Modern Math Teacher- Teaching Strategies for High School and Middle School Math Teachers

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What changes when students aren’t just finding an answer—but using math to make a decision?

In this episode, we’re talking about moving beyond “solve the system” and giving mathematics an actual job.

We’ll explore:

• Answers vs. mathematical decisions
• Letting students decide which math could help
• Using math as evidence to defend a choice
• How Pitch Profit turns systems of equations into a business decision

This week’s reflection: Where are you giving students an answer to find—and could you instead give them a decision to make?

This podcast is a member of the Teach Better Podcast Network. Better Today. Better Tomorrow. And the Podcasts to Help You Get There.

Connect with Kristen:

• Follow on Instagram @moorethanjustx
• Join the Facebook Community: The Modern Math Teachers Movement

More About the Modern Math Teacher Podcast

Kristen Moore, classroom teacher and instructional coach at Moore Than Just X, empowers modern secondary math teachers to transform the student experience with the strategies and the confidence to implement project-based learning, mastery-based assessment, and student engagement strategies in their classrooms.

Whether you're a math education newbie or a seasoned veteran, you'll find something new and inspiring in every episode. You’re already a listener, why not join the Movement inside ✨The Modern Math Teachers Movement Facebook group. Join the community of math teachers who are not afraid to shake things up and make math class the best part of the day for our students. So tune in each Tuesday, have some fun, and let's elevate our math teaching game together!

*Amazon orders may provide a small affiliate payout at no extra cost to you. These payouts help keep the podcast free for all!

Let’s chat—send me a text!

Students need practice. There, I said it. 😉

Meaningful math doesn’t mean eliminating repetition, worksheets, or good old-fashioned skill practice. Sometimes students just need to practice the darn equation.

But sometimes we can give that practice a little more purpose.

In this episode, we’re talking about:

• What good math practice is actually for
• When straightforward practice is the best choice
• How practice can become part of a larger learning experience
• Using my Stained Glass Linear Equations Project as practice with a purpose

Practice isn’t the opposite of meaningful mathematics.

This week’s reflection: What are your students practicing right now—and is there an opportunity to give that practice a purpose?

This podcast is a member of the Teach Better Podcast Network. Better Today. Better Tomorrow. And the Podcasts to Help You Get There.

Connect with Kristen:

• Follow on Instagram @moorethanjustx
• Join the Facebook Community: The Modern Math Teachers Movement

More About the Modern Math Teacher Podcast

Kristen Moore, classroom teacher and instructional coach at Moore Than Just X, empowers modern secondary math teachers to transform the student experience with the strategies and the confidence to implement project-based learning, mastery-based assessment, and student engagement strategies in their classrooms.

Whether you're a math education newbie or a seasoned veteran, you'll find something new and inspiring in every episode. You’re already a listener, why not join the Movement inside ✨The Modern Math Teachers Movement Facebook group. Join the community of math teachers who are not afraid to shake things up and make math class the best part of the day for our students. So tune in each Tuesday, have some fun, and let's elevate our math teaching game together!

*Amazon orders may provide a small affiliate payout at no extra cost to you. These payouts help keep the podcast free for all!

Let’s chat—send me a text!

Our students are surrounded by data—but are we teaching them how to actually think with it?

In this episode, we’re moving beyond “calculate the statistic” and talking about how real data can help students investigate, question, interpret and make predictions.

We’ll talk about:

• Moving from calculating data to interpreting it
• Why messy, real data creates richer thinking
• Helping students ask, “What does this data NOT tell me?”
• Using timely election data to build mathematical literacy

I’m also sharing how my Election Data + Statistics Project puts these ideas into action with real election-related data.

This week’s reflection: Are your students learning how to calculate statistics—or are they also learning how to think with them?

This podcast is a member of the Teach Better Podcast Network. Better Today. Better Tomorrow. And the Podcasts to Help You Get There.

Connect with Kristen:

• Follow on Instagram @moorethanjustx
• Join the Facebook Community: The Modern Math Teachers Movement

More About the Modern Math Teacher Podcast

Kristen Moore, classroom teacher and instructional coach at Moore Than Just X, empowers modern secondary math teachers to transform the student experience with the strategies and the confidence to implement project-based learning, mastery-based assessment, and student engagement strategies in their classrooms.

Whether you're a math education newbie or a seasoned veteran, you'll find something new and inspiring in every episode. You’re already a listener, why not join the Movement inside ✨The Modern Math Teachers Movement Facebook group. Join the community of math teachers who are not afraid to shake things up and make math class the best part of the day for our students. So tune in each Tuesday, have some fun, and let's elevate our math teaching game together!

*Amazon orders may provide a small affiliate payout at no extra cost to you. These payouts help keep the podcast free for all!

Let’s chat—send me a text!

You don’t need to find an empty week in your pacing guide to use a math project.

In this episode, we’re looking at three ways projects can fit into the mathematics you’re already teaching:

• Investigate with math → Election Data + Statistics
• Make a decision with math → Pitch Profit
• Practice through a meaningful product → Stained Glass

Projects don’t have to replace your instruction, practice, or curriculum. Sometimes they simply give students somewhere meaningful to use the math they’re already learning.

This week’s reflection: What job does the mathematics you’re teaching right now need students to do—investigate, decide, or practice?

This podcast is a member of the Teach Better Podcast Network. Better Today. Better Tomorrow. And the Podcasts to Help You Get There.

