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Making Math Moments That Matter

Helping you transform your K-12 math lesson plans by building confidence in effective teaching practices, guiding you to transform your math curriculum, and inspiring classroom strategies to engage all students.

As a teacher are you wondering how to create K-12 math lesson plans where students don’t want to stop exploring your math curriculum when the bell rings?

As a mathematics coordinator or leader are you wondering how to support teachers when implementing engaging math lessons that fuel student sense making?

Over the last 19 years, Kyle and Jon, the founders of MakeMathMoments.com have been engaging students, teachers, and district program leaders with effective mathematics pedagogy, accessible resources, and inspiring learning environments in K-12 math classrooms.

Now, in this podcast they coach you – K-12 classroom teachers and district leaders of mathematics through a 6 step plan that cultivates and fosters your mathematics program like a strong, healthy and balanced tree.

If you master the 6 parts of an effective mathematics program, the impact you have on students or teachers will grow and reach far and wide.

Every week, you’ll hear insight from practicing classroom teachers and leaders in math education so you’ll get the feedback, guidance, and fresh ideas you need to stop feeling overwhelmed, gain back your confidence, and inspire the students and fellow teachers you serve to enjoy the beauty of mathematics once again.

Start making math moments today by listening to Episode #139: Making Math Moments From Day 1 to 180

Copyright: © 2024 Making Math Moments That Matter

Latest Episodes:

Leading Without Authority: How Coaches Can Activate Math Leadership in Schools Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

We know school administrators play a crucial role in driving long-term math improvement—but what happens when you're a coach or teacher leader trying to create change without formal authority?

In this episode, we dive into the practical side of leading from the middle. If you're trying to build a team, clarify roles, and move math goals forward—this conversation is for you. You’ll hear actionable ideas for engaging principals in the work, building shared ownership, and creating momentum even when it feels like the responsibility falls on your shoulders.

Because here's the truth: sustainable change doesn’t happen alone—and if you're waiting for someone else to set up the team, it might never happen.

Key Takeaways:

How to lead from the middle and engage administrators without formal authority
Why shared ownership is critical for sustainable school-level change
Practical strategies to build teams, clarify roles, and establish shared responsibility
What coaches can do today to influence leadership alignment around math goals
Real talk about what happens when you wait for someone else to lead the work

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/

Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com

Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units

Show Notes Page

Love the show? Text us your big takeaway!

Are you wondering how to create K-12 math lesson plans that leave students so engaged they don’t want to stop exploring your math curriculum when the bell rings? In their podcast, Kyle Pearce and Jon Orr—founders of MakeMathMoments.com—share over 19 years of experience inspiring K-12 math students, teachers, and district leaders with effective math activities, engaging resources, and innovative math leadership strategies. Through a 6-step framework, they guide K-12 classroom teachers and district math coordinators on building a strong, balanced math program that grows student and teacher impact. Each week, gain fresh ideas, feedback, and practical strategies to feel more confident and motivate students to see the beauty in math. Start making math moments today by listening to Episode #139: "Making Math Moments From Day 1 to 180.

Boost Math Participation & Discourse with These Simple Math Routines Jun 30, 2025

Show notes

Fresh from the 2025 NCTE-NCTM conference in Chicago, our team reflects on one powerful math instructional routine that stood out—an approach that sparked ideas for both classroom practice and professional learning design. In this episode, we highlight a key move from Annie Forest’s session, rooted in the cooperative learning strategies of Spencer Kagan, that helped create a clear balance between doing the math and taking away something concrete to implement tomorrow.

You’ll hear how this routine can help get more students engaged in meaningful math conversations—and how our team is now planning to use it in future PD sessions to foster better participation, collaboration, and implementation.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

A practical routine that increases equitable participation in math classrooms
How to balance student engagement with meaningful math thinking
Ideas for applying this protocol in your own PD planning and facilitation
Why connecting action with reflection boosts implementation
How professional learning can model the classroom practices we want to see

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/

Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com

Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units

Show Notes Page

Love the show? Text us your big takeaway!

Are you wondering how to create K-12 math lesson plans that leave students so engaged they don’t want to stop exploring your math curriculum when the bell rings? In their podcast, Kyle Pearce and Jon Orr—founders of MakeMathMoments.com—share over 19 years of experience inspiring K-12 math students, teachers, and district leaders with effective math activities, engaging resources, and innovative math leadership strategies. Through a 6-step framework, they guide K-12 classroom teachers and district math coordinators on building a strong, balanced math program that grows student and teacher impact. Each week, gain fresh ideas, feedback, and practical strategies to feel more confident and motivate students to see the beauty in math. Start making math moments today by listening to Episode #139: "Making Math Moments From Day 1 to 180.

