now. 
Empower Your Students (and Teachers) Using A Professional Learning Plan That Sparks Engagement, Fuels Deep Learning, and Ignites Action!https://makemathmoments.com/make-math-moments-district-mentorship-program/ 

Love the show? Text us your big takeaway!
Are you ready to transform your math classroom into a hub of student engagement and participation?
If you're a math teacher or educator striving to maintain sustained student engagement and lead effective, captivating lessons, this episode is crafted for you.
We caught up with 2-time mentoring moment guest Jeremy Sarzana, a high school teacher in Boston.  Together we dive into nuanced strategies to engage the varying level of audiences we see during our day using timing, cadence, and the art of “reading the room”. 


This is another Math Mentoring Moment episode where we chat with a teacher like you who is working through some problems of practice and together we brainstorm ways to overcome them.

Don’t miss out on these transformative insights – listen to this episode now to elevate your teaching and make every math moment matter in your classroom!



You’ll Learn: 
Discover the effectiveness of the think-pair-share strategy in stimulating student participation in group discussions.Understand the challenges of sustaining student engagement day-to-day and learn techniques to overcome them.Learn the art of 'Reading the Room' and the critical role of timing and cadence in keeping students engaged throughout the lesson.

Resources: 
Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units

District Math Leaders: 
How are you ensuring that you support those educators who need a nudge to spark a focus on growing their pedagogical-content knowledge? 
What about opportunities for those who are eager and willing to elevate their practice, but do not have the support? 
Book a call with our District Improvement Program Team to learn how we can not only help you craft, refine and implement your district math learning goals, but also provide all of the professional learning supports your educators need to grow at the speed of their learning. 
Book a short conversation with our team now. 
Empower Your Students (and Teachers) Using A Professional Learning Plan That Sparks Engagement, Fuels Deep Learning, and Ignites Action!https://makemathmoments.com/make-math-moments-district-mentorship-program/ 
Please help new listeners find the show. Leave a rating or review on your platform. 

Love the show? Text us your big takeaway!
Are you struggling to find the perfect balance between knowing what is enough guidance and structure you need to effectively teach your grade level or course? If you’re a district leader of math programming and struggling to figure out this same balance? 
How much is too much hand-holding? 
For math educators, coaches, and administrators, the challenge often lies in equipping teachers with the right tools without overshadowing their unique teaching styles while at the same time trying to create “buy-in” with what is effective. 
This episode delves into this common dilemma, offering insights and strategies for those in educational leadership roles. It's tailored to help you empower teachers while ensuring that they remain motivated and innovative in their approach to teaching math.
Tune in to gain valuable insights into striking the right balance in supporting math teachers, and take the first step towards transforming the way you approach teacher development in your institution!
Learn how to provide effective guidance without stifling teachers' creativity, mirroring the journey from following a recipe to creating one's own culinary masterpieces.Understand how to tailor support to meet each teacher's individual needs, acknowledging that their professional development journey is as unique as their teaching style.Discover the essential elements that should be included in teaching resources to foster teacher growth, confidence, and the ability to make independent pedagogical decisions.
Resources: 
Take the classroom or district program screener to learn which of the 6 areas of an effective math program you can strengthen.Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units

District Math Leaders: 
How are you ensuring that you support those educators who need a nudge to spark a focus on growing their pedagogical-content knowledge? 
What about opportunities for those who are eager and willing to elevate their practice, but do not have the support? 
Book a call with our District Improvement Program Team to learn how we can not only help you craft, refine and implement your district math learning goals, but also provide all of the professional learning supports your educators need to grow at the speed of their learning. 
Book a short conversation with our team now. 
Empower Your Students (and Teachers) Using A Professional Learning Plan That Sparks Engagement, Fuels Deep Learning, and Ignites Action!https://makemathmoments.com/make-math-moments-district-mentorship-program/ 

Love the show? Text us your big takeaway!
How can we engage our students for the entire class with grade level content? Puzzles aligned to grade level standards is one answer. 
In this episode we speak with Gordon Hamilton from Mathpickle.com who designs mathematical puzzles for K-12 classrooms. 
Stick with us and you’ll learn How to use puzzles to teach grade level standards, how to challenge students who tend to move through problems faster than others, and why games are important for mathematical thinking.  

