Episodes
Sept. 9, 2025
#133 Active Teaching Strategies That Actually Spark Student Discussion
Are you looking for active Teaching Strategies That Actually Spark Student Discussion in math class? Tired of asking a question and hearing crickets? In this episode, Kristen shares active teaching strategies that actually get students talking. Inside you'll learn: ✅ Why passive instruction is kill…
Sept. 2, 2025
#132 Student-Centered Teaching in Math Class
Let's dive into Student-Centered Teaching: How to Build Autonomy Without Losing Control in your Math Class! Ready to shift your math class from teacher-led to student-driven? In this episode, we’re breaking down exactly what student-centered teaching looks like—and how to create autonomy without ch…
Aug. 28, 2025
#131 Real-World Math Projects Your Students Will Actually Care About
Not all real-world math is created equal. In this episode, I’m breaking down what makes a math project actually relevant to your students—and how to make math feel meaningful without needing a full curriculum rewrite. You’ll learn what students really care about, how to design your first spark of e…
Aug. 26, 2025
#130- 3 Must-Have Classroom Routines That Actually Work in Secondary Math
Ready to stop managing behavior and start supporting student thinking? In this episode, we’re breaking down the three essential classroom routines every secondary math teacher needs—especially if you're trying to run a student-centered classroom without constant chaos. You’ll learn how to start cla…
Aug. 21, 2025
#129- Student Engagement Strategies That Actually Work in Math Class
What does student engagement really look like in a math classroom? Spoiler: it’s not quiet rows, silent worksheets, or step-by-step compliance. In this episode, I’m sharing the story of my Holt student teaching placement—the moment I realized math class could be so much more—and walking through rea…
Aug. 19, 2025
#128 My First Real-World Math Project Was a Mess—What I’d Do Differently Now (with AI Support)
Ever launch a project you were sure would be a hit… only for it to totally flop? In this episode, I’m sharing the behind-the-scenes of my first real-world math project—a polished, professionally-designed activity that completely fell apart in the classroom. But that failure? It led to one of my mos…
Aug. 14, 2025
#127 The First 5 Minutes Can Transform Student Engagement in Your Math Class
What if the most powerful way to shift your math class didn’t take a new curriculum—just the first 5 minutes? In this episode, we’re exploring how to kick off your class period with warm-ups that build relevance, confidence, ...
Aug. 12, 2025
#126 What Makes Math Feel Relevant? Isn’t it just Practical Examples of Real World Math?
We all want our students to feel like math matters—but what does “relevant” even mean in the classroom? Is it just practical math examples? Spoiler: It’s not just about adding real-world word math problems to a worksheet or d...
Aug. 7, 2025
#125 Start Small, Finish Strong: The Power of a Mini Real World Math Project
Big shifts don’t require big overhauls. If you’ve been craving a way to make math more meaningful without throwing out your whole curriculum, this episode is for you. ✅ Whether you joined the Bootcamp or not, this is your rem...
Aug. 5, 2025
#124 You’re Not Boring, But Your Math Curriculum Might Be
If you’ve ever walked out of your math classroom thinking, “Why don’t they care? What am I doing wrong?”—this episode is for you. Spoiler alert: You’re not the problem. The system is. In this episode, we’re digging into: ✅ Wh...
July 31, 2025
#123 – 3 Quick Wins You’ll Walk Away With at Bootcamp
Wondering if the Back to School Bootcamp is for you? You don’t need a 180-day curriculum plan. You just need 3 small wins to start the year strong. In this episode, I walk you through what you’ll ACTUALLY build inside the Create a Kickass Math Class Bootcamp: ✅ Day 1: One first-week spark that sets…
July 29, 2025
#122: Get Ready for the Back To School Bootcamp —Creating a KickAss Math Class
Build Your Dream Math Class in Just 3 Days (Without the Overwhelm) Want a math class that feels more real, relevant, and engaging—but not sure where to start? The (FREE) Create a Kickass Math Class Bootcamp is your answer. If you’re ready to build a math class that feels real, relevant, and rigorou…
July 24, 2025
#121: How to Get Started As a Modern Math Teacher (Even If You’re Not “Techy”)
Worried you’re not “techy” enough to transform your teaching with real-world, project-based math? You’re not alone—and the good news is: you don’t need to be. You don’t need to be a tech expert to run engaging, real-world mat...
