Ep 65 - HOW to teach mathematics through problem solving

Feb 17, 2026

37:32

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Whether we know it or not, math teachers in America have a default teaching script that is so engrained into our cultural DNA that we don't even know it exists. Yet that cultural script – largely described as "I do, We do, You do" – is preventing us from experiencing the math joy our students deserve.

In recent episodes we have been proposing Teaching Through Problem Solving as a new cultural script for teaching mathematics. This time Katie goes into depth on HOW to plan for a TTP lesson. She points out all the opportunities in a TTP-style lesson where the teacher can naturally embed Mathematical Language Routines (MLRs) and the Eight Standards for Mathematical Practices (SMPs) without making the MLRs and SMPs feel like add-ons to an already crowded lesson.

Katie's previous episode (Episode 53) in which we talk about the power of a curriculum-based professional learning protocol we call Collaborative Lesson Design.

Episode 53 on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4qDfVAigez9YPgEw1G3jDl?si=SdkLITgtTzejZv6pv0WIfw

Episode 53 on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/LGytsImcQUY

Here is a Teaching through Problem Solving slide deck we use at Merced County Office of Education:

https://tinyurl.com/MCOE-TTP

REGISTER FOR OUR CONFERENCES:

✚ CMC Central Symposium in Bakersfield, March 13 & 14, 2026:

https://www.cmcmath.org/cmc-central-symposium

LEARN with the California Mathematics Council…

✚ Join us in our monthly Inspiring Math Minds webinars and get on our mailing list to be notified:

https://www.cmcmath.org/cmc-central/virtual-learning-series