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Have you ever stared at your lesson plans, pacing guide, and testing calendar and wondered: How am I supposed to fit all of this in? If so, this episode was made for you. Host Mona Iehl, math coach and creator of Word Problem Workshop, helps you shift from cramming content to making room for deep thinking, math talk, and student growth.

We’ve all asked it: How do I fit it all in? But Mona flips the script and offers a more powerful question: What really needs to fit? This episode challenges the pressure to cover every problem in the textbook and reminds us that our real job is to help students make sense of math—not race through content.

💡 3 Practical Shifts to Restructure Your Math Block (5–6 min read)

Ready to start reclaiming your math block? Mona offers three actionable strategies to create more space for student thinking without throwing out your curriculum:

⭐️ 1. Get Clear on What’s Non-Negotiable

Use standards to identify what truly matters. Not all content is created equal—focus on the major work of your grade and spend time where it counts.

⭐️ 2. Build a Predictable Structure

Students thrive on routine. Mona shares a time-tested structure:

• Warm-Up (10 min): Number talks, WODB, number of the day
• Word Problem Workshop (25 min): Open problems, real-world contexts
• Curriculum/Small Groups (25 min): Fluency, centers, skill practice

⭐️ 3. Use Curriculum as a Source, Not a Script

Start with the juicy problems—often hidden at the end of a lesson. Let students grapple first, then facilitate discussion to name strategies and build understanding. The deep thinking comes first—the direct teaching comes after.

🎧 Listen, Subscribe, and Let’s Redesign That Math Block Together

✅ Listen to the full episode to learn how to shift your mindset and get practical steps to transform your math time
✅ Subscribe to Math Chat so you never miss an episode
✅ Leave a review to help more teachers find the support they need

📒 Word Problem Workshop BOOK coming later this year!

Create a classroom of problem solvers with this 5 step daily routine. Through diving deeply into one problem each day you can increase student engagement, problem solving, & math proficiency!

You don't have to wait for the book...

Word Problem Workshop Online Course is avaliable now!

I'll show you how to...

• engage every student in daily problem solving
• utilize a proven routine that allows students to collaborate, reflect, take risks, and use mistakes as opportunities.
• confidently facilitate a students lead problem solving workshop

Join today right HERE!

Send us a text

If you're trying to reach every student by creating multiple versions of your math lesson—this episode is for you. Host Mona Iehl, math coach and creator of Word Problem Workshop, shows you how to differentiate effectively without doubling your workload. The secret? One well-chosen, open-ended problem—and the right mindset to support it.

Many of us grew up believing that differentiation meant creating different work for different learners—and then spent hours doing just that. But Mona breaks down a more effective approach: planning for variation, not perfection. Differentiation happens when we vary the content, process, product, or learning environment—not when we run ourselves ragged with busywork.

🧠 Content, Process, Product, and Environment: A Fresh Framework

Let’s get specific. Mona walks you through the four core elements of differentiated instruction in math:

• Content: Vary numbers or contexts within the same task
• Process: Offer choices—tools, strategies, partners
• Product: Let students show thinking in multiple ways
• Environment: Build spaces that support focus and risk-taking

Whether it’s offering manipulatives, flexible seating, or celebration of “messy” math, these strategies help all learners thrive.

🎧 Listen, Subscribe, and Simplify Your Math Block

✅ Listen to the full episode to discover a better way to differentiate in math
✅ Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a strategy
✅ Leave a review to help more educators build flexible, inclusive math classrooms

📒 Word Problem Workshop BOOK coming later this year!

Create a classroom of problem solvers with this 5 step daily routine. Through diving deeply into one problem each day you can increase student engagement, problem solving, & math proficiency!

You don't have to wait for the book...

Word Problem Workshop Online Course is avaliable now!

I'll show you how to...

• engage every student in daily problem solving
• utilize a proven routine that allows students to collaborate, reflect, take risks, and use mistakes as opportunities.
• confidently facilitate a students lead problem solving workshop

Join today right HERE!

Send us a text

In today’s episode, Mona welcomes special education teacher and SEL expert Allie Szczecinski to unpack a topic that’s often overlooked in math: social emotional learning (SEL). With over 15 years of experience and a brand-new book, Their Best Behavior, Allie shares how weaving SEL into your math instruction can build stronger thinkers, more confident students, and a calmer classroom.

🎧 This one’s a must-listen if you’ve ever thought, “My students could do the math… if only they believed they could.”