July 22, 2025
#120: Still Planning Lessons Alone? Let’s Fix That
Trying to make your math class more engaging, more real, and more relevant—completely alone? Are you still lesson planning alone at your kitchen table? You’re not lazy. You’re not doing it wrong. You’re just trying to do too much without a support system. You were never meant to do this work in iso…
July 17, 2025
#119 BTS— What’s Inside the Modern Math Teacher Membership
If you're tired of buying resources that don't solve your classroom struggles, this episode is for you. I’m giving you a full behind-the-scenes tour of the Modern Math Teacher Membership—and sharing you why it’s so much more than just a library of lessons. 💡 Inside This Episode: ✅ Why most resource…
July 15, 2025
#118: The Truth About Teaching Real-World Math
There are so many myths out there about teaching real-world math: 👉 It’s too hard to plan 👉 Students can’t handle it 👉 You have to sacrifice rigor None of it is true. In this episode, I’m breaking down the real story—and show...
July 10, 2025
#117 Why Your Students Deserve This Kind of Math Class
Let’s put aside standards and curriculum for a moment. Let’s talk about the actual humans in your classroom. Because chances are, you’ve felt it too: “They deserve more than just what the textbook gives them.” ✅ They deserve to see math as meaningful. ✅ They deserve to feel confident and curious — …
July 8, 2025
#116 Done-For-You Projects Are Not Enough
We’ve all been there: 📥 You download a promising project. 📄 The instructions look solid. ✅ The math checks out. But once it hits your classroom? Something’s missing. The truth is: done-for-you isn’t the same as done-right. In...
July 3, 2025
#115: The 3 Biggest Mistakes Teachers Make When Trying to Teach Real-World Math
You’ve seen all the cool Pinterest projects and Instagram reels that make real-world math look effortless. But when you try it in your classroom? 🙄 The kids don’t care. 🌀 The lesson falls flat. 😤 Or worse—it turns into total ...
July 1, 2025
#114 The 5-Stage Path to a Kickass Math Class
What if transforming your math classroom didn’t require a complete overhaul—just a roadmap? In today’s episode, I’m walking you through the 5-stage success path at the heart of the Modern Math Teacher Membership. Whether you're stuck in survival mode or starting to explore project-based learning an…
June 26, 2025
#113 From Survival to Success: A Summer Reset Plan
What if summer wasn’t just a break… but a bold reset? In this episode of The Modern Math Teacher Podcast , we’re ditching the survival mindset and using summer as a launchpad for a lighter, more aligned school year. Whether y...
June 24, 2025
#112 – You’re Not the Only One Doing This Alone
Feel like you’re the only one in your school trying to make math meaningful? In this episode, I’m getting real about what it’s like to teach differently—and the loneliness that can come with it. From being the only math teacher at a brand-new charter school to building a classroom from scratch, I’v…
June 19, 2025
#111 – The Lesson Design Hack That Saves Time and Increases Engagement
Ever feel like lesson planning takes forever—and still falls flat with students? In this episode, I’m sharing the Reality Check, my go-to lesson design framework that helps you quickly build lessons that are real, relevant, and rigorous. Whether you’re designing a warm-up, full lesson, or project m…
June 17, 2025
#110: The #1 Shift That Changes Everything (and It’s Not More Work)
What if your classroom didn’t need more resources—but a better rhythm? In this episode, I’m sharing the one shift that changed everything for me as a math teacher: designing with rhythm. From launching units with anchor activities to structuring daily warm-ups and routines, I’ll show you how simple…