Connect with Kristen:

• Follow on Instagram @moorethanjustx
• Join the Facebook Community: The Modern Math Teachers Movement

More About the Modern Math Teacher Podcast

Kristen Moore, classroom teacher and instructional coach at Moore Than Just X, empowers modern secondary math teachers to transform the student experience with the strategies and the confidence to implement project-based learning, mastery-based assessment, and student engagement strategies in their classrooms.

Whether you're a math education newbie or a seasoned veteran, you'll find something new and inspiring in every episode. You’re already a listener, why not join the Movement inside ✨The Modern Math Teachers Movement Facebook group. Join the community of math teachers who are not afraid to shake things up and make math class the best part of the day for our students. So tune in each Tuesday, have some fun, and let's elevate our math teaching game together!

*Amazon orders may provide a small affiliate payout at no extra cost to you. These payouts help keep the podcast free for all!

Let’s chat—send me a text!

We hear it all the time: Make math real-world.

But real-world doesn’t automatically mean relevant.

In this episode, I’m sharing how one of my favorite cell phone projects slowly lost its relevance—and what it taught me about choosing contexts that actually matter to the students sitting in front of us.

We’ll talk about:

• The difference between real-world and relevant math
• My Spheres of Relevance: self, community, culture + the larger world
• How timeliness can create relevance
• Why relevant doesn’t have to mean entertaining
• Using real data to build mathematical literacy

Plus, I’m sharing how election datacan give students a timely reason to use statistics to analyze the information they’re already encountering outside of school.

This week’s reflection: Where does the math you’re teaching exist in the real world—and why might it matter to your students?

This podcast is a member of the Teach Better Podcast Network. Better Today. Better Tomorrow. And the Podcasts to Help You Get There.

Connect with Kristen:

• Follow on Instagram @moorethanjustx
• Join the Facebook Community: The Modern Math Teachers Movement

More About the Modern Math Teacher Podcast

Kristen Moore, classroom teacher and instructional coach at Moore Than Just X, empowers modern secondary math teachers to transform the student experience with the strategies and the confidence to implement project-based learning, mastery-based assessment, and student engagement strategies in their classrooms.

Whether you're a math education newbie or a seasoned veteran, you'll find something new and inspiring in every episode. You’re already a listener, why not join the Movement inside ✨The Modern Math Teachers Movement Facebook group. Join the community of math teachers who are not afraid to shake things up and make math class the best part of the day for our students. So tune in each Tuesday, have some fun, and let's elevate our math teaching game together!

*Amazon orders may provide a small affiliate payout at no extra cost to you. These payouts help keep the podcast free for all!

Let’s chat—send me a text!

“Projects sound great…but when are students actually learning the math?”

That’s a fair question—and the answer isn’t simply putting more calculations into the project.

In this episode, we’re talking about how to intentionally keep deep, rigorous mathematics at the center of PBL using one of my favorite project-design tools: milestones and milestone markers.

Using my Wasted Space Geometry Project as an example, we’ll explore how students can use surface area, volume, modeling, constraints, and optimization to redesign product packaging—and how intentional checkpoints make their mathematical thinking visible along the way.

We’ll talk about:

• The difference between a deadline and a mathematical milestone
• How milestone markers give you evidence of student learning
• Checking individual understanding during collaborative projects
• Using project evidence to decide when students need instruction or practice
• Why the final product should never be your only evidence of learning

Milestones organize the learning journey. Milestone markers give us evidence that the learning happened.

✨Ready to design your own meaningful math PBL experience? PBL Kickstart is my $17 on-demand workshop designed to help you get started with the mathematics you already teach. Enroll inPBL Kickstart Today

Reflection: If I looked only at the milestones in your project—not the final product—could I tell what mathematics you want students to learn?

This podcast is a member of the Teach Better Podcast Network. Better Today. Better Tomorrow. And the Podcasts to Help You Get There.

Connect with Kristen:

• Follow on Instagram @moorethanjustx
• Join the Facebook Community: The Modern Math Teachers Movement

More About the Modern Math Teacher Podcast

Kristen Moore, classroom teacher and instructional coach at Moore Than Just X, empowers modern secondary math teachers to transform the student experience with the strategies and the confidence to implement project-based learning, mastery-based assessment, and student engagement strategies in their classrooms.

Whether you're a math education newbie or a seasoned veteran, you'll find something new and inspiring in every episode. You’re already a listener, why not join the Movement inside ✨The Modern Math Teachers Movement Facebook group. Join the community of math teachers who are not afraid to shake things up and make math class the best part of the day for our students. So tune in each Tuesday, have some fun, and let's elevate our math teaching game together!

*Amazon orders may provide a small affiliate payout at no extra cost to you. These payouts help keep the podcast free for all!

Let’s chat—send me a text!

You Don’t Need Three Weeks for PBL

“I’d love to do more projects…but I just don’t have time.”

If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you.

Because somewhere along the way, we started assuming that good project-based learning has to mean a massive, multi-week project complete with research, presentations, fancy final products, and approximately 47 things for the teacher to manage.

It doesn’t.

In this episode of The Modern Math Teacher, we’re talking about how to right-size PBL for the mathematics, your curriculum, and the instructional time you actually have.

We’ll explore the continuum from rich tasks and performance tasks to mini-projects and full PBL experiences—and why bigger doesn’t automatically mean better.

I’m also sharing four practical ways to shrink a project without shrinking the mathematics.

