Episodes

123
July 31, 2025

#123 – 3 Quick Wins You’ll Walk Away With at Bootcamp

Wondering if the Back to School Bootcamp is for you? You don’t need a 180-day curriculum plan. You just need 3 small wins to start the year strong. In this episode, I walk you through what you’ll ACTUALLY build inside the Create a Kickass Math Class Bootcamp: ✅ Day 1: One first-week spark that sets the tone ✅ Day 2: An anchor task that sparks real thinking ✅ Day 3: A simple year-at-a-glance roadmap In this episode, I walk you through: ✔️ What you’ll build on each of th...
122
July 29, 2025

#122: Get Ready for the Back To School Bootcamp —Creating a KickAss Math Class

Build Your Dream Math Class in Just 3 Days (Without the Overwhelm) Want a math class that feels more real, relevant, and engaging—but not sure where to start? The (FREE) Create a Kickass Math Class Bootcamp is your answer. If you’re ready to build a math class that feels real, relevant, and rigorous — but don’t know where to start — this 3-day Bootcamp is your on-ramp. In this episode, I break down: ✅ What we’re building during the 3-day bootcamp ✅ Why this is the perfect starting...
121
July 24, 2025

#121: How to Get Started As a Modern Math Teacher (Even If You’re Not “Techy”)

Worried you’re not “techy” enough to transform your teaching with real-world, project-based math? You’re not alone—and the good news is: you don’t need to be. You don’t need to be a tech expert to run engaging, real-world math lessons. In this episode, I’ll share: ✔️ Why low-tech strategies still work ✔️ How to build confidence without jumping into complicated tools ✔️ Examples from inside the membership that don’t require tech ✔️ How to get the support you need without the overwhelm 🎯 Join th...
120
July 22, 2025

#120: Still Planning Lessons Alone? Let’s Fix That

Trying to make your math class more engaging, more real, and more relevant—completely alone? Are you still lesson planning alone at your kitchen table? You’re not lazy. You’re not doing it wrong. You’re just trying to do too much without a support system. You were never meant to do this work in isolation. In today’s episode, we explore: ✔️ Why planning solo creates decision fatigue ✔️ How collaboration changes your confidence + clarity ✔️ What makes our membership PLCs...
119
July 17, 2025

#119 BTS— What’s Inside the Modern Math Teacher Membership

If you're tired of buying resources that don't solve your classroom struggles, this episode is for you. I’m giving you a full behind-the-scenes tour of the Modern Math Teacher Membership—and sharing you why it’s so much more than just a library of lessons. 💡 Inside This Episode: ✅ Why most resource memberships still leave teachers overwhelmed ✅ What the Kickass Math Class Success Path actually looks like ✅ How plug-and-play projects + planning tools work together...
118
July 15, 2025

#118: The Truth About Teaching Real-World Math

There are so many myths out there about teaching real-world math: 👉 It’s too hard to plan 👉 Students can’t handle it 👉 You have to sacrifice rigor None of it is true. In this episode, I’m breaking down the real story—and showing you how real-world, relevant, and rigorous math is totally doable with the right tools and support. 🎙 In this episode, I’m breaking down: ✅ Why planning doesn’t have to be overwhelming ✅ Why your students can handle real-world math ✅ Why real-world lessons actually boo...
117
July 10, 2025

#117 Why Your Students Deserve This Kind of Math Class

Let’s put aside standards and curriculum for a moment. Let’s talk about the actual humans in your classroom. Because chances are, you’ve felt it too: “They deserve more than just what the textbook gives them.” ✅ They deserve to see math as meaningful. ✅ They deserve to feel confident and curious — not just compliant. ✅ They deserve your best, even when the system doesn’t make it easy. 🎧 In this episode of The Modern Math Teacher Podcast, we’re exploring: What students actually wa...
July 8, 2025

#116 Done-For-You Projects Are Not Enough

We’ve all been there: 📥 You download a promising project. 📄 The instructions look solid. ✅ The math checks out. But once it hits your classroom? Something’s missing. The truth is: done-for-you isn’t the same as done-right. In this episode, I’m breaking down the “Done-for-You Trap” — why great resources still fall flat without the systems, structure, and support to implement them successfully. 🎧 We’ll cover: Why the best projects still need scaffolds and systems What teachers really need to mak...
115
July 3, 2025