From Passive to Powerful: Transforming the Principal's Role in Math Leadership Jun 26, 2025

Show notes

We know principals are busy—constantly managing urgent issues and putting out fires. But we also know this: school-level change is the most powerful lever we have for improving student learning in math. So the real question is: are we setting school leaders up for success?

In this episode, we help you reflect on your current systems and support structures using a simple leadership audit:

How are we positioning principals to take ownership of instructional leadership in math?
Are they aligned to the school’s math goals?
What’s getting in the way—and how can we fix it?

You’ll hear about common barriers schools face and gain actionable ideas from our work across North America to overcome them. If we want meaningful math improvement, engaging principals is not optional—it’s essential.

Key Takeaways:

Why principals are essential for leading instructional change in math
How to identify and remove barriers that limit their involvement
What it looks like when district and school leadership are aligned on math goals
Questions to help you audit your current leadership structures
Strategies to build principal ownership and capacity in math instruction

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/

Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com

Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units

Show Notes Page

Love the show? Text us your big takeaway!

Are you wondering how to create K-12 math lesson plans that leave students so engaged they don’t want to stop exploring your math curriculum when the bell rings? In their podcast, Kyle Pearce and Jon Orr—founders of MakeMathMoments.com—share over 19 years of experience inspiring K-12 math students, teachers, and district leaders with effective math activities, engaging resources, and innovative math leadership strategies. Through a 6-step framework, they guide K-12 classroom teachers and district math coordinators on building a strong, balanced math program that grows student and teacher impact. Each week, gain fresh ideas, feedback, and practical strategies to feel more confident and motivate students to see the beauty in math. Start making math moments today by listening to Episode #139: "Making Math Moments From Day 1 to 180.

Small Summer Shifts That Set You Up for a Better Math Focused School Year Jun 23, 2025

Show notes

The end of the school year can feel like a whirlwind—agitated students, hot classrooms, and a growing list of to-dos. But before rushing into summer, we need to pause, reflect, and make space for restoration and inspiration.

In this episode, we help you reframe the homestretch—not as something to survive, but as a chance to celebrate growth, restore your energy, and set intentions for the summer and beyond. Whether you're crawling to the finish line or closing out with joy, this is your reminder to celebrate what went well, breathe, and give yourself permission to reset.

You’ll walk away with practical ideas to maintain perspective now, create space to recharge this summer, and return in the fall ready to lead your math lessons with purpose.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

Simple strategies to stay positive and focused in the final weeks of school
How to shift your mindset from burnout to balance as summer begins
A plan for using the summer to restore energy and spark inspiration
Why celebration and reflection are essential parts of a healthy leadership cycle
How to prepare mentally and emotionally for a strong start in the fall

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/

Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com

Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units

Show Notes Page

Love the show? Text us your big takeaway!

Are you wondering how to create K-12 math lesson plans that leave students so engaged they don’t want to stop exploring your math curriculum when the bell rings? In their podcast, Kyle Pearce and Jon Orr—founders of MakeMathMoments.com—share over 19 years of experience inspiring K-12 math students, teachers, and district leaders with effective math activities, engaging resources, and innovative math leadership strategies. Through a 6-step framework, they guide K-12 classroom teachers and district math coordinators on building a strong, balanced math program that grows student and teacher impact. Each week, gain fresh ideas, feedback, and practical strategies to feel more confident and motivate students to see the beauty in math. Start making math moments today by listening to Episode #139: "Making Math Moments From Day 1 to 180.

Why Principals Must Lead School-Level Change In Mathematics Jun 19, 2025

Show notes

We know principals are busy—constantly managing urgent issues and putting out fires. But we also know this: school-level change is the most powerful lever we have for improving student learning in math. So the real question is: are we setting school leaders up for math success?

In this episode, we help schools and districts reflect on their current systems and support structures using a simple leadership audit:

How are we positioning principals to take ownership of instructional leadership in math?
Are they aligned to the school’s math goals?
What’s getting in the way—and how can we fix it?

You’ll hear about common barriers schools face and gain actionable ideas from our work in math across North America to overcome them. If we want meaningful math improvement, engaging principals is not optional—it’s essential.

Key Takeaways:

Why principals are essential for leading instructional change in math
How to identify and remove barriers that limit principal involvement
What it looks like when district and school leadership are aligned on math goals
Questions to help you audit your current leadership structures for math
Strategies to build principal ownership and capacity in math instruction

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/

Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com

Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units

Show Notes Page

Love the show? Text us your big takeaway!