In this episode:

• Why good PBL doesn’t have to take three weeks
• How to right-size a project around the mathematical goal
• The difference between rich tasks, performance tasks, mini-projects, and larger PBL experiences
• Why smaller projects aren’t watered-down PBL
• How “project bloat” steals instructional time from the mathematics
• Four ways to make a project more manageable
• Why you can weave a project into instruction instead of saving it for “project week”
• What you should NEVER cut when shortening a project
• Why starting with one manageable project is enough
• The goal isn’t to find more time for PBL.
It’s to design PBL that fits the time you actually have.

Ready to Get Started with PBL?

If you’ve found the place in your curriculum where a project makes sense but you’re still wondering how to turn that idea into an actual learning experience, PBL Kickstart is for you. Enroll in PBL Kickstart and Start Planning Now

PBL Kickstart is my $17 on-demand workshopthat walks you through planning your first project-based learning unit in three simple steps—without assuming you have unlimited planning time or three empty weeks in your pacing guide.

Because you don’t need to transform your entire classroom.

You need one good place to start.

This podcast is a member of the Teach Better Podcast Network. Better Today. Better Tomorrow. And the Podcasts to Help You Get There.

Connect with Kristen:

• Follow on Instagram @moorethanjustx
• Join the Facebook Community: The Modern Math Teachers Movement

More About the Modern Math Teacher Podcast

Kristen Moore, classroom teacher and instructional coach at Moore Than Just X, empowers modern secondary math teachers to transform the student experience with the strategies and the confidence to implement project-based learning, mastery-based assessment, and student engagement strategies in their classrooms.

Whether you're a math education newbie or a seasoned veteran, you'll find something new and inspiring in every episode. You’re already a listener, why not join the Movement inside ✨The Modern Math Teachers Movement Facebook group. Join the community of math teachers who are not afraid to shake things up and make math class the best part of the day for our students. So tune in each Tuesday, have some fun, and let's elevate our math teaching game together!

*Amazon orders may provide a small affiliate payout at no extra cost to you. These payouts help keep the podcast free for all!

Let’s chat—send me a text!

Two hundred episodes ago, I thought I had a much clearer idea of what kind of math teacher I was.

I was a project-based learning teacher.

Since then, I’ve taught using the Modern Classrooms framework. I’ve embraced Building Thinking Classrooms. I’ve changed the way I think about mastery and assessment. Now I’m teaching with Illustrative Mathematics and falling in love with inquiry, mathematical discourse, and giving students more opportunities to make sense of mathematics together.

And somewhere along the way, I realized:

I don’t actually need to choose.

For Episode 200 of The Modern Math Teacher, we’re taking a break from strategies, resources, and the usual back-to-school conversations to reflect on how my teaching has evolved—and why I hope it never stops evolving.

I’m sharing how my relationship with EdTech has changed, why I’m increasingly interested in AI as a tool for teachers rather than something we need to put into students’ hands simply because we can, and why I no longer think being a “modern” teacher means chasing the newest thing.

We’ll also talk about what hasn’t changed.

PBL still has my heart. I still want students experiencing mathematics that is real, relevant, and rigorous. I just have a much bigger instructional toolbox for getting them there.

In this episode:

• How I’ve evolved from a PBL teacher using Modern Classrooms to BTC and now an inquiry- and discussion-focused IM classroom
• Why I no longer feel like I need one instructional identity
• What each phase of my teaching has added to my instructional toolbox
• How my relationship with EdTech has changed
• Why I’m rethinking the role of AI in the math classroom
• Why “modern” teaching has more to do with intentionality than technology
• Why PBL still has my heart—even though I don’t need every day to be a project
• The value of staying curious enough to keep changing your mind

Let’s Stay Connected

For Episode 200, I just want to hear from you.

What’s something you’ve changed your mind about as a math teacher?

Reply to one of my emails, find me online, or send me a message and tell me what the teacher you are today believes that the teacher you used to be didn’t.

Thank you for listening, reflecting, experimenting, and learning alongside me for 200 episodes.

Here’s to whatever we learn in the next 200.

Until next time, keep it real!

This podcast is a member of the Teach Better Podcast Network. Better Today. Better Tomorrow. And the Podcasts to Help You Get There.

Connect with Kristen:

• Follow on Instagram @moorethanjustx
• Join the Facebook Community: The Modern Math Teachers Movement

More About the Modern Math Teacher Podcast

Kristen Moore, classroom teacher and instructional coach at Moore Than Just X, empowers modern secondary math teachers to transform the student experience with the strategies and the confidence to implement project-based learning, mastery-based assessment, and student engagement strategies in their classrooms.

Whether you're a math education newbie or a seasoned veteran, you'll find something new and inspiring in every episode. You’re already a listener, why not join the Movement inside ✨The Modern Math Teachers Movement Facebook group. Join the community of math teachers who are not afraid to shake things up and make math class the best part of the day for our students. So tune in each Tuesday, have some fun, and let's elevate our math teaching game together!

*Amazon orders may provide a small affiliate payout at no extra cost to you. These payouts help keep the podcast free for all!

Let’s chat—send me a text!

When Should You Use Math Projects? 4 Signs a Topic Is Ready for PBL

Not every math standard needs a project.

Yep. I said it.

Sometimes students need an authentic problem to solve, decisions to make, and an opportunity to actually USE the mathematics they're learning.

And sometimes? They need practice.

In this episode of The Modern Math Teacher, we're talking about how I decide which parts of my curriculum have real project potential—and which ones I'm perfectly happy teaching, practicing, and moving on from.