#115: The 3 Biggest Mistakes Teachers Make When Trying to Teach Real-World Math

You’ve seen all the cool Pinterest projects and Instagram reels that make real-world math look effortless. But when you try it in your classroom? 🙄 The kids don’t care. 🌀 The lesson falls flat. 😤 Or worse—it turns into total chaos. In this episode, I’m sharing the three most common mistakes teachers make when trying to implement real-world math—and exactly how to fix them. ✅ You’ll learn: Why surface-level “fun” isn’t the same as real engagement How to make your math tasks actually feel releva...
114
July 1, 2025

#114 The 5-Stage Path to a Kickass Math Class

What if transforming your math classroom didn’t require a complete overhaul—just a roadmap? In today’s episode, I’m walking you through the 5-stage success path at the heart of the Modern Math Teacher Membership. Whether you're stuck in survival mode or starting to explore project-based learning and real-world applications, this episode will help you see exactly where you are—and what to focus on next. 🔍 We’ll cover: The 5 R’s that make up the success pathHow to identify which stage you’re in...
113
June 26, 2025

#113 From Survival to Success: A Summer Reset Plan

What if summer wasn’t just a break… but a bold reset? In this episode of The Modern Math Teacher Podcast, we’re ditching the survival mindset and using summer as a launchpad for a lighter, more aligned school year. Whether you’re sipping coffee on the porch or finally clearing out your inbox, this is your invitation to pause—and reimagine. We’ll walk through: 🧠 How to rethink summer as a time for reinvention, not just recovery 🛠 Easy, bite-sized rituals to reset your classroom systems and less...
112
June 24, 2025

#112 – You’re Not the Only One Doing This Alone

Feel like you’re the only one in your school trying to make math meaningful? In this episode, I’m getting real about what it’s like to teach differently—and the loneliness that can come with it. From being the only math teacher at a brand-new charter school to building a classroom from scratch, I’ve lived the “lone wolf” life. And if you’re there right now, this one’s for you. ✅ In this episode, we’ll talk about: Why teaching differently can feel isolatingMy “lone wolf” story from the charter...
111
June 19, 2025

#111 – The Lesson Design Hack That Saves Time and Increases Engagement

Ever feel like lesson planning takes forever—and still falls flat with students? In this episode, I’m sharing the Reality Check, my go-to lesson design framework that helps you quickly build lessons that are real, relevant, and rigorous. Whether you’re designing a warm-up, full lesson, or project milestone, this hack saves time and boosts student buy-in. ✅ In this episode, you’ll learn: How I created the Reality Check after a project flop with MazerTagWhat it actually means to make math real,...
110
June 17, 2025

#110: The #1 Shift That Changes Everything (and It’s Not More Work)

What if your classroom didn’t need more resources—but a better rhythm? In this episode, I’m sharing the one shift that changed everything for me as a math teacher: designing with rhythm. From launching units with anchor activities to structuring daily warm-ups and routines, I’ll show you how simple systems lead to better engagement, deeper understanding, and more peace—for you and your students. ✅ In this episode, we’ll explore: Why teaching is like choreography—and how rhythm creates calmHow...
June 15, 2025

🤩 BONUS: What’s Coming in the Modern Math Teacher Membership

Have you been listening to these episodes thinking, “Yes! This is the kind of math class I want—but I can’t do it alone”? Then this episode is for you. Today I’m giving you an inside look at the Modern Math Teacher Membership—what it is, who it’s for, and how you can get in early as a founding member. I’ll also share the story that inspired it all—the moment everything clicked in my own classroom, when my students took ownership of a project and finally believed that math mattered. In this epis...
109
June 12, 2025

#109: PBL Without the Chaos: Yes, It’s Possible

You want to do PBL, but every time you think about it… you panic. What if it flops? What if it’s chaos? Been there. Done that. In this episode, I’m sharing how I went from panicked to confidently using project-based learning in my classroom—without the mess. Inside this episode: ✔ Why PBL feels chaotic (and why it doesn’t have to be) ✔ The biggest mistake teachers make when starting project-based learning ✔ How project milestones create structure and boost learning 💡 Try This: Sketch out your...
108
June 10, 2025

