Episode 210 - Why Good Activities Aren't Enough - The Missing Piece That Makes Number Sense Work

Are you doing all the "right" math activities—Number Talks, Number Strings, Quick Images—but still not seeing the progress you expected? In this episode, you'll discover why having great activities isn't enough, and what actually builds real number sense with your students. You'll learn the critical difference between facilitating activities to collect answers versus facilitating them to develop deep mathematical understanding. Through concrete examples, you'll see how the same activity can produce completely different results depending on how you guide the discussion, what questions you ask, and which student thinking you choose to highlight. This episode reveals four common facilitation mistakes teachers make and gives you the tools to avoid them. Most importantly, you'll understand why this missing piece—knowing what to listen for and how to make number sense concepts visible—is the key to finally seeing your students think more flexibly and develop lasting mathematical reasoning. Get any links mentioned in this episode at BuildMathMinds.com/210 

Are you overwhelmed thinking about trying to add in number sense activities into your already jam-packed day? In this game-changing episode, learn how to transform your math instruction by integrating number sense concepts into ONE quick activity.  The 'unspoken rule' of teaching math has been to keep each math skill in separate boxes that we teach in isolation.  Teaching in this way is one of the causes of feeling overwhelmed when teaching math. In this episode, you'll see how to integrate math concepts into one activity using an example of Number Strings. A single 10-minute activity can simultaneously develop multiple foundational number sense concepts - from subitizing to part-part-whole thinking. Whether you teach early or upper elementary, this episode provides practical strategies to help your students develop more flexible, sophisticated mathematical thinking. Walk away with a clear approach to making your math lessons more intentional, engaging, and effective. Get any links mentioned in the episode at BuildMathMinds.com/209

In this second episode of the math fluency series, we explore the four essential number relationships that help students move beyond counting and develop true mathematical thinking. Learn about spatial relationships, one/two more or less, benchmarks of 5 and 10, and part-part-whole thinking—and discover how these relationships evolve from PreK through fifth grade. We'll look at why students get stuck using inefficient strategies and how building these foundational relationships transforms them into flexible problem-solvers who can see multiple pathways to solutions. Plus, get practical questions you can start asking tomorrow to assess and develop these critical relationships in your students. Free number sense assessment resources available at BuildMathMinds.com/208.

In this episode, I'm kicking off a series on building math fluency by diving into what I wish I had known when I first started teaching—the critical foundations students need BEFORE we ever ask them to add, subtract, multiply, or divide. Many students can DO the math, but they don't truly UNDERSTAND it. And the problem isn't that they need more practice—they're missing something much more fundamental. I'm sharing the four early numeracy concepts from the research of Douglas Clements and Julie Sarama: subitizing (instantly recognizing quantities without counting), verbal counting (understanding number patterns and structure), object counting (purposefully counting items), and cardinality (understanding that the final count represents the total quantity). You might be thinking these sound like kindergarten concepts, but stay with me! These foundations develop in sophistication all the way through 5th grade and beyond, including fraction subitizing and understanding complex number relationships. I've got free Savvy Subitizing Cards (PreK-2nd) and Fraction Subitizing Cards (3rd-5th) linked up at https://buildmathminds.com/207 to help you with one of the 4 early numeracy concepts. Next episode, we'll dig into the four number relationships that move students from counting to mathematical thinking!

What if transforming your math teaching only required 4 minutes a day? In this episode, Christina breaks down the powerful concept of getting 1% better daily and shows how just 4 minutes of intentional change in your classroom adds up to 12 hours of enhanced math learning over the school year. Perfect for busy educators who want to make a real impact without overwhelming themselves. Get your free guide with 30+ quick math activities to get you started at BuildMathMinds.com/1%