I'm sharing four things I look for when deciding whether a topic is a good fit for a project:

- Does the math have a natural real-world application?

- Does it give students something meaningful to reason about or decide?

- Is the content meaty enough to justify the instructional time?

- Can I connect it to something my students will actually care about?

We'll also talk about why real-world doesn't automatically mean relevant, why forcing every standard into a project isn't the goal, and how some of the best math projects actually have procedural practice baked right into them.

Because projects and practice aren't opposites. The goal is knowing when each one is the right tool for the learning.

🎧 In this episode:

- How I identify standards with strong project potential

- Why modeling, interpreting, comparing, and decision-making are project green flags

- When procedural practice really IS the better instructional choice

- Why a real-world context isn't enough if students don't care about it

- How my Spheres of Relevance help me evaluate project ideas

- Why strong projects can—and should—include opportunities for practice

- How to find one realistic place to start adding projects to your curriculum

🆓 RESOURCE: Project or Practice Guide

Want help figuring out where projects make sense in your math curriculum?

Grab my free Project or Practice Guide. I've gone through the secondary standards to help you identify which ones lend themselves naturally to projects and which ones may be better suited for practice.

👉 moorethanjustx.com/guide

Ready to Design Your First PBL Unit?

Once you've found the right place in your curriculum, PBL Kickstart will help you turn that idea into an actual project-based learning experience.

This $17 on-demand workshop walks you through planning your first PBL unit in three simple steps—without turning your entire curriculum upside down.

👉Join the Kickstart: PBL Kickstart

Until next time, keep it real!

This podcast is a member of the Teach Better Podcast Network. Better Today. Better Tomorrow. And the Podcasts to Help You Get There.

Connect with Kristen:

• Follow on Instagram @moorethanjustx
• Join the Facebook Community: The Modern Math Teachers Movement

More About the Modern Math Teacher Podcast

Kristen Moore, classroom teacher and instructional coach at Moore Than Just X, empowers modern secondary math teachers to transform the student experience with the strategies and the confidence to implement project-based learning, mastery-based assessment, and student engagement strategies in their classrooms.

Whether you're a math education newbie or a seasoned veteran, you'll find something new and inspiring in every episode. You’re already a listener, why not join the Movement inside ✨The Modern Math Teachers Movement Facebook group. Join the community of math teachers who are not afraid to shake things up and make math class the best part of the day for our students. So tune in each Tuesday, have some fun, and let's elevate our math teaching game together!

*Amazon orders may provide a small affiliate payout at no extra cost to you. These payouts help keep the podcast free for all!

Let’s chat—send me a text!

What if creating more meaningful learning experiences in your math classroom didn’t require completely changing the way you teach?

Because when teachers hear “project-based learning,” it can feel like a complete classroom makeover.

Rewrite every unit. Redesign your curriculum. Stop giving direct instruction. Turn everything into a project.

Nope.

In this episode of The Modern Math Teacher, we’re talking about why meaningful change happens one intentional decision at a time—and why you’re probably much closer to creating the classroom you want than you think.

I’m sharing how my own classroom evolved through years of small changes in questioning, discussion, assessment, collaboration, relevance, and instructional design before project-based learning became one powerful piece of that bigger picture.

And most importantly, we’re taking the pressure off becoming a “PBL teacher.”

You don’t need projects everywhere.

You need to find one place where students could move from knowing how to DO the mathematics to actually USING the mathematics.

In this episode:

• Why meaningful teaching doesn’t require a complete classroom makeover
• How small instructional decisions transform classrooms over time
• Why I became an intentional instructional designer before I became a PBL teacher
• Why you don’t have to become a “project-based learning teacher” to use projects
• How PBL can create real, relevant, rigorous mathematical experiences
• Why projects are one tool—not the goal
• The pieces of PBL you may already be using in your classroom
• Why your first project shouldn’t be your giant dream project
• How to identify one realistic place to start

Ready to Take Your First Step into PBL?

If you love the idea of project-based learning but don’t want to completely overhaul your classroom, PBL Kickstart was created for you.

Inside this $17 on-demand workshop, I’ll help you take mathematics you’re already teaching and begin turning it into a real, relevant, rigorous project-based learning experience.

Sign Up for PBL Kickstart

You don’t need to redesign your entire curriculum.

You need one good place to start.

Your Reflection Question

Where in your curriculum are students currently learning how to DO the math—but could have an opportunity to actually USE it?

This podcast is a member of the Teach Better Podcast Network. Better Today. Better Tomorrow. And the Podcasts to Help You Get There.

Connect with Kristen:

• Follow on Instagram @moorethanjustx
• Join the Facebook Community: The Modern Math Teachers Movement

More About the Modern Math Teacher Podcast

Kristen Moore, classroom teacher and instructional coach at Moore Than Just X, empowers modern secondary math teachers to transform the student experience with the strategies and the confidence to implement project-based learning, mastery-based assessment, and student engagement strategies in their classrooms.

Whether you're a math education newbie or a seasoned veteran, you'll find something new and inspiring in every episode. You’re already a listener, why not join the Movement inside ✨The Modern Math Teachers Movement Facebook group. Join the community of math teachers who are not afraid to shake things up and make math class the best part of the day for our students. So tune in each Tuesday, have some fun, and let's elevate our math teaching game together!

*Amazon orders may provide a small affiliate payout at no extra cost to you. These payouts help keep the podcast free for all!

