Episodes

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 this episode, I’m breaking down the “Done-for-You Trap” — why great resources still fall flat without the systems, structure, and support to implement them successfully. 🎧 We’ll cover: Why the best projects still need scaffolds and systems What teachers really need to mak...

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 chaos. In this episode, I’m sharing the three most common mistakes teachers make when trying to implement real-world math—and exactly how to fix them. ✅ You’ll learn: Why surface-level “fun” isn’t the same as real engagement How to make your math tasks actually feel releva...

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 and real-world applications, this episode will help you see exactly where you are—and what to focus on next. 🔍 We’ll cover: The 5 R’s that make up the success pathHow to identify which stage you’re in...

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 you’re sipping coffee on the porch or finally clearing out your inbox, this is your invitation to pause—and reimagine. We’ll walk through: 🧠 How to rethink summer as a time for reinvention, not just recovery 🛠 Easy, bite-sized rituals to reset your classroom systems and less...

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’ve lived the “lone wolf” life. And if you’re there right now, this one’s for you. ✅ In this episode, we’ll talk about: Why teaching differently can feel isolatingMy “lone wolf” story from the charter...

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 milestone, this hack saves time and boosts student buy-in. ✅ In this episode, you’ll learn: How I created the Reality Check after a project flop with MazerTagWhat it actually means to make math real,...

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 systems lead to better engagement, deeper understanding, and more peace—for you and your students. ✅ In this episode, we’ll explore: Why teaching is like choreography—and how rhythm creates calmHow...

Have you been listening to these episodes thinking, “Yes! This is the kind of math class I want—but I can’t do it alone”? Then this episode is for you. Today I’m giving you an inside look at the Modern Math Teacher Membership—what it is, who it’s for, and how you can get in early as a founding member. I’ll also share the story that inspired it all—the moment everything clicked in my own classroom, when my students took ownership of a project and finally believed that math mattered. In this epis...

You want to do PBL, but every time you think about it… you panic. What if it flops? What if it’s chaos? Been there. Done that. In this episode, I’m sharing how I went from panicked to confidently using project-based learning in my classroom—without the mess. Inside this episode: ✔ Why PBL feels chaotic (and why it doesn’t have to be) ✔ The biggest mistake teachers make when starting project-based learning ✔ How project milestones create structure and boost learning 💡 Try This: Sketch out your...

Ever feel like your class is full of students… but no one is really there with you? The crickets. The side conversations. The phone scrolling. If that sounds familiar, you’re not failing—you’re ready. Inside this episode: ✔ 3 red flags that your current teaching approach isn’t working (and what they really mean) ✔ The mindset shift that saved my sanity (and my students’ engagement) ✔ Why it’s not about ditching standards—it’s about connecting them to your kids 💡 Try This: Reflect on the last ...

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! If you’re tired of hearing your students ask, “When are we ever gonna use this?”—this episode is for you. Today I’m breaking down the 3 R’s that have reshaped my math class: Real, Relevant, and Rigorous. And no, these aren’t just buzzwords. Inside this episode: ✔ What it really means to design math that’s real, relevant, and rigorous ✔ A behind-the-scenes look at my Save for Success Project ✔ The litmus ...

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! Is your math class unforgettable—for the right reasons? In this episode, I’m sharing a powerful story from a cross-curricular Rocket Project that completely shifted how I thought about engagement. It reminded me that students don’t remember worksheets. They remember moments. Inside this episode: ✔ How I turned a standard quadratics unit into a project students couldn’t stop talking about ✔ Why cross-curricular...

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! 🍗🥤 What do chicken nuggets, pop, and student-created videos have in common? They're all part of today’s conversation on how instructional videos can transform engagement in your math class. I’m joined by Clement Townsend, founder of Video Pro Learning, to dive into best practices for educational video projects, why video isn’t just for ELA anymore, and how Google Vids + simple tools can make blended learning approachable—...

