Have you ever been in a PD session where the goals were unclear, and the entire experience felt scattered? It’s a common issue that leaves participants frustrated and disengaged.

Clarity is the key to transforming professional development sessions into impactful learning experiences. Research by John Hattie shows that teacher clarity significantly affects learning outcomes, and the same principle applies to PD. When facilitators clearly articulate their objectives, participants are more engaged and able to apply what they learn.

Imagine facilitating a PD session where participants know exactly what they will walk away with, how it will solve their real classroom challenges, and why it matters.

By using clear goals, transparent communication, and framing content around participants' needs, you can create sessions that inspire lasting, meaningful change.

Ready to fix your PD sessions? Listen in. Start by outlining clear objectives, connecting them to participants' needs, and guiding them through the process with transparency and purpose. Swap confusion for clarity, and watch your PD sessions transform into powerful learning experiences.

Show Notes Page.

District Math Leaders:

K-12 Math Coordinators, Coaches, Directors and Math Leaders. Get Professional Development Support from Make Math Moments

Learn how you can create, coordinate, and implement an aligned school and district math action plan for improved student success.

So that you can create long term sustainable student success in mathematics and proficiently & pedagogically strong educators.

Book a call with us 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.

Love the show? Text us your big takeaway!

Ever wondered how consistency and patience in teaching methods can drastically improve student & teacher performance in math?

This episode dives deep into the challenges and triumphs of designing and sticking with consistent math action plans that support teachers with effective math teaching strategies. Whether you're a teacher aiming to boost your students' math scores or a math coordinator, coach, or administrator seeking sustainable change, this conversation provides actionable insights that align with your goals.

• Discover how a focus on problem-first teaching led to a remarkable increase in student test scores.
• Learn strategies for developing teachers' conceptual understanding across grade levels, crucial for long-term success.
• Gain insights into balancing individual and group learning in the classroom using innovative approaches like non-permanent surfaces.

Don’t miss out on these game-changing strategies—listen to the episode now and start transforming your math teaching approach today!

Resources

• Show Notes Page.

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.

Love the show? Text us your big takeaway!

Are you ready to transform your math classroom into a space where students see the beauty and relevance of mathematics in their everyday lives?

In this episode, we speak with long time friend of the show Sunil Singh who is here to give you a snapshot of his upcoming Make Math Moments Summit session around the Language of Mathematics. Sunil is an author, educator, and advocate for the teaching and learning of the beauty of mathematics! Stick with us and you’ll hear how viewing mathematics as a language to be fluently learned can revolutionize your teaching. You’ll uncover why contemporary mathematics has been excluded from K-12 math classrooms; how teachers are acting as translators in the language of mathematics and how we can help students become more fluent; and how we can create a community of scavengers in a world of mathematics.

You’ll learn:

• Discover strategies to create "math epiphanies" that foster lifelong curiosity and excitement about mathematics in your students.
• Learn about the concept of contemporary fluency in mathematics, which goes beyond procedural knowledge to include conceptual understanding and current developments in the field. This holistic approach can help you stay updated and make your teaching more relevant.
• Find out how to address the challenges of making higher-level mathematics accessible. Through practical examples and storytelling, Sunil Singh illustrates how to make complex mathematical ideas more approachable and engaging, even for students who might find math intimidating.

Don't miss this opportunity to revolutionize your math teaching approach—listen to this episode now and start inspiring a new generation of mathematically curious and engaged students!

Resources:

Sunil Singh on Twitter (X)

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.

Love the show? Text us your big takeaway!

What if our students were not focused solely on finding the correct answer? What if they felt motivated to discuss and explain math topics? If we want students to deeply understand topics, they need to communicate their thinking, construct arguments, and listen and respond to others. They need to DebateMath!

Listen in as Chris Luzniak, author of Debate Math shares his insights on how to get your students arguing in math class. Chris is here to give you a sneak peek of his upcoming 2024 Make Math Moments Virtual Summit session: Arguing In Math Class.

You’ll learn:

• Discover how to create structured debates that make math concepts more engaging and relatable for students.
• Learn strategies to overcome the fear of trying new teaching techniques and embrace flexibility in the classroom.
• Gain insights into the latest brain science behind effective argumentation and how it can enhance student understanding.

Don’t miss out on transforming your teaching approach—listen to this episode now and bring a new level of excitement to your math lessons!

Resources

• Show Notes Page.

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.

Love the show? Text us your big takeaway!

Are your current assessment methods truly capturing your students' growth and understanding in mathematics?