📘 Their Best Behavior by Allie Szczecinski

🎧 Listen, Subscribe, and Start the Shift

Ready to build a math class that supports the whole child?
✅ Listen to the full episode for inspiration and practical ideas
✅ Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a strategy
✅ Leave a review to help more educators discover the power of SEL in math

📒 Word Problem Workshop BOOK coming later this year!

Create a classroom of problem solvers with this 5 step daily routine. Through diving deeply into one problem each day you can increase student engagement, problem solving, & math proficiency!

You don't have to wait for the book...

Word Problem Workshop Online Course is avaliable now!

I'll show you how to...

• engage every student in daily problem solving
• utilize a proven routine that allows students to collaborate, reflect, take risks, and use mistakes as opportunities.
• confidently facilitate a students lead problem solving workshop

Join today right HERE!

Send us a text

Is your math block filled with silence so thick you can hear pencils stretching? This episode is for you. Host Mona Lehl is flipping the script on what a “focused” math class sounds like—and spoiler alert: it’s not silent. Real math thinking creates a buzz, and Mona is here to help you lean into the noise.

🔧 3 Ways to Keep the Math Talk Productive

Worried the noise will spiral into chaos? Mona shares three practical strategies that turn chatter into meaningful collaboration:
1️⃣ Build a Routine for Collaboration – When talk time is expected and structured, students step up.
2️⃣ Set Clear Expectations – Model what great math talk sounds like, and practice it together.
3️⃣ Give Kids Time – Confidence takes time. Celebrate effort, not just polished answers.

🧠 You’ll walk away with ready-to-implement ideas you can try tomorrow.

🎧 Subscribe, Review & Let the Buzz Begin

If today’s episode gave you that little nudge to embrace the productive hum of math talk:
✅ Follow the show so you don’t miss future episodes
✅ Leave a review to help more teachers discover Math Chat

🎙️ Thanks for being the kind of teacher who gives students the space to speak—and the confidence to believe they belong in math.

Until next time, embrace the buzz. Your classroom isn’t too loud—it’s alive.

📒 Word Problem Workshop BOOK coming later this year!

Create a classroom of problem solvers with this 5 step daily routine. Through diving deeply into one problem each day you can increase student engagement, problem solving, & math proficiency!

You don't have to wait for the book...

Word Problem Workshop Online Course is avaliable now!

I'll show you how to...

• engage every student in daily problem solving
• utilize a proven routine that allows students to collaborate, reflect, take risks, and use mistakes as opportunities.
• confidently facilitate a students lead problem solving workshop

Join today right HERE!

Send us a text

If you've ever scrolled past a flawless math lesson on Instagram and thought, “That could never be me,” this episode is for you. Host Mona—former teacher, math coach, and author of the upcoming Word Problem Workshop—gets real about what it actually takes to be a great math teacher. Spoiler: it’s not perfection or having all the answers. It’s creating the space for your students to think.

🎧 Ready to change the way you think about teaching math? You’ll want to hear this one.

📥 Enroll now at monamath.com/wpwteacher

🎧 Tune In, Subscribe, and Grow With Us

If today’s episode helped shift your thinking about great math teaching, we’d love for you to:
✅ Listen to the full episode
✅ Subscribe so you never miss a conversation
✅ Leave a review to help other educators find support

📒 Word Problem Workshop BOOK coming later this year!

Create a classroom of problem solvers with this 5 step daily routine. Through diving deeply into one problem each day you can increase student engagement, problem solving, & math proficiency!

You don't have to wait for the book...

Word Problem Workshop Online Course is avaliable now!

I'll show you how to...

• engage every student in daily problem solving
• utilize a proven routine that allows students to collaborate, reflect, take risks, and use mistakes as opportunities.
• confidently facilitate a students lead problem solving workshop

Join today right HERE!

Send us a text

Hey teacher friend! Have you ever stared at your math curriculum thinking, “This is... fine, I guess?” You don’t hate it—but it’s definitely not lighting a fire for student thinking. In this episode, Mona, a math coach and author, shares why the curriculum you already have might just be your biggest asset—if you know how to use it differently.

🛠️ The How: 3 Shifts You Can Make Right Away

1. Start with One Word Problem
Instead of overwhelming students with a page full of problems, choose one rich task and let them grapple. This builds stamina and confidence.

2. Change the Order, Not the Content
If your materials start with a formal algorithm, flip it! Let students explore their own strategies first, then connect to the textbook method.

