Episodes

Feeling stuck, bored, or burned out with traditional teaching? This episode will help you reclaim your spark with the PBL Rockstar Mindset—a powerful mindset shift that makes project based learning feel possible, empowering, and fun again. The PBL Rockstar Mindset: Reclaim Confidence, Creativity, and Joy in Math Class It’s time to stop playing small and start teaching math in a way that lights you up. This episode shares what it means to have the PBL Rockstar Mindset—and how to bring project bas...

Want to boost engagement during the fall slump or pre-holiday chaos? This episode shares real world math activities and projects that actually grab student interest—including seasonal ideas for fall and winter. This episode dives into real world math applications that connect to seasonal events like football, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the Winter Olympics. 🎯 You’ll learn: ✅ How to bring relevance into your math class during fall + winter ✅ Math project ideas for Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algeb...

Want to try mastery based grading but stuck with a traditional grading scale? In this episode, Kristen breaks down how to bring mastery into your classroom without overhauling your entire system. You’ll learn: ✅ What mastery really means (hint: it’s not perfection) ✅ How to use a 4-point rubric—even in a 100-point gradebook ✅ How to implement mastery checks and retakes without chaos ✅ Realistic, sustainable grading practices for secondary math teachers 🎧 Perfect for teachers ready to shift from...

Ready to reclaim your time and sanity this grading season? In this episode, Kristen shares her top AI tools for math teachers—including the ones she uses to write progress report comments, create rubrics, and plan faster. You’ll learn: ✅ Which AI education tools are worth your time ✅ How to use an AI lesson plan generator the right way ✅ Tools for feedback, differentiation, and progress reports ✅ When to trust AI—and when to take back control 🎧 Whether you’re AI-curious or already experimenting...

AI is already here—are your students using it responsibly? In this episode, Kristen breaks down how to write a simple but effective AI classroom policy that works in a secondary math setting. You’ll learn: ✅ What every policy should include (even if your school doesn’t have one) ✅ How to teach AI literacy without going full-on computer science ✅ Practical examples of using AI tools with students, not against them ✅ A framework for setting boundaries around AI use in your class 🎧 Don’t wait for ...

Want to bring more relevance into your math class without reinventing the wheel? This episode breaks down project-based learning lesson plan ideas you can use right now—aligned to standards and built for real-world engagement. You’ll learn: ✅ What PBL really looks like in a math class ✅ Examples of PBL lessons for linear, quadratic, exponential, and logarithmic functions ✅ How to scaffold projects for student success ✅ Easy strategies for grading and reflection 🎧 Whether you’re brand new to PBL...

Listen in as we reveal the secret to using Real-World Math Applications to Make Core Content Feel Relevant Again. Let’s face it—students want to know when they’ll actually use the math they’re learning. In this episode, Kristen shares how to make your lessons more meaningful with real world math applications—even if you’re stuck with a strict pacing guide. Inside you'll learn: ✅ Why math often feels disconnected—and how to fix it ✅ Real-world examples for algebra, exponential functions, and sys...

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 killing engagement ✅ 3 go-to talk strategies you can use tomorrow ✅ Cooperative teaching strategies that build confidence and collaboration ✅ What NOT to do if you want students ...

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 chaos. You’ll learn: ✅ What student-centered really means in a math class ✅ 3 small shifts to get started (no overhaul required) ✅ How structure and autonomy can coexist ✅ Why ...

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 engagement, and how to use AI tools to help personalize your next project in seconds. ✅ In this episode: Why some real-world math projects fall flatWhat makes students buy into a math task (h...

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 class with purpose, build student talk into your everyday structure, and support group work with clarity and confidence. We’re also talking about how AI tools can help you build and maintain the...

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 real engagement strategies you can use right now. You’ll also hear how AI can help you ditch boring lessons without doubling your workload. ✅ In this episode: Why boring math isn’t your fault—an...

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 most powerful, student-centered projects yet: Change My Mind. You’ll hear what went wrong, how I rebuilt from it, and how AI tools have made it 10x easier to plan projects that actually land—wit...

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, and classroom culture. You’ll learn how to use thinking routines and real-world tasks to engage students before the lesson even begins—and how to structure those warm-ups to support meaningful math talk. ✅ In this episode: Why traditional warm-ups miss the mark—and what to...

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 doing a budget project once a year. In this episode, we’re breaking down what relevance really looks like, why it’s critical to student engagement, and how to start weaving it into your math class from Day 1. ✅ In this episode: Why “relevance” is more than just career connec...

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 reminder that bite-sized, student-centered changes—like a mini project—can create real momentum. ✅ You’ll hear exactly how small actions this week are already paying off for teachers and how you can take your own next step. ✅ And if you're ready for the tools, support, and conf...

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: ✅ Why even the best teachers struggle to engage students with scripted, one-size-fits-all math curriculum ✅ What real student engagement actually looks like (hint: it’s not loud or flashy) ✅ How to spark meaningful change in your math class—without a full overhaul or replacing y...

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 the tone ✅ Day 2: An anchor task that sparks real thinking ✅ Day 3: A simple year-at-a-glance roadmap In this episode, I walk you through: ✔️ What you’ll build on each of th...

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 rigorous — but don’t know where to start — this 3-day Bootcamp is your on-ramp. In this episode, I break down: ✅ What we’re building during the 3-day bootcamp ✅ Why this is the perfect starting...

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 math lessons. In this episode, I’ll share: ✔️ Why low-tech strategies still work ✔️ How to build confidence without jumping into complicated tools ✔️ Examples from inside the membership that don’t require tech ✔️ How to get the support you need without the overwhelm 🎯 Join th...

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 isolation. In today’s episode, we explore: ✔️ Why planning solo creates decision fatigue ✔️ How collaboration changes your confidence + clarity ✔️ What makes our membership PLCs...

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 memberships still leave teachers overwhelmed ✅ What the Kickass Math Class Success Path actually looks like ✅ How plug-and-play projects + planning tools work together...

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 showing you how real-world, relevant, and rigorous math is totally doable with the right tools and support. 🎙 In this episode, I’m breaking down: ✅ Why planning doesn’t have to be overwhelming ✅ Why your students can handle real-world math ✅ Why real-world lessons actually boo...

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 — not just compliant. ✅ They deserve your best, even when the system doesn’t make it easy. 🎧 In this episode of The Modern Math Teacher Podcast, we’re exploring: What students actually wa...