In a world where traditional testing often falls short of showcasing real student achievement, this episode explores innovative strategies that could redefine how we measure success in the math classroom. Whether you're struggling to balance content standards with the need to teach mathematical practice standards or looking to implement deeper thinking methods, like The Thinking Classroom, Number Talks, Problem Based Lessons, or 3-Act Math Tasks, this discussion offers practical solutions.

• Learn how to integrate conceptual understanding into your teaching to foster lasting student success.
• Discover innovative assessment approaches that better reflect student growth beyond test scores.
• Explore how teaching the mathematical practice standards alongside content standards can transform your classroom and student outcomes.

Tune in now to uncover actionable strategies for transforming your math assessments and teaching practices!

Resources

• Show Notes Page.
• Assessment For Growth: A Blueprint Course For Standards Based Grading in Math Class
• 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.

Love the show? Text us your big takeaway!

How can you keep ALL students engaged and excited about math when the topic doesn’t seem to lend itself to engaging and insightful ideas?

If you're struggling to maintain your students' interest in math or finding it difficult to balance foundational skills with engaging activities, this episode offers practical solutions that could transform your classroom experience.

We speak with Kindergarten teacher Nichole Collins who’s on a journey to engage all the young minds in her classroom especially when the topic doesn’t seem to be that exciting on its own.

Listen in and you’ll learn:

• strategies to make math talks more interactive and meaningful for young learners.
• how to incorporate hands-on activities and partner routines to boost student engagement.
• insights into planning intentional, time-effective lessons that support both numeracy and student participation.

Listen now to uncover actionable tips for creating a vibrant and engaging math classroom for your students.

Resources

Show Notes Page.

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.

Love the show? Text us your big takeaway!

Learn how to use students’ prior knowledge to not only propel them forward to reach the standards in your grade level, but clear up many day-to-day problems that come from managing a classroom full of students.

In this episode, we talk with Pamela Seda, author of Choosing to See: A Framework For Equity in the Math Classroom and we share how to structure your lessons so you are in position to use powerful formative assessment techniques so you can save time and achieve more. Pamela shares the important ideas she will present at the 2024 6th annual Make Math Moments Virtual Summit.

You’ll learn:

• Learn how to implement Pam Seda's collaborative math approach and rubrics using problem-solving activities that activate prior knowledge and engage all students.
• Discover the benefits of the CER (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning) rubric for providing clear, effective feedback that improves student learning outcomes.
• Gain insights into addressing academic struggles with practical tools like formative assessments, and rubrics, enhancing your ability to track and support student progress.

Tune in now to hear Pam Seda share invaluable tips and strategies for transforming your math classroom into a dynamic and equitable learning environment!

Resources:

• #207 Choosing To See with Pamela Seda [Podcast Episode]
• #88 Start The School Year Off Right From A Distance [Podcast Episode]
• #139 - Making Math Moments Day 1 to 180 [Podcast Episode]
• Making Math Moments Academy - Strengthen all six (6) key areas of an effective math classroom.

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.

Love the show? Text us your big takeaway!

What are the first week of school math activities that you should be using to start the school year off right and never look back?

In this episode, we explore how to kick off your school year with impactful math culture building activities and math classroom activities that set the tone for a year of growth and learning. We’ll also help you understand which components of effective math lessons you should focus on so you’re prepared to give a full year of impactful learning to your students.

You’ll learn:

• Discover effective math first day activities to build a strong foundation and establish a positive classroom culture.
• Learn how to integrate assessment in mathematics seamlessly from the start with innovative problem-based math lessons.
• Find out how math activities for elementary students can foster curiosity, collaboration, and struggle, making math fun and meaningful.
• Discover which areas of effective math lessons you should focus on this year!

Listen now to uncover the best strategies for your math curriculum and make your first week classroom activities unforgettable!

Starting the school year with engaging and effective math classroom activities is crucial for setting the right tone. Incorporating math getting to know you activities as part of your math first day activities can help build a strong community and establish a positive classroom culture. Throughout the first week, a variety of first week classroom activities can be used to introduce problem-based math lessons, which are integral to a comprehensive math curriculum. These activities not only engage students but also lay the groundwork for ongoing assessment in mathematics. Additionally, designing math activities for elementary students, middle school students, and high school students that are both fun and educational can foster a love for learning and ensure a successful start to the school year.

Resources:

#36 How To Start The School Year Off Right [Podcast Episode]

#88 Start The School Year Off Right From A Distance [Podcast Episode]

#139 - Making Math Moments Day 1 to 180 [Podcast Episode]

Making Math Moments Academy - Strengthen all six (6) key areas of an effective math classroom.

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.

Love the show? Text us your big takeaway!