Modern Math Teacher- Teaching Strategies for High School and Middle School Math Teachers
The Modern Math Teacher helps you make math class the best part of your 6-12 students' day. Join Kristen Moore for quick, real-talk episodes on Project Based Learning, student-centered teaching strategies, AI and technology inspired lesson planning and boosting student engagement—without burning out.
New episodes every Tuesday.
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Episodes
167 episodes
The Difference Between Fun Math and Meaningful Math
Not all engagement leads to learning.In this episode, we break down the difference between fun math and meaningful math—and how to start designing lessons that actually stick.In This Episode:Why “fun”...
165 Why Students Keep Asking “When Will I Ever Use This?” (And What That’s Really Telling You)
When students ask this question, it’s not about attitude.👉 It’s about relevance.In this episode, we break down what students are really asking—and how to start making math feel more meaningful without redesigning you...
164 You’re Not Boring—Your Math Lessons Might Be
If your students feel disengaged during math class… it’s probably not you.👉 It’s the lesson design.In this episode, we break down why students check out—and why trying to be more “fun” isn’t the fix. Instead, we’re s...
#163 What AI Is Revealing About Our Classrooms (And Why Students Are Using It)
Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming part of everyday classroom life—but the real conversation may be bigger than whether students should be using it.Students using AI isn’t the real story.The real story is...
162 AI Feedback That Actually Reaches Students (Before It's Too Late)
You spend the time grading. You write the comments. And then students look at the grade and move on. Sound familiar?In this episode, Kristen tackles two of the biggest feedback problems math teachers face: feedback that comes too ...
161 Lesson Plan AI: What Teachers need and What We Don't
Lesson plan AI is everywhere — but is it actually helping teachers?In this episode, we explore what teachers truly need from AI lesson plan generators and why many educational technology trends miss the mark. You’ll learn how AI c...
160 How Can AI Be Used in Education Without Killing Thinking?
How can AI be used in education without killing thinking?In this episode, we explore how teachers can use AI education tools responsibly — without replacing productive struggle or meaningful learning. You’ll learn how AI can...
#159 What 10 Million Students + 30 Years Taught us About Math Engagement
What if 10 million students could tell us what keeps them engaged in math — and what pushes them away?In this episode, I sit down with veteran educator Sheila Robitaille (30 years in classrooms and administration across the U.S...
158 Effective Math Teaching Strategies: What Comes After Productive Struggle?
Productive struggle is an essential part of effective math teaching strategies, but it only works when teachers plan intentionally for what comes next.In this episode, we explore instructional teaching strategies that help student...
157 Productive Math Struggle in Practice: A Conversation with John SanGiovanni
In this special capstone episode of The Modern Math Teacher Podcast, I’m joined by John SanGiovanni, co-author of Productive Math Struggle, for a reflective conversation on what productive struggle looks like in real cla...
156 Student Reflection Activities That Makes Struggle Stick
Productive Math Struggle Series — Action 6: Reflecting on Productive StruggleIn the final episode of our Productive Math Struggle series, we explore the power of reflection — the often-missing piece that transforms struggle into lasting ...
155 Teaching Strategies to Support Productive Struggle in Real Time
Productive Math Struggle Series — Action 5In Part 5 of our Productive Math Struggle Series, we shift from planning to real-time classroom action: What do you actually do when students struggle?Instead of panicking, rescui...
154 Designing Lesson Plans for Productive Struggle
Productive Math Struggle Series — Action 4: Plan a Lesson with Productive StruggleIn Part 4 of our Productive Math Struggle series, we dig into the HEART of rigorous math instruction: lesson planning that intentionally creates space for ...
153 Building Classroom Community in Your Math Class
Productive Math Struggle Series — Action 3: Build Community for Productive StruggleIn Part 3 of our Productive Math Struggle series, we’re diving into what may be the single most important ingredient of producti...
152 Math Identity Matters: You ARE a Math Person
Productive Math Struggle Series — Action 2: Foster an Identity for Productive StruggleIn Part 2 of our Productive Math Struggle series, we dive into one of the most powerful — and overlooked — components of rigorous math learning: math i...
151 Why Productive Struggle Matters
Part 1 of 6 in the Productive Math Struggle SeriesToday we kick off our 6-part series inspired by
Best of 2025: Boosting Student Discourse with Active Teaching
Ready to jump start classroom discourse in your math class in 2026? Get your students eagerly discussing math with these active teaching strategies!Enjoy this replay of: Episode #133 Active Teaching Strategies That Actually Spark Student...
Best of 2025: Classroom Routines + Procedures
Middle and high school math classes benefit from classroom routines and procedures just as much as our elementary counterparts!Do your classroom routines need a reset as we head into the second half of the school year? Enjoy Episode #130...
Best of 2025: Student Centered Teaching Strategies
Making the shift from teacher-led to student-centered teaching practices doesn't have to be a struggle. And you don't have to make the change to your instructional strategies alone!Enjoy Episode 132:Student-Centered Teaching in Math Clas...
Best of 2025: The Best Student Engagement Strategies
What does student engagement really look like in a math classroom?Enjoy this replay of Episode 129: Student Engagement Strategies That Actually Work in Math Class-- your favorite episode on boosting student ...
Best of 2025: Making Math Relevant
Let's make math class relevant-- and spoiler alert it's more than just adding in a few real-world math problems to your worksheet or doing a once a year hands on math project.Enjoy this replay of Episode 126: What Makes Mat...
144- Low-Prep Math Activities to Survive the Holiday Chaos (Without Losing Rigor 🎄)
The holidays are hectic—but learning doesn’t have to be. Kristen shares six classroom-tested, low-prep activities that keep math engaging when attention spans are short.You’ll learn how to: ✅ Use real-world data in...
143- Rethinking Assessment: What Finals Prep Can Teach Us About What (and How) We Measure
Finals week doesn’t have to be a panic button. In this episode, Kristen redefines assessment as feedback, not judgment—and shares five active teaching strategies that make review week engaging, equitable, and meaningfu...
142 My National Board Journey—Redefining What Effective Math Teaching Looks Like
In this episode, Kristen shares why she decided to pursue National Board Certification now—and how that lens is already reshaping daily teaching moves. You’ll hear concrete strategies you can use this week (with or wit...