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! 😮‍💨 Feeling overwhelmed by finals prep? Whether you’re planning a final exam review for Algebra 1, Geometry, or Algebra 2, today’s episode is here to save your sanity—and your time. I’m sharing creative, low-prep ideas to get your students engaged and reviewing without the usual stress-fest. Plus, you’ll hear how to use AI + ready-made warm-ups to build review stations and choice boards in a snap. In this episode, you’ll ...

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! ☀️Summer is almost here—and so is my Summer Series Poolside PD designed to make your teacher professional development feel more like iced coffee on the porch than a boring meeting. 😎 In this quick episode, I’m giving you a sneak peek at what’s coming AND asking for your input to help shape the next few months of bite-sized, bingeable episodes. In this episode, you’ll hear: ✅ Why I created the Summer Series for busy ...

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! 🤔 How can you help students leave your class feeling confident—even if they struggled all year? In this episode, we’re focusing less on the math and more on the mindset that sticks with students long after the final exam. We’ll explore simple, meaningful ways to build a growth mindset and foster a strong mathematics mindset—so your students walk away believing they can succeed in math. In this episode, you’ll learn: &nbsp...

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! ✏️ Looking for free math activities for high school that are actually fun and meaningful? You’re in the right place. In this episode, I’m sharing my top 3 FREE, low-prep, high-impact math activities to keep your students learning (and moving) through the end of the year. These aren’t just fluff—they’re rigorous, hands-on, and tied directly to key standards for Algebra 1 and Algebra 2. In this episode, you’ll get: ✅ ...

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! What better way to celebrate 100 episodes than by keeping it 100% real? In this milestone episode, I’m looking back on 15 real, raw, and totally relatable teaching moments from the past 15 years of my math classroom. From launching tennis balls across fields (oops) to learning the hard way why some things can’t be gray (looking at you, cell phones), I’m sharing the funny fails, the powerful lessons, and the mindset shifts...

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! 🤔 What are the best AI tools for teaching math? If you’ve been asking this, I have a game-changing classroom story for you! In this episode, I’m sharing my new favorite AI tool—Snorkl—and how it completely transformed my lesson on graphing trigonometric functions. I’ll take you behind the scenes of an unforgettable class period where students: ✔ Got instant feedback that deepened their understanding ✔ Naturall...

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! 🥳 It’s Teacher Appreciation Week—and this episode is all about YOU. Whether you’re coasting into summer or barely hanging on (no shame), I want to say THANK YOU for the work you do every single day. In this special episode, we’re keeping things light, fun, and helpful with: ✔ Heartfelt encouragement (because you deserve it) ✔ Fun end-of-year teacher superlatives (grab your coffee and laugh along) ✔ Easy,...

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! Teaching doesn’t have to be exhausting. What if small shifts could give you back your time, reduce burnout, and make learning more engaging—without adding extra stress? In this episode, I’m joined by Rae Hughart, educator, speaker, and founder of Teachers Deserve It. Rae is passionate about helping teachers set boundaries, reclaim their time, and make learning meaningful for students in a way that’s practical and sustainable...

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! 🎧 What if you could take math outside and still hit your learning goals? Say goodbye to packets and hello to sunshine ☀️—because spring is the perfect time to take your math lessons outdoors without sacrificing rigor. In this episode, I’m sharing two of my favorite math projects that work perfectly outside and still cover those key standards. Whether you’re wrapping up a unit or just trying to harness that end-of-year energy...

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! 🎧 What if your next math review or intro lesson didn’t feel like a worksheet… but like a real, creative challenge your students couldn’t wait to do? If spring fever has hit your classroom, it’s time to switch gears and bring in hands-on math activities that are engaging, meaningful, and standards-aligned. In this episode, I’m sharing three of my favorite hands-on math projects that work especially well this time of year. Th...

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! 🎧 What if AI could save you hours of planning each week? AI can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be! In this episode, I’m sharing three easy, no-stress ways to start using AI in your math classroom right now. We’ll explore how to: ✨ Use AI to simplify lesson planning and create scaffolded materials ✨ Boost student support and error analysis using Chat AI tools like Mathway ✨ Instantly generate real-world math proble...