Are you wondering how to create K-12 math lesson plans that leave students so engaged they don’t want to stop exploring your math curriculum when the bell rings? In their podcast, Kyle Pearce and Jon Orr—founders of MakeMathMoments.com—share over 19 years of experience inspiring K-12 math students, teachers, and district leaders with effective math activities, engaging resources, and innovative math leadership strategies. Through a 6-step framework, they guide K-12 classroom teachers and district math coordinators on building a strong, balanced math program that grows student and teacher impact. Each week, gain fresh ideas, feedback, and practical strategies to feel more confident and motivate students to see the beauty in math. Start making math moments today by listening to Episode #139: "Making Math Moments From Day 1 to 180.

3 Ways to Set Students Up for Summer Math Success | Your Summer Math Program Jun 16, 2025

Show notes

Summer learning loss in math is real—and it doesn’t affect all students equally. In this episode, we explore how the summer slide disproportionately impacts historically marginalized students and what teachers can do now to change that trajectory for mathematics. From family partnerships to incentive programs and low-effort prep ideas, we’ll walk you through practical ways to support continued learning for math over the summer months. Whether you're a classroom teacher or a school leader, this episode will leave you with actionable takeaways that are simple to implement—and powerful in impact.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

Understand which students are most at risk of math summer learning loss—and why.
Learn how to involve families in meaningful and manageable summer math learning efforts.
Explore low-prep math strategies teachers can implement before school ends to support retention.
Discover ideas for incentivizing summer math engagement without overwhelming families or staff.
Reflect on how equity can guide our summer math learning plans to better support all students.

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/

Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com

Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units

Show Notes Page

Love the show? Text us your big takeaway!

Are you wondering how to create K-12 math lesson plans that leave students so engaged they don’t want to stop exploring your math curriculum when the bell rings? In their podcast, Kyle Pearce and Jon Orr—founders of MakeMathMoments.com—share over 19 years of experience inspiring K-12 math students, teachers, and district leaders with effective math activities, engaging resources, and innovative math leadership strategies. Through a 6-step framework, they guide K-12 classroom teachers and district math coordinators on building a strong, balanced math program that grows student and teacher impact. Each week, gain fresh ideas, feedback, and practical strategies to feel more confident and motivate students to see the beauty in math. Start making math moments today by listening to Episode #139: "Making Math Moments From Day 1 to 180.

How To Unpack Math Standards with Teachers: The Strategy Every Math Team Needs Jun 12, 2025

Show notes

Math curriculums and standards are more ambitious than ever—often asking teachers to cover more than a year's worth of learning in less than 10 months. Many districts have wisely taken the first step by identifying priority math standards. But the real magic happens in what comes next: unpacking those standards.

In this episode, we dive into what it really means to unpack a math standard. We’ll model the process using an example focused on exponents and powers to make this abstract concept concrete. Whether you're a classroom teacher, coach, or system leader, you’ll leave with actionable strategies to support your team in turning ambitious standards into focused, achievable learning goals.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

Why ambitious math standards often overwhelm both teachers and students
The importance of identifying priority or power math standards
What “unpacking a math standard” actually involves
How unpacking builds clarity and coherence across grade levels
A step-by-step model using exponents to show unpacking a math standard in action
Tips for using collaboration and teacher teams to deepen math curriculum understanding

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/

Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com

Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units

Show Notes Page

Love the show? Text us your big takeaway!

Are you wondering how to create K-12 math lesson plans that leave students so engaged they don’t want to stop exploring your math curriculum when the bell rings? In their podcast, Kyle Pearce and Jon Orr—founders of MakeMathMoments.com—share over 19 years of experience inspiring K-12 math students, teachers, and district leaders with effective math activities, engaging resources, and innovative math leadership strategies. Through a 6-step framework, they guide K-12 classroom teachers and district math coordinators on building a strong, balanced math program that grows student and teacher impact. Each week, gain fresh ideas, feedback, and practical strategies to feel more confident and motivate students to see the beauty in math. Start making math moments today by listening to Episode #139: "Making Math Moments From Day 1 to 180.

Why Your Fact Fluency Fix May Have Failed (So far) & What To Do Next Jun 09, 2025

Show notes

We were told to move away from flashcards, multiplication drills, and timed tests in math class—and for good reason. These practices didn’t support mathematical reasoning and often damaged student confidence and identity. But in our well-intentioned shift, many educators were left asking: What do we do instead?

