152: How to Extend Student Thinking (Without More Worksheets)

Episode 152 of the Math Chat podcast, hosted by Mona Iehl, titled "152: How to Extend Student Thinking (Without More Worksheets)" was published on June 9, 2025 and runs 12 minutes.

June 9, 2025 ·12m · Math Chat

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Summary

Send us Fan Mail Ever looked at your stack of printed math worksheets and thought, “There’s got to be a better way”? You're not alone. In today’s episode, we’re flipping the script on word problems—and showing you how just a few small tweaks can stretch your students' thinking without stretching your copy limit. In this episode, I dive into how to extend student thinking using the problems you already have—no extra pages required. You’ll learn what actually makes a word problem “good,” why ho...

Episode Description

Send us Fan Mail

Ever looked at your stack of printed math worksheets and thought, “There’s got to be a better way”? You're not alone. In today’s episode, we’re flipping the script on word problems—and showing you how just a few small tweaks can stretch your students' thinking without stretching your copy limit.

In this episode, I dive into how to extend student thinking using the problems you already have—no extra pages required. You’ll learn what actually makes a word problem “good,” why how you use a task matters more than what the task is, and three easy ways to tweak your current word problems for deeper student reasoning.

Whether you're a new teacher looking to build problem-solving confidence or a seasoned educator tired of one-size-fits-all worksheets, this conversation will leave you encouraged, inspired, and ready to transform your math block into a space for real thinking.

✨ Resources and Links Mentioned:
🔗 Register for the Mini Workshop – June 20th

🔗 Episode 150: 35 Questions to Get Students Thinking in Math Class

🔗 Download the Free 35 Questions Printable

📲 Stay Connected:
Follow Mona on Instagram → @hellomonamath
Visit the website → monamath.com

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