172 Why I Stopped Winging It as a Math Teacher This Year
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 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:
- Why I stopped “winging” lessons even after years of teaching
- What teaching an inquiry-based curriculum taught me
- How my understanding of differentiation changed this year
- Why rigor and support need to exist together
- The math concepts I finally understand more deeply as a teacher
✨ Key Takeaways
✨ Intentional teaching is about designing student experiences—not just delivering content
✨ Differentiation can happen class-to-class, not just student-to-student
✨ Strong math instruction balances rigor with support
✨ Deepening your own conceptual understanding changes how you teach
📥 FREE GUIDE: Project or Practice?
Trying to think more intentionally about when to use projects, performance tasks, or practice in your math classroom?
👉 Grab the free guide:
https://moorethanjustx.myflodesk.com/practice
🎧 What’s Next
Next up, we’re diving into why teaching the same lesson five times never actually works—and what responsive teaching can look like in a real math classroom.
Until next time, keep it real.
Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you!
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!
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