In this episode, we reflect on what we got right and where we missed the mark in our approach to teaching basic math fact fluency. We unpack what true fact fluency looks like and offer practical, evidence-based strategies that promote understanding, flexibility, and confidence. If you're a teacher looking to use the summer months to rethink your approach and better position your students for success in September, this episode is for you.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

Why traditional methods like timed tests and flashcards in math fell short
What true mathematical fluency entails (and what it doesn’t)
The unintended consequences of removing fact fluency work without replacing it with something better
Research-informed strategies for building fact fluency through reasoning and flexibility
Ideas for summer planning to better support student needs come fall

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/

Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com

Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units

Show Notes Page

Love the show? Text us your big takeaway!

Are you wondering how to create K-12 math lesson plans that leave students so engaged they don’t want to stop exploring your math curriculum when the bell rings? In their podcast, Kyle Pearce and Jon Orr—founders of MakeMathMoments.com—share over 19 years of experience inspiring K-12 math students, teachers, and district leaders with effective math activities, engaging resources, and innovative math leadership strategies. Through a 6-step framework, they guide K-12 classroom teachers and district math coordinators on building a strong, balanced math program that grows student and teacher impact. Each week, gain fresh ideas, feedback, and practical strategies to feel more confident and motivate students to see the beauty in math. Start making math moments today by listening to Episode #139: "Making Math Moments From Day 1 to 180.

Create End of Year Impact | Adopt, Adapt, Abandon For Your Math Program Jun 05, 2025

Show notes

As the school year winds down, it’s time to reflect—not react on your math impact. In this episode, we dive into one of the most important (and often skipped) parts of sustainable change for math programs: reflection and intentional decision-making.

Using the Adopt, Adapt, Abandon protocol, we’ll guide you through how to evaluate what worked, what can be improved, and what truly needs to go in your school or district math program. Plus, we’ll share key insights and cautionary tales from the districts we support across North America.

Our biggest advice? Don’t toss everything out for the next shiny thing. Momentum matters. The flywheel is turning—let’s not start from zero again.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

How to use the Adopt, Adapt, Abandon protocol effectively for math programming.
Why reflecting with evidence is critical before making changes to your math plan.
How to avoid losing momentum by jumping to new initiatives too quickly.
Lessons from other districts: what worked, what didn’t, and what they’re doing next.

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/

Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com

Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units

Show Notes Page

Love the show? Text us your big takeaway!

Are you wondering how to create K-12 math lesson plans that leave students so engaged they don’t want to stop exploring your math curriculum when the bell rings? In their podcast, Kyle Pearce and Jon Orr—founders of MakeMathMoments.com—share over 19 years of experience inspiring K-12 math students, teachers, and district leaders with effective math activities, engaging resources, and innovative math leadership strategies. Through a 6-step framework, they guide K-12 classroom teachers and district math coordinators on building a strong, balanced math program that grows student and teacher impact. Each week, gain fresh ideas, feedback, and practical strategies to feel more confident and motivate students to see the beauty in math. Start making math moments today by listening to Episode #139: "Making Math Moments From Day 1 to 180.

When High Scores Lie: Rethinking How We Assess in Math Class Jun 02, 2025

Show notes

On a recent coaching call, we spoke with a new teacher who was feeling great about a math quiz her students had just aced—until she wasn’t. The quiz focused on using the array model for multiplication, and students were awarded points for drawing the array and getting the right product. But when we looked deeper, something didn’t sit right: Did these scores truly reflect her students’ understanding and grade-level expectations?

In this episode, we unpack what was missing from the math assessment and why simply getting the “right answer” isn't enough. We explore the importance of strategy sophistication, the difference between additive and multiplicative thinking, and how to design math assessments that actually measure mathematical proficiency.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

High scores don’t always mean high levels of understanding in math.
Strategy sophistication matters—especially in assessing multiplication.
Math assessments should reflect not just answers, but the thinking behind them.
Teachers can refine math assessment practices to better capture student growth and proficiency.

Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: https://makemathmoments.com/grow/

Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com

Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units

Show Notes Page

Love the show? Text us your big takeaway!

Are you wondering how to create K-12 math lesson plans that leave students so engaged they don’t want to stop exploring your math curriculum when the bell rings? In their podcast, Kyle Pearce and Jon Orr—founders of MakeMathMoments.com—share over 19 years of experience inspiring K-12 math students, teachers, and district leaders with effective math activities, engaging resources, and innovative math leadership strategies. Through a 6-step framework, they guide K-12 classroom teachers and district math coordinators on building a strong, balanced math program that grows student and teacher impact. Each week, gain fresh ideas, feedback, and practical strategies to feel more confident and motivate students to see the beauty in math. Start making math moments today by listening to Episode #139: "Making Math Moments From Day 1 to 180.

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