Do your students shut down when math gets tough? In this episode, we dive into what causes students to give up—and how to build a classroom culture that values perseverance, struggle, and flexible thinking. The Make Math Moments team shares insights for teachers, coaches, and leaders on how to shift the mindset around what it means to be “good at math,” how to scaffold for productive struggle, and why students (and adults!) need psychological safety to take risks. Discover what it takes to truly develop math classroom resilience.

How can math teachers try new approaches when they already feel behind? In this episode, the Make Math Moments team unpacks the tension educators feel between curriculum coverage and instructional innovation. From spiraling to systems alignment, we share what helps teachers feel safe to take risks, and how math leaders can create conditions where curriculum is implemented with integrity—not rigidity. A must-listen for anyone supporting math improvement in schools.

Math leaders are investing in curriculum, PD, and structures — so why aren’t classrooms changing? In this episode, Jon Orr unpacks the research-backed reason math practices stay stagnant, and why sustained, focused coaching is the single highest-leverage investment your system can make. Discover the practical shifts that build instructional momentum and avoid the trap of PD that never makes it past October.

Are the same few students doing all the talking during math lessons while everyone else checks out? This episode tackles one of the most common participation problems in math classrooms—and offers simple, research-informed strategies that help shift the dynamic. We explore what really works to get more students thinking, talking, and engaging deeply with math content. If you’re a teacher or coach looking to move beyond passive classrooms and create space for all voices, this is the episode for you.

What do you do when your math class includes multi-language learners, students with learning gaps, and gifted students all at once? In this episode, we explore how one coach partnered with teachers to make Tier 1 instruction more accessible—starting with concrete tools, visual models, and shared commitment. If you’re working to support all math learners at grade level, this conversation offers a path forward.

Despite decades of focus on multiplication, many students still struggle to connect math facts to real-world understanding. In this episode, researcher and educator Dr. Alex Lawson joins us to explore why traditional approaches to teaching multiplication—like “groups of”—might actually hold students back. Instead, she makes the case for introducing rate and quantity relationships early on, challenging long-standing assumptions and offering a more connected path to multiplicative reasoning. Whether you’re a teacher rethinking your math block or a coach supporting instructional shifts, this conversation is full of “aha” moments you won’t want to miss.

This episode looks back on the most important lessons from a year of math leadership and implementation work. We highlight the strengths teams built in 2025—and the patterns that held some back. From clarifying roles to deepening implementation, we unpack what made the biggest difference and how to carry that momentum forward in 2026

In this special Christmas episode, Jon Orr shares a message to math teachers, coaches, and leaders. If you’ve ever felt like progress is too slow or the work of math improvement is lonely and messy, this episode is a reminder that your efforts matter—even when they’re hard to measure. Tune in for a moment of reflection, recognition, and encouragement from the Make Math Moments community.

Can students be successful in math and still feel like they don’t belong there? In this episode, we explore what happens when achievement masks low confidence and enjoyment—and how one school is taking steps to listen, respond, and create a more joyful math experience

What do you do when students keep using the same early math strategies—even when they no longer work? In this episode, the team tackles one of the most persistent barriers to fluency: student reliance on inefficient strategies. Hear real classroom examples and learn how teachers and leaders can support more flexible, confident thinking in math.