Modern Math Teacher- Teaching Strategies for High School and Middle School Math Teachers

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 Math Feel Relevant? Isn’t it just Practical Examples of Real World Math?

 It's your TOP downloaded episode this year all about making math relevant!

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’l...

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 a Holiday Data Challenge
 ✅ Turn review into a game with Rapid Review Showdown
 ✅ Get students moving with a Math Scavenger Hunt
 ✅ Launch a one-day Holiday Mini-Project
 ✅ Create excitement with a M...

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 meaningful.

You’ll learn how to:
 ✅ Turn review into reasoning with the 3-Round Review
 ✅ Use an Error Hunt to target misconceptions
 ✅ Celebrate growth with a Final Show-and-Tell
 ✅ Run a Station Rotation for m...

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 without NBC):

You’ll learn how to…

• ✅ Plan one “evidence moment” per lesson to capture real mathematical thinking
• ✅ Orchestrate discussions with 5 Practices (selecting & sequencing who shares)
• ✅ Create safe math space...

Tired of hearing “When am I ever gonna use this?” 😩
This week, Kristen shares easy, low-prep ways to make your math lessons feel relevant and real—without turning every unit into a full-blown project.

You’ll learn how to:
 ✅ Add real-world context to existing lessons
 ✅ Use AI tools to brainstorm examples and scenarios fast
 ✅ Let students personalize problems to increase buy-in
 ✅ Connect math to real-life dec...

 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 i...

 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 ...

 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 grad...

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—a...

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
...

 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...

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 ...

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 ...

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 requir...

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 m...

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...

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 worklo...

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 ...

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.

✅ I...