You’ll Learn: 
How to challenge students who complete “the work” early.How to use puzzles to teach grade level standards; Where do I find gems to use in my math class; How to use a puzzle in my math class that can be used for all grade levels; How you can use the content standards to focus on the practice standards;How you can use puzzles to create math moments in our classroom;Why games are important for mathematical thinking; 
Resources: 
Math Pickle Website


Empower Your Students (and Teachers) Using A Professional Learning Plan That Sparks Engagement, Fuels Deep Learning, and Ignites Action!https://makemathmoments.com/make-math-moments-district-mentorship-program/ 
Please help new listeners find the show. Leave a rating or review on your platform. 

Love the show? Text us your big takeaway!
It can feel frustrating and overwhelming and you’ll feel like you’re forced to “go back to the drawing board” when your curriculum resource is pulled away from you. 
What do we consider when trying to select a new curriculum resource?
Are we supposed to create our own resources from scratch? 
As educators, we are constantly facing the challenge of adapting our teaching methods to improve student understanding and engagement. 
This often involves exploring new pedagogies, such as problem-based learning, and selecting the right curriculum resources that align with our teaching goals. 
In this episode we speak with long-time friend of the show Katrien Vance, a middle school math teacher in Virginia. 
Katriene is trying to decide how to transition to a new curriculum resource and feels overwhelmed with the work ahead. Stick around and you’ll hear how together we make a plan for next steps. 


What you’ll learn
Innovative Teaching Strategies: Discover the effectiveness of problem-based learning and how it can enhance your students' understanding of mathematics.Navigating Curriculum Transitions: Gain insights on transitioning between different curricula, managing costs, and finding the right resources for your classroom.Building Confidence in Educational Choices: Learn how to confidently communicate your curriculum choices to parents and evaluate the effectiveness of educational tools and resources for your specific teaching needs.

Resources: 
Connected Mathematics Project from Michigan State University. Illustrative Math Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units

District Math Leaders: 
How are you ensuring that you support those educators who need a nudge to spark a focus on growing their pedagogical-content knowledge? 
What about opportunities for those who are eager and willing to elevate their practice, but do not have the support? 
Book a call with our District Improvement Program Team to learn how we can not only help you craft, refine and implement your district math learning goals, but also provide all of the professional learning supports your educators need to grow at the speed of their learning. 
Book a short conversation with our team now. 
Empower Your Students (and Teachers) Using A Professional Learning Plan That Sparks Engagement, Fuels Deep Learning, and Ignites Action!https://makemathmoments.com/make-math-moments-district-mentorship-program/ 
Please help new listeners find the show. Leave a rating or review on your platform. 

Love the show? Text us your big takeaway!
Each and every year, district and school mathematics leadership teams spend countless hours crafting lofty goals and monitoring plans, but struggle to state measurable improvement in effective teacher practice and student gains. 
If you’ve ever wondered: 
How can I create a pd action plan that teachers view as useful and not “just adding to their plates”?We feel like we have many of the necessary pieces, but we aren’t clear on how to put them together to form an effective math program.How can I structure my PD so that I reach more teachers on a limited budget?How can I get my educators to “buy-in” to using research based teaching methods routinely?How can I get my teachers to become lifelong learners and take more ownership in their professional development?Then this is the episode for you!
In this episode you’ll learn the 4-stage process to craft pd action plans that bring alignment to fractured organizations, highlights bright spots to spread effective math teaching practices more quickly, and inspires more teachers to become lifelong learners. 


You’ll Learn:
A clear step by step process to craft and create a unified vision for mathematics and PD action plan for your district so you can stop throwing spaghetti at the walls each year to see what sticks.A systematized approach to rolling out your action plan on a limited budget so you can hit your key results by your due dates.The most important component your PD action plan needs to include so that students can maximize their reach and how to embed that component in your action plans.Essential components of how to build a team of educators who care as much about improving their craft as you doTune into this enlightening episode now and equip yourself with the tools to make a lasting impact in your educational community!


Resources: 
Learn the 4 Stages of Math PD For Improved Results Webinar 


District Math Leaders: 
How are you ensuring that you support those educators who need a nudge to spark a focus on growing their pedagogical-content knowledge? 
What about opportunities for those who are eager and willing to elevate their practice, but do not have the support? 
Book a call with our District Improvement Program Team to learn how we can not only help you craft, refine and implement your district math learning goals, but also provide all of the professional learning supports your educators need to grow at the speed of their learning. 
Book a short conversation with our team now. 
Empower Your Students (and Teachers) Using A Professional Learning Plan That Sparks Engagement, Fuels Deep Learning, and Ignites Action!https://makemathmoments.com/make-math-moments-district-mentorship-program/ 
Please help new listeners find the show. Leave a rating or review on your platform.