As an elementary math coach, do you feel like you're trying to be everywhere at once with never enough time to make the impact you want? In this episode, discover how to use the 80/20 principle to transform your coaching approach and actually increase your impact while saving time. Learn how to strategically apply the 80/20 rule in two key ways: Which Teachers to Prioritize: How to identify the 20% of teachers who will create the biggest ripple effect across your school (hint: it's not just about who needs the most help) What to Coach On: The foundational instructional moves that will serve teachers for years versus the "trivial many" that keep you busy but don't create lasting change Stop spreading yourself thin and start coaching smarter. By the end of this video, you'll have a clear framework for focusing your energy on what truly matters - and you'll walk away with two concrete action steps to implement immediately. Perfect for elementary math coaches, instructional coaches, and math specialists looking to maximize their impact with limited time. What You'll Get: ✅ Understanding of the 80/20 principle and how it applies to coaching ✅ Specific strategies for identifying high-impact teachers to prioritize ✅ Clear criteria for choosing coaching topics that create lasting change ✅ Two actionable lists to create after watching

Are timed math activities helping or harming our elementary students? This controversial topic divides educators, but the research tells a clear story when we dig deeper. In this episode, we explore evidence-based strategies for using timed activities to build math fluency without creating anxiety or trauma. Drawing from the What Works Clearinghouse's analysis of 27 studies involving over 4,300 students, we discover that the problem isn't timed activities themselves—it's how they've been implemented. You'll learn the five essential steps for effective timed math practice: identifying already-learned topics, choosing engaging activities, ensuring students have efficient strategies, tracking meaningful progress, and providing immediate feedback. We move beyond traditional worksheets and timers to explore alternatives like number talks, mental math relays, and "beat your own score" games. This episode directly addresses real teacher questions about timed facts assessments and students who struggle with computation speed on standardized tests. We tackle the balance between building number sense and developing computational fluency, offering practical solutions for both classroom instruction and assessment preparation. Whether you're a classroom teacher questioning your current math fluency practices or a math coach supporting teachers through this debate, this episode provides research-backed strategies you can implement immediately. WWC/IES Practice Guide for Assisting Students Struggling with Mathematics 

In this cross-posted episode from Math Chat, host Mona Iehl interviews Christina Tondevold about developing number sense in elementary students. Christina shares her journey from a "procedural" math student to becoming a math coach and founder of Build Math Minds. The conversation explores the eight components of number sense: four early numeracy concepts (subitizing, verbal counting, object counting, and cardinality) and four number relationships (spatial relationships, one/two more or less, benchmarks of 5 and 10, and part-part-whole). Christina explains how these concepts help move students beyond counting to more efficient math strategies. Practical classroom strategies discussed include using sticky notes to assess students' visual number understanding, implementing subitizing activities, and strategically choosing numbers in word problems to reinforce key number relationships. Both educators emphasize the importance of allowing students to solve problems in ways that make sense to them, rather than forcing procedural approaches. This episode provides valuable insights for teachers looking to build true mathematical understanding rather than just procedural knowledge in their students. Check out Mona's podcast Math Chat Enroll in The Flexibility Formula Course

In Episode 202: Going Beyond the Task When Building Thinking Classrooms, we reveal the exciting lineup of special guests for our summer book study on 'Mathematics Tasks for the Thinking Classroom Grades K-5' by Peter Liljedahl and Maegan Giroux. Starting July 14th, each week will feature a video with reading prompts followed by live Q&A sessions with experts including first-grade teacher Tammy McMorrow, co-author of the book Maegan Giroux, and Official BTC Consultant Kim Rimbey. Join now at BuildMathMinds.com/bookstudy25 to receive a 20% discount code plus free shipping within the US, and participate in these valuable learning opportunities with educators who are transforming mathematics classrooms.

In Episode 201, I share two exciting summer learning opportunities for fellow Recovering Traditionalists as we prepare to pause the podcast until August. First, enroll in The Flexibility Formula online courses (K-2 or 3-5) to transform how you build math fluency with your students. BuildMathMinds.com/courses  Second, join our free summer book study on "Mathematics Tasks for the Thinking Classroom Grades K-5" by Peter Liljedahl and Maegan Giroux, starting July 14th. Register now at BuildMathMinds.com/bookstudy25 to receive a publisher discount (20% off with free US shipping) and access to exclusive weekly videos featuring insights from myself, Rosalba Serrano, and special guests. We'll explore Part 1 (BTC Practices in Review) and Part 4 (From Page to Practice), focusing on implementing thinking tasks and creating your own curriculum resources. This essential companion to Building Thinking Classrooms will help you prepare for next year's math instruction with practical strategies and ready-to-use templates.