3. Use Your Curriculum as a Launchpad, Not a Script
Highlight one problem and ask, “What thinking could this spark?” Rethink it as a conversation starter, not just a checkbox.

These small but powerful shifts will help you transform your existing materials into meaningful, student-centered lessons—without needing a single new purchase.

🎧 Final CTA: Learn to Use What You Have—Starting This Summer

Ready to make this vision a reality? Join me in the Word Problem Workshop Teacher Training. For just $77 (until tomorrow!), you’ll learn how to transform your current curriculum into a student-centered routine you’ll use all year long.

You’ll get:
🎥 On-demand video training
📁 Done-for-you templates
📚 A full year of word problems
💬 Ongoing support all summer long

👉 Grab your spot HERE before the price increases.
Still not sure? DM me on Instagram @hellomonamath and we’ll figure it out together.

📒 Word Problem Workshop BOOK coming later this year!

Create a classroom of problem solvers with this 5 step daily routine. Through diving deeply into one problem each day you can increase student engagement, problem solving, & math proficiency!

You don't have to wait for the book...

Word Problem Workshop Online Course is avaliable now!

I'll show you how to...

• engage every student in daily problem solving
• utilize a proven routine that allows students to collaborate, reflect, take risks, and use mistakes as opportunities.
• confidently facilitate a students lead problem solving workshop

Join today right HERE!

Send us a text

In this episode, we unpack a big question: What’s your vision for math classrooms? From years of visiting classrooms and leading professional development, our guest shares a powerful answer rooted in three values: joy, curiosity, and teacher sustainability. This isn’t just an ideal—it’s a framework leaders and teachers can work toward right now.

🛠️ Try These 3 Professional Learning Moves That Actually Work

Ready to lead transformative PD in your building? Here are three things you can try right away:

1. Attend PD yourself—model what it looks like to learn and grow.
2. Embrace curiosity—read, ask questions, and lead with an asset-based mindset.
3. Share what’s working—create in-house PD by spotlighting great teaching and inviting others to observe.

These strategies don’t cost much—but they make a big difference in staff morale, classroom quality, and student outcomes.

🎧 Ready to Reimagine Your Vision for Math Classrooms?

If this episode sparked a fresh perspective on what’s possible in your school or district, don’t stop here.
👉 Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts
👉 Subscribe so you never miss a conversation that moves you forward
👉 Leave a review to help more educators find us

Let’s keep building classrooms where everyone wants to stay.

📒 Word Problem Workshop BOOK coming later this year!

Create a classroom of problem solvers with this 5 step daily routine. Through diving deeply into one problem each day you can increase student engagement, problem solving, & math proficiency!

You don't have to wait for the book...

Word Problem Workshop Online Course is avaliable now!

I'll show you how to...

• engage every student in daily problem solving
• utilize a proven routine that allows students to collaborate, reflect, take risks, and use mistakes as opportunities.
• confidently facilitate a students lead problem solving workshop

Join today right HERE!

Send us a text

Ever poured your heart into a math lesson only to hear a groan or a “Can’t you just tell us how to do it?” from your students? You’re not alone. In this episode, Mona—a former teacher turned math coach—dives into what’s really behind those reactions and how to shift them.

Ready to turn things around? Mona shares three actionable routines straight from her Word Problem Workshop that help kids engage, take risks, and actually enjoy thinking in math:

1. Start with the Grapple – Let kids wrestle with one rich word problem—no hints, just space to think.
2. Show Your Thinking – Use visuals and whiteboards to highlight the process, not just the final answer.
3. Celebrate Multiple Strategies – Use student sharing time to explore the diversity of ideas, not just the “correct” one.

👉 Explore the course at monamath.com/wpw

👋 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

If this episode gave you a new perspective on what to do when kids don’t want to think in math class, share it with a friend, subscribe to the podcast, and leave a review—it helps more teachers find actionable support.
And don’t forget to DM Mona on Instagram @hellomonamath—she’d love to hear how your students are showing up in math right now!

📒 Word Problem Workshop BOOK coming later this year!

Create a classroom of problem solvers with this 5 step daily routine. Through diving deeply into one problem each day you can increase student engagement, problem solving, & math proficiency!

You don't have to wait for the book...

Word Problem Workshop Online Course is avaliable now!

I'll show you how to...

• engage every student in daily problem solving
• utilize a proven routine that allows students to collaborate, reflect, take risks, and use mistakes as opportunities.
• confidently facilitate a students lead problem solving workshop

Join today right HERE!