Let’s chat—send me a text!

What if the biggest shift you could make this school year wasn't changing your curriculum—but changing the way you think about planning?

In this episode, I share the mindset shift that has transformed my classroom. Instead of asking, "What activity should I do?" I now start with a much different question: "What experience do I want my students to have?"

We'll explore how this simple change impacts every instructional decision, why meaningful learning experiences don't have to be elaborate, and how intentional planning can make mathematics more memorable for your students.

In this episode you'll learn:

• Why planning experiences changes everything
• The difference between activities and learning experiences
• Questions to guide intentional lesson design
• Why meaningful learning doesn't require elaborate projects
• How small instructional decisions create lasting impact

🎁 Free Resource

Download the Gold Standard Project Planner:

👉https://moorethanjustx.com/projectplanner

This podcast is a member of the Teach Better Podcast Network. Better Today. Better Tomorrow. And the Podcasts to Help You Get There.

Connect with Kristen:

• Follow on Instagram @moorethanjustx
• Join the Facebook Community: The Modern Math Teachers Movement

More About the Modern Math Teacher Podcast

Kristen Moore, classroom teacher and instructional coach at Moore Than Just X, empowers modern secondary math teachers to transform the student experience with the strategies and the confidence to implement project-based learning, mastery-based assessment, and student engagement strategies in their classrooms.

Whether you're a math education newbie or a seasoned veteran, you'll find something new and inspiring in every episode. You’re already a listener, why not join the Movement inside ✨The Modern Math Teachers Movement Facebook group. Join the community of math teachers who are not afraid to shake things up and make math class the best part of the day for our students. So tune in each Tuesday, have some fun, and let's elevate our math teaching game together!

*Amazon orders may provide a small affiliate payout at no extra cost to you. These payouts help keep the podcast free for all!

Let’s chat—send me a text!

Being a Modern Math Teacher isn't about using the newest technology or following every educational trend.

It's about intentionally designing learning experiences that help every student think deeply, feel like they belong, and see themselves as capable mathematicians.

In this episode, I reflect on five beliefs that have transformed my own classroom and explain why becoming a Modern Math Teacher isn't a destination—it's an ongoing journey of intentional growth.

In this episode you'll learn:

• The five beliefs that guide every instructional decision I make
• Why intentional teaching matters more than trendy teaching
• How reflection fuels professional growth
• Why becoming a better teacher is about asking better questions
• What it truly means to be a Modern Math Teacher

🎁 Free Resource

Download the Gold Standard Project Planner:

👉https://moorethanjustx.com/projectplanner

This podcast is a member of the Teach Better Podcast Network. Better Today. Better Tomorrow. And the Podcasts to Help You Get There.

Connect with Kristen:

• Follow on Instagram @moorethanjustx
• Join the Facebook Community: The Modern Math Teachers Movement

More About the Modern Math Teacher Podcast

Kristen Moore, classroom teacher and instructional coach at Moore Than Just X, empowers modern secondary math teachers to transform the student experience with the strategies and the confidence to implement project-based learning, mastery-based assessment, and student engagement strategies in their classrooms.

Whether you're a math education newbie or a seasoned veteran, you'll find something new and inspiring in every episode. You’re already a listener, why not join the Movement inside ✨The Modern Math Teachers Movement Facebook group. Join the community of math teachers who are not afraid to shake things up and make math class the best part of the day for our students. So tune in each Tuesday, have some fun, and let's elevate our math teaching game together!

*Amazon orders may provide a small affiliate payout at no extra cost to you. These payouts help keep the podcast free for all!

Let’s chat—send me a text!

Have you ever felt like your curriculum was holding you back?

You're not alone—but what if the curriculum isn't actually the problem?

In this episode, I share how my perspective on curriculum has evolved and why I no longer believe great teaching comes from finding the "perfect" textbook. Instead, I explain how small, intentional instructional decisions can transform the learning experience for your students.

Whether you teach Illustrative Mathematics, CPM, Reveal, Carnegie, Big Ideas, Eureka, or another curriculum entirely, this episode will help you see your role as more than someone who delivers lessons—you are the designer of your students' mathematical experience.

In this episode you'll learn:

• Why curriculum is a tool—not your identity as a teacher
• Simple ways to adapt lessons without rewriting them
• Questions to ask before teaching any lesson
• How professional judgment improves student learning
• Why two teachers can teach the same lesson and create completely different classroom experiences

🎁 Free Resource

Download the Gold Standard Project Planner:

👉https://moorethanjustx.com/projectplanner

This podcast is a member of the Teach Better Podcast Network. Better Today. Better Tomorrow. And the Podcasts to Help You Get There.

Connect with Kristen:

• Follow on Instagram @moorethanjustx
• Join the Facebook Community: The Modern Math Teachers Movement

More About the Modern Math Teacher Podcast

Kristen Moore, classroom teacher and instructional coach at Moore Than Just X, empowers modern secondary math teachers to transform the student experience with the strategies and the confidence to implement project-based learning, mastery-based assessment, and student engagement strategies in their classrooms.

Whether you're a math education newbie or a seasoned veteran, you'll find something new and inspiring in every episode. You’re already a listener, why not join the Movement inside ✨The Modern Math Teachers Movement Facebook group. Join the community of math teachers who are not afraid to shake things up and make math class the best part of the day for our students. So tune in each Tuesday, have some fun, and let's elevate our math teaching game together!

