If you’ve ever wondered what to actually do during small group time in math, this episode will give you a clear and practical way to support students without lowering expectations.We built a simple Math Coherence Compass to help district and school leaders make aligned decisions around math—without adding another initiative. Get your free copy and training here https://makemathmoments.com/coherence-compass/Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free cus...
If you’ve ever wondered what to actually do during small group time in math, this episode will give you a clear and practical way to support students without lowering expectations.
We built a simple Math Coherence Compass to help district and school leaders make aligned decisions around math—without adding another initiative. Get your free copy and training here https://makemathmoments.com/coherence-compass/
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
Yvette's Summer Task List.
Every school system wants to improve student achievement in mathematics. Yet when students struggle, the immediate response is almost always the same: more intervention, more support programs, more people working at the bottom of the cliff. While these efforts are essential, they often come at the expense of investing in the work that could prevent students from struggling in the first place.
Using the classic "ambulance at the bottom of the cliff" parable, this episode explores why school systems consistently prioritize rescue over prevention. It's not because leaders don't believe in strong Tier 1 instruction—they do. The challenge is that prevention is harder to see, slower to measure, and more difficult to defend. We unpack why intervention feels more urgent, why leading indicators matter more than waiting for test scores, and how systems can make the invisible work of prevention visible through classroom evidence and instructional coherence.
In this episode, you'll explore:
- Why intervention often receives more attention and funding than prevention
- The "ambulance vs. fence" metaphor and what it means for math improvement
- Why Tier 1 instructional coherence is the foundation of long-term success
- The difference between leading and lagging indicators of improvement
- How to measure instructional shifts before test scores change
- Why sustained professional learning outperforms one-off professional development
- Practical questions leaders can ask to rebalance investment toward prevention
If you're leading mathematics improvement in a school or district, this episode will challenge you to rethink where your time, resources, and attention are focused—and help you build stronger systems that prevent students from falling behind in the first place.
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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.
