160: The Math Block — A Mindset Shift for Fitting It All In

Send us Fan MailHave 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-NegotiableUse 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 StructureStudents thrive on routine. Mona shares a time-tested structure:Warm-Up (10 min): Number talks, WODB, number of the dayWord Problem Workshop (25 min): Open problems, real-world contextsCurriculum/Small Groups (25 min): Fluency, centers, skill practice⭐️ 3. Use Curriculum as a Source, Not a ScriptStart 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