*Amazon orders may provide a small affiliate payout at no extra cost to you. These payouts help keep the podcast free for all!

Let’s chat—send me a text!

Have you ever felt like every lesson has to be bigger, better, and more engaging than the last?

I know I have.

In this episode, I share how I fell into the trap of trying to create extraordinary lessons every day—and why shifting my focus to sustainable teaching practices completely changed my classroom.

We'll talk about routines, instructional systems, decision fatigue, and why consistency often has a greater impact on student learning than constant novelty.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why great teaching isn't about reinventing every lesson
• The difference between exciting ideas and sustainable systems
• How routines create more opportunities for meaningful mathematics
• Why consistency benefits both teachers and students
• Questions to help you design a classroom that thrives all year long

🎁 Free Resource

Download the Project or Practice Guide: 👉https://moorethanjustx.com/guide

This podcast is a member of the Teach Better Podcast Network. Better Today. Better Tomorrow. And the Podcasts to Help You Get There.

Connect with Kristen:

• Follow on Instagram @moorethanjustx
• Join the Facebook Community: The Modern Math Teachers Movement

More About the Modern Math Teacher Podcast

Kristen Moore, classroom teacher and instructional coach at Moore Than Just X, empowers modern secondary math teachers to transform the student experience with the strategies and the confidence to implement project-based learning, mastery-based assessment, and student engagement strategies in their classrooms.

Whether you're a math education newbie or a seasoned veteran, you'll find something new and inspiring in every episode. You’re already a listener, why not join the Movement inside ✨The Modern Math Teachers Movement Facebook group. Join the community of math teachers who are not afraid to shake things up and make math class the best part of the day for our students. So tune in each Tuesday, have some fun, and let's elevate our math teaching game together!

*Amazon orders may provide a small affiliate payout at no extra cost to you. These payouts help keep the podcast free for all!

Let’s chat—send me a text!

For years, I believed rigorous math instruction meant harder problems, longer assignments, and more work.

I don't believe that anymore.

In this episode, I share how my definition of rigor has changed, why cognitive demand isn't the same thing as difficulty, and how I intentionally design lessons that promote deeper mathematical thinking without overwhelming students.

We'll also explore how routines like Math Wars can move beyond procedural practice by creating opportunities for students to justify, critique, compare, and defend mathematical reasoning.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why rigor and difficulty aren't the same thing
• How to increase thinking without increasing workload
• The difference between fluency and reasoning
• How I build cognitive demand into everyday classroom routines
• Why scaffolds can increase access without reducing rigor

🎁 Free Resource

Download the Project or Practice Guide: 👉https://moorethanjustx.com/guide

This podcast is a member of the Teach Better Podcast Network. Better Today. Better Tomorrow. And the Podcasts to Help You Get There.

Connect with Kristen:

• Follow on Instagram @moorethanjustx
• Join the Facebook Community: The Modern Math Teachers Movement

More About the Modern Math Teacher Podcast

Kristen Moore, classroom teacher and instructional coach at Moore Than Just X, empowers modern secondary math teachers to transform the student experience with the strategies and the confidence to implement project-based learning, mastery-based assessment, and student engagement strategies in their classrooms.

Whether you're a math education newbie or a seasoned veteran, you'll find something new and inspiring in every episode. You’re already a listener, why not join the Movement inside ✨The Modern Math Teachers Movement Facebook group. Join the community of math teachers who are not afraid to shake things up and make math class the best part of the day for our students. So tune in each Tuesday, have some fun, and let's elevate our math teaching game together!

*Amazon orders may provide a small affiliate payout at no extra cost to you. These payouts help keep the podcast free for all!

Let’s chat—send me a text!

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:

• Why the first week is about more than classroom procedures
• How students' mathematical identities influence learning
• The connection between classroom culture and instructional design
• Simple questions to help you intentionally design the first week
• Why belonging is one of the most important things we teach

🎁 Free Resource

Download the Gold Standard Project Planner and start designing intentional learning experiences:

👉https://moorethanjustx.com/projectplanner

This podcast is a member of the Teach Better Podcast Network. Better Today. Better Tomorrow. And the Podcasts to Help You Get There.

Connect with Kristen:

• Follow on Instagram @moorethanjustx
• Join the Facebook Community: The Modern Math Teachers Movement

More About the Modern Math Teacher Podcast

Kristen Moore, classroom teacher and instructional coach at Moore Than Just X, empowers modern secondary math teachers to transform the student experience with the strategies and the confidence to implement project-based learning, mastery-based assessment, and student engagement strategies in their classrooms.

Whether you're a math education newbie or a seasoned veteran, you'll find something new and inspiring in every episode. You’re already a listener, why not join the Movement inside ✨The Modern Math Teachers Movement Facebook group. Join the community of math teachers who are not afraid to shake things up and make math class the best part of the day for our students. So tune in each Tuesday, have some fun, and let's elevate our math teaching game together!

*Amazon orders may provide a small affiliate payout at no extra cost to you. These payouts help keep the podcast free for all!

Let’s chat—send me a text!

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 lesson isn't the context at all—it's the mathematical thinking.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why authentic lessons lose relevance over time
• The difference between real-world math and relevant math
• The planning question I ask before almost every lesson
• How I adapt Illustrative Math to better connect with my students
• Why mathematical practices can be just as meaningful as real-world contexts
• A classroom story using Glo Germ that led to rich mathematical discussions

🎁 Free Resource

Wondering whether a lesson should become a project or stay focused practice?

