179 Why Support Doesn't Lower Rigor in Math Class
Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! Struggle Is Learning. Drowning Is Not. One of the biggest lessons I've learned this year is that not all struggle is productive. As math teachers, we want students to wrestle with ideas, persevere through challenges, and make sense of mathematics. But there's a fine line between productive struggle and overwhelming frustration. In this episode, we're exploring what productive struggle actually looks like, why support an...
Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you!
Struggle Is Learning. Drowning Is Not.
One of the biggest lessons I've learned this year is that not all struggle is productive.
As math teachers, we want students to wrestle with ideas, persevere through challenges, and make sense of mathematics. But there's a fine line between productive struggle and overwhelming frustration.
In this episode, we're exploring what productive struggle actually looks like, why support and rigor aren't opposites, and how to challenge students without leaving them stranded.
Because struggle is learning.
Drowning is not.
💡 In This Episode:
- What productive struggle really means in a math classroom
- Why not all struggle leads to learning
- How my thinking evolved through teaching an inquiry-based curriculum
- Why support structures don't reduce rigor
- The difference between students who are struggling and students who are overwhelmed
- How relationships help us know when to push and when to support
✨ Key Takeaways
✨ Productive struggle is essential for deep learning
✨ Support and rigor work together—not against each other
✨ Good teaching requires knowing when to step in and when to step back
✨ The same task can feel very different to different students
✨ Student confidence and math identity influence how struggle is experienced
📥 FREE GUIDE: Project or Practice?
Want help creating meaningful learning experiences that balance rigor, engagement, and student thinking?
👉 Grab the free guide:
https://moorethanjustx.myflodesk.com/practice
📘 JULY BOOK STUDY: Math Therapy
Next week, we're kicking off our July Math Therapy book study!
We'll be exploring:
- math identity
- confidence
- productive struggle
- math anxiety
- student mindset
- emotional experiences in mathematics
Grab your copy and read along with us:
📖 Physical Book:
https://amzn.to/42VJRl6
🎧 Audiobook:
https://amzn.to/49nV55D
🌊 Poolside PD Reflection
Think about a student who struggled this year.
Did they need more challenge?
Or did they need more support?
And how do you know the difference?
🎧 What's Next
Next week, we begin our Math Therapy summer book study by exploring why so many students believe they're "bad at math"—and what we can do about it.
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!
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