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April 17, 2025 24 mins

School districts often invest significant time and money into purchasing new math curriculum resources, but all too often, those materials end up collecting dust—or worse, being implemented in ways that dilute their impact. In this episode, we unpack what comes after the purchase. How do you move from adoption to actual transformation in the math classroom? 

We explore what the research says about effective math curriculum implementation, the common pitfalls that undermine high-quality math tasks, and actionable steps districts can take to ensure materials are used as intended—supporting deeper learning and equitable access for all students in mathematics.

Key Takeaways:

  • Buying the resource isn’t the finish line—it’s the starting point of a longer implementation journey.
  • Effective professional learning and ongoing support are essential for helping teachers use materials as intended for math impact.
  • Improper use or over-scaffolding can unintentionally lower the rigor of high-quality tasks.
  • Clear vision, modeling, and consistent messaging from leaders create the conditions for successful implementation.
  • We share insights from implementation science and education research to guide your next steps.
  • Regular feedback loops and math classroom observations help ensure that implementation is both effective and responsive.

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

Love the show? Text us your big takeaway!

Create engagement while fuelling students sense making by using Make Math Moments ready-made lessons and units. Access our vast catalogue of lessons for elementary through high school math classes.
Check the catalogue here --> https://makemathmoments.com/tasks/

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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