Download my free Project or Practice Guide:

👉https://moorethanjustx.com/guide

If you enjoyed today's episode, I'd love for you to subscribe and share it with another math teacher who's passionate about creating meaningful learning experiences.

This podcast is a member of the Teach Better Podcast Network. Better Today. Better Tomorrow. And the Podcasts to Help You Get There.

Connect with Kristen:

• Follow on Instagram @moorethanjustx
• Join the Facebook Community: The Modern Math Teachers Movement

More About the Modern Math Teacher Podcast

Kristen Moore, classroom teacher and instructional coach at Moore Than Just X, empowers modern secondary math teachers to transform the student experience with the strategies and the confidence to implement project-based learning, mastery-based assessment, and student engagement strategies in their classrooms.

Whether you're a math education newbie or a seasoned veteran, you'll find something new and inspiring in every episode. You’re already a listener, why not join the Movement inside ✨The Modern Math Teachers Movement Facebook group. Join the community of math teachers who are not afraid to shake things up and make math class the best part of the day for our students. So tune in each Tuesday, have some fun, and let's elevate our math teaching game together!

*Amazon orders may provide a small affiliate payout at no extra cost to you. These payouts help keep the podcast free for all!

Let’s chat—send me a text!

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 students succeed in their grade-level Algebra 1 class, so I asked Juliana to help me think through what that class could actually look like.

One of my biggest takeaways was Juliana’s staircase approach to intervention.

Start with the grade-level skill students need—that’s the top of the staircase. Then ask: What do they need to know immediately before they can do that? And what do they need before that?

Keep stepping backward until you’ve identified the essential prerequisite skills students actually need.

Instead of trying to fix every gap from the past, we can strategically build the staircase students need to reach the mathematics in front of them.

We also talk about:

• Using the first week to learn how students actually feel about mathematics—and intentionally creating positive new math experiences
• The connection between intervention, math identity, and our recent conversation with Vanessa Vakharia
• Using routines like Notice & Wonder, Same & Different, Which One Doesn’t Belong, Number Talks, and Number Strings to build confidence
• How non-math contexts (including pictures from your own life!) can help teach these routines while building community
• Structuring an intervention class around the content students will encounter in their core math class 1–2 weeks later
• Mixing kinesthetic learning, explicit instruction, and meaningful practice
• How to use IXL as a planning and differentiation tool rather than parking students in front of a computer
• Using pre-assessments to determine which "stair" each student needs
• Combining small groups, IXL, Math Wars, and engaging whole-group activities based on student needs
• Building foundational fluency through Number Talks, Fun Fact/Fluency Fridays, Throwback Thursdays, and intentional review

If you teach students who have unfinished learning, this conversation is packed with practical ways to support what they need without lowering the expectations for where they're going.

Connect with Juliana

Learn more about Juliana, her intervention resources, and her work with secondary math teachers at CollaboratEd with Juliana.

Pick up a copy of Teaching 6–12 Math Intervention: A Practical Framework to Engage Students Who Struggle and check out the free companion resources for the book.

You can also find Juliana on Instagram at @collaborated.with.juliana.

This podcast is a member of the Teach Better Podcast Network. Better Today. Better Tomorrow. And the Podcasts to Help You Get There.

Connect with Kristen:

• Follow on Instagram @moorethanjustx
• Join the Facebook Community: The Modern Math Teachers Movement

More About the Modern Math Teacher Podcast

Kristen Moore, classroom teacher and instructional coach at Moore Than Just X, empowers modern secondary math teachers to transform the student experience with the strategies and the confidence to implement project-based learning, mastery-based assessment, and student engagement strategies in their classrooms.

Whether you're a math education newbie or a seasoned veteran, you'll find something new and inspiring in every episode. You’re already a listener, why not join the Movement inside ✨The Modern Math Teachers Movement Facebook group. Join the community of math teachers who are not afraid to shake things up and make math class the best part of the day for our students. So tune in each Tuesday, have some fun, and let's elevate our math teaching game together!

*Amazon orders may provide a small affiliate payout at no extra cost to you. These payouts help keep the podcast free for all!

Let’s chat—send me a text!

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 them, and make them their own. It's one of the reasons we both love podcasting: our thinking doesn't have to stop just because the book—or an episode—is finished.

Then Vanessa turns the tables on me as I outed myself as someone who didn’t think she had trauma but most definitely did.

We unpack one of the experiences I've shared throughout this series: my infamous Honors Geometry polyhedron project and the impact that one experience had on my own mathematical identity.

That leads us into a fascinating conversation about what it means to be "honors," why those labels carry so much weight, and why even experienced math teachers can feel anxious about teaching certain courses. (Hello, Honors Algebra 2.)

But we don't stop with what happens inside school.

We also dig into some of the cultural messages our students are receiving right now—from TikTok trends that make crying in math class part of the joke to shirts with messages like "I'm too pretty to do math."

So what the heck are we supposed to do when our students walk into class carrying all of that with them?

Vanessa shares practical ways we can provide the just-in-time Math Therapy our students need and gives us questions we can start asking immediately.