#108: Signs You’re Ready to Teach Differently

Ever feel like your class is full of students… but no one is really there with you? The crickets. The side conversations. The phone scrolling. If that sounds familiar, you’re not failing—you’re ready. Inside this episode: ✔ 3 red flags that your current teaching approach isn’t working (and what they really mean) ✔ The mindset shift that saved my sanity (and my students’ engagement) ✔ Why it’s not about ditching standards—it’s about connecting them to your kids 💡 Try This: Reflect on the last ...
107
June 5, 2025

#107: Why “Real, Relevant, and Rigorous” Is the Future of Math

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! If you’re tired of hearing your students ask, “When are we ever gonna use this?”—this episode is for you. Today I’m breaking down the 3 R’s that have reshaped my math class: Real, Relevant, and Rigorous. And no, these aren’t just buzzwords. Inside this episode: ✔ What it really means to design math that’s real, relevant, and rigorous ✔ A behind-the-scenes look at my Save for Success Project ✔ The litmus ...
106
June 3, 2025

#106: The Math Class They’ll Remember

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! Is your math class unforgettable—for the right reasons? In this episode, I’m sharing a powerful story from a cross-curricular Rocket Project that completely shifted how I thought about engagement. It reminded me that students don’t remember worksheets. They remember moments. Inside this episode: ✔ How I turned a standard quadratics unit into a project students couldn’t stop talking about ✔ Why cross-curricular...
105
May 29, 2025

#105 – Chicken Nuggets, Pop, and Video Projects: Boosting Math Engagement with Clement Townsend

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! 🍗🥤 What do chicken nuggets, pop, and student-created videos have in common? They're all part of today’s conversation on how instructional videos can transform engagement in your math class. I’m joined by Clement Townsend, founder of Video Pro Learning, to dive into best practices for educational video projects, why video isn’t just for ELA anymore, and how Google Vids + simple tools can make blended learning approachable—...
104
May 27, 2025

#104 – Creative Final Exam Review with Stations, Choice Boards, and a Little Help from AI

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! 😮‍💨 Feeling overwhelmed by finals prep? Whether you’re planning a final exam review for Algebra 1, Geometry, or Algebra 2, today’s episode is here to save your sanity—and your time. I’m sharing creative, low-prep ideas to get your students engaged and reviewing without the usual stress-fest. Plus, you’ll hear how to use AI + ready-made warm-ups to build review stations and choice boards in a snap. In this episode, you’ll ...
103
May 22, 2025

#103 – Your Summer, Your PD: What Do You Want to Hear Next?

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! ☀️Summer is almost here—and so is my Summer Series Poolside PD designed to make your teacher professional development feel more like iced coffee on the porch than a boring meeting. 😎 In this quick episode, I’m giving you a sneak peek at what’s coming AND asking for your input to help shape the next few months of bite-sized, bingeable episodes. In this episode, you’ll hear: ✅ Why I created the Summer Series for busy ...
102
May 20, 2025

#102 – Finishing Strong: Building Math Mindset and Confidence at the End of the Year

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! 🤔 How can you help students leave your class feeling confident—even if they struggled all year? In this episode, we’re focusing less on the math and more on the mindset that sticks with students long after the final exam. We’ll explore simple, meaningful ways to build a growth mindset and foster a strong mathematics mindset—so your students walk away believing they can succeed in math. In this episode, you’ll learn: &nbsp...
101
May 15, 2025

#101 – Free, Fun, and Still Rigorous: End-of-Year Math Activities That Just Work

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! ✏️ Looking for free math activities for high school that are actually fun and meaningful? You’re in the right place. In this episode, I’m sharing my top 3 FREE, low-prep, high-impact math activities to keep your students learning (and moving) through the end of the year. These aren’t just fluff—they’re rigorous, hands-on, and tied directly to key standards for Algebra 1 and Algebra 2. In this episode, you’ll get: ✅ ...