#88: Rigor + Relationships = Student Engagement

February is the month of love, and we’re asking: Can you set high expectations and still be the teacher your students love and trust? Spoiler alert: You absolutely can! In this episode, we’re diving into how balancing meaningful relationships with rigorous instruction leads to student engagement and success in the math classroom.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
✔️ Why relationships are the foundation of a thriving classroom culture.
✔️ How to pair rigor with care to boost engagement and help students succeed.
✔️ Practical strategies to build relationships and implement meaningful, challenging tasks.

💡 Key Takeaway: It’s not either-or! Relationships and rigor go hand in hand to create a classroom culture where students feel supported, challenged, and ready to grow.

Resources Mentioned:
➡️ Quick Interest Survey for Building Relationships
➡️ Membership Resources for Simplified Lesson Planning

✨ Let’s create a classroom culture that thrives—together!

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Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you!

This podcast is a member of the Teach Better Podcast Network. Better Today. Better Tomorrow. And the Podcasts to Help You Get There.

Connect with Kristen:

• Follow on Instagram @moorethanjustx
• Join the Facebook Community: The Modern Math Teachers Movement

More About the Modern Math Teacher Podcast

Kristen Moore, classroom teacher and instructional coach at Moore Than Just X, empowers modern secondary math teachers to transform the student experience with the strategies and the confidence to implement project-based learning, mastery-based assessment, and student engagement strategies in their classrooms.

Whether you're a math education newbie or a seasoned veteran, you'll find something new and inspiring in every episode. You’re already a listener, why not join the Movement inside ✨The Modern Math Teachers Movement Facebook group. Join the community of math teachers who are not afraid to shake things up and make math class the best part of the day for our students. So tune in each Tuesday, have some fun, and let's elevate our math teaching game together!

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