In This Episode
I'm not the best time keeper but you can expect these things to be basically right

• Around 14 minutes, we dig into what it means to be an "honors" student—or teacher—and why those labels can create anxiety of their own.
• Around 18 minutes, we tackle the math stereotypes showing up in social media and pop culture and the messages they're sending our students, particularly girls.
• Around 22 minutes, Vanessa shares what we can do right now in our classrooms to combat those stereotypes and give students just-in-time Math Therapy.
• Around 24 minutes, she gives us questions we can use to start those conversations with students.
• And around 28 minutes, Vanessa shares her advice for teachers wondering, Okay, I've read the book. I've listened to the series. Now what do I actually DO?

My Biggest Takeaway

Math Therapy isn't something we "do" to students.

It's an ongoing conversation.

It's something students and teachers create together—and it will look different in every classroom because our students, experiences, and teaching styles are different.

The goal isn't to perfectly implement someone else's version of Math Therapy.

It's to notice the messages students are receiving about who gets to be good at math and intentionally create experiences that help them write a different story.

Keep the Conversation Going
After you listen, I'd love to know:

What message about math do you think your students most need help unlearning this year?

Come share your biggest takeaway from my conversation with Vanessa inside The Modern Math Teacher community.

Grab Math Therapy
If this is your first episode in our summer book study, you can absolutely go back and listen to the entire series—and grab your own copy of the book to read along:

📖 Physical Book: https://amzn.to/42VJRl6
🎧 Audiobook: https://amzn.to/49nV55D

And remember: you don't need to implement everything.

✨LEAVE A REVIEW FOR VANESSA IF YOU HAVE GRABBED YOUR BOOK ALREADY!✨

Take what resonates. Make it yours. Start somewhere.

Because math is Moore than just solving for X.

Keep it real.

Connect with Vanessa

Catch Vanessa’s weekly podcast: Math Therapy on your favorite podcast player and connect with her on instagram @themathguru. Looking to connect with other teachers doing math therapy? Join her facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1FPDrA2KeN/

This podcast is a member of the Teach Better Podcast Network. Better Today. Better Tomorrow. And the Podcasts to Help You Get There.

Connect with Kristen:

• Follow on Instagram @moorethanjustx
• Join the Facebook Community: The Modern Math Teachers Movement

More About the Modern Math Teacher Podcast

Kristen Moore, classroom teacher and instructional coach at Moore Than Just X, empowers modern secondary math teachers to transform the student experience with the strategies and the confidence to implement project-based learning, mastery-based assessment, and student engagement strategies in their classrooms.

Whether you're a math education newbie or a seasoned veteran, you'll find something new and inspiring in every episode. You’re already a listener, why not join the Movement inside ✨The Modern Math Teachers Movement Facebook group. Join the community of math teachers who are not afraid to shake things up and make math class the best part of the day for our students. So tune in each Tuesday, have some fun, and let's elevate our math teaching game together!

*Amazon orders may provide a small affiliate payout at no extra cost to you. These payouts help keep the podcast free for all!

Let’s chat—send me a text!

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 journey we'll continue taking alongside them.

In This Episode

✨ Why professional learning begins with believing something can improve

✨ Teaching as a journey rather than a destination

✨ Why every teacher's version of Math Therapy should be unique

✨ How my Geometry Proficiency Lab has evolved because of this book

✨ Teaching authentically and in alignment with your beliefs

✨ The connection between Math Therapy and Mel Robbins' "Let Them" philosophy

✨ Why one intentional change can have a lasting impact

Key Takeaway

You don't have to implement every idea.

You don't have to transform your classroom overnight.

Choose one meaningful change.

Implement it intentionally.

Then continue growing alongside your students.

This Week's Reflection

Ask yourself:

• What's one idea from this series you're excited to try?
• How has your thinking changed during this book study?
• What mathematical identity do you hope your students develop this year?
• What would becoming a more intentional teacher look like for you?

Community Challenge

Join us inside the Facebook group and share:

✨ The one strategy you're taking into your classroom this year.

✨ One way you'll intentionally help students build a healthier relationship with mathematics.

Let's celebrate the beginning of a new school year together.

Read Along With Us

📖 Physical Book:https://amzn.to/42VJRl6

🎧 Audiobook:https://amzn.to/49nV55D

Even though we've reached the end of the book study, it's never too late to read Math Therapy and reflect on how these ideas can strengthen your own classroom.

Next Week's Special Episode

I'm thrilled to welcome Vanessa Vakharia to the podcast! We'll reflect on the book together, discuss the ideas that challenged me the most, answer listener questions, and explore how teachers can continue building classrooms where students develop healthier relationships with mathematics.

I can't wait for you to hear our conversation.

Until then, remember that math is Moore than just solving for X.

This podcast is a member of the Teach Better Podcast Network. Better Today. Better Tomorrow. And the Podcasts to Help You Get There.

Connect with Kristen:

• Follow on Instagram @moorethanjustx
• Join the Facebook Community: The Modern Math Teachers Movement

More About the Modern Math Teacher Podcast

Kristen Moore, classroom teacher and instructional coach at Moore Than Just X, empowers modern secondary math teachers to transform the student experience with the strategies and the confidence to implement project-based learning, mastery-based assessment, and student engagement strategies in their classrooms.

Whether you're a math education newbie or a seasoned veteran, you'll find something new and inspiring in every episode. You’re already a listener, why not join the Movement inside ✨The Modern Math Teachers Movement Facebook group. Join the community of math teachers who are not afraid to shake things up and make math class the best part of the day for our students. So tune in each Tuesday, have some fun, and let's elevate our math teaching game together!

*Amazon orders may provide a small affiliate payout at no extra cost to you. These payouts help keep the podcast free for all!