Because Every Question Counts
Every day, in classrooms across the globe, teachers change lives. A carefully chosen question, a word of encouragement, or a well-sequenced lesson can transform mathematics from symbols on a page into a language for understanding the world. This series is written for you. It translates rigorous research into practical strategies you can use with confidence, strategies that are evidence-based, teacher-friendly, and grounded in classroom realities. Your impact matters, and this series is here to amplify it.
From Compass to Roadmap
This series builds on a collaborative journey: the way research, experience, and professional practice shape strategies that make a meaningful difference in mathematics classrooms. Over the past several years, Dr. Courtney Nagle and I have worked together on a set of high-impact teaching strategies through our professional learning work with Big Ideas Learning. These strategies reflect our shared passion for mathematics teaching and learning, informed by Courtney’s academic background in mathematics education in the United States and my own classroom and leadership experience in Australia. Together, we focused on identifying practical moves that help strengthen coherence, deepen student thinking, and support meaningful learning.
Courtney also authored the 2024 eBook High-Quality Instructional Materials: Tools that Build Student Success in Mathematics for Big Ideas Learning. The eBook highlights the qualities of strong curriculum materials and how those materials support student success. This blog series shifts the lens to instructional practice and explores how research-informed strategies can help teachers bring high-quality materials to life in ways that support student thinking and understanding.
If the eBook offers a compass for understanding the tools available to teachers, this blog series offers a roadmap for using those tools in ways that elevate learning. Together with Cengage School, it aims to make instructional research accessible and actionable and to offer a clear path for planning, teaching, and reflecting on impact.
Connecting With You From Australia
I love what I do! I love being a teacher, a learner, and working with students, teachers, and schools across the globe. I began my career as an elementary teacher before moving into K–12 leadership, research, and academia. At the University of Melbourne in Australia, I completed both my MEd and PhD under the supervision of Professor John Hattie, whose Visible Learning research has shaped education globally.
Today, I work with teachers, schools, and organizations such as Cengage School and Big Ideas Learning, as well as with researchers and policymakers around the world. I also host Talking Teaching, the University of Melbourne’s flagship education podcast, which reaches listeners in over 115 countries and ranks among the top 5% of educational podcasts worldwide. Across these roles, my passion remains constant: helping teachers see the impact they make and equipping them with strategies that have impact.
A Story From 30,000 Feet
Some years ago, I was on a flight from Sydney to Melbourne when a young teenager with Down syndrome became distressed. The crew tried to help, but his anxiety grew, and the cabin grew tense. Then came an unusual announcement: “Is there a teacher on board?” I stood up. Like many of you would, I did what teachers do every day: listened, reassured, and connected. Slowly, Shamran began to talk about his favorite book. By the time we landed, he was smiling again. That story spread widely, even being featured on NPR in the US from Melbourne, Australia but I’ve always explained that it wasn’t just my story. It is a story about teachers everywhere. This is your story.
The 10 Big Ideas
That moment reminded me of something powerful: teaching is not confined to four walls. The skills we use daily, listening, noticing, guiding, creating safety, and sparking trust—are life skills that ripple outward. Teachers transform lives not only through lessons and test scores, but through the human connections they foster in classrooms, playgrounds, homes, and sometimes even at 30,000 feet.
This series is my way of honoring that expertise. Each strategy is designed to provide you with tools worthy of your influence, tools that help students not only succeed in mathematics but also grow in confidence, resilience, and curiosity.
Here are the 10 big ideas that will anchor the series:
- Focus and Coherence
- Balance and Rigor
- Build a Conceptual Foundation
- Develop Procedural Fluency
- Promote Problem-Solving
- Emphasize Mathematical Modeling
- Foster Mathematical Discourse
- Leverage Assessment for Learning
- Ensure Usability for Learners
- Empower Teachers Through Supports
Each post will weave together three elements:
- Research Insights: What the studies show about impact
- Classroom Vignettes: A real story that illustrates these strategies in action
- Try-it-Tomorrow Strategies: Practical moves for immediate use in the classroom
Classroom Moments That Matter
During a visit to a fifth-grade classroom, I watched students compare fractions using multiple representations. Marcus used a number line, Emma decomposed fractions, and Jamie connected ratios from an earlier unit. The teacher reflected: “Before, my lessons were about procedures. Now, students reason, connect, and explain.” That moment captured the power of this work: it’s not about abandoning procedures but embedding them within reasoning, discourse, and conceptual understanding.
Quick-Start Ideas Before We Jump In!
Here are three strategies you can try this week:
- Which One Doesn’t Belong?: Show four numbers, shapes, or equations. Ask: Which one doesn’t belong, and why? Multiple answers spark engagement.
- Exit Ticket Reflection: Prompt: What strategy helped you most today? Use responses to guide the next lesson.
- Notice and Wonder: Display a graph or pattern. Students list what they notice and wonder. Curiosity grows naturally from this habit of mind.
Join the Conversation
This blog series isn’t meant to be read in isolation. It’s an ongoing conversation among educators. I’d love to hear from you, hear what works for you, and your context.
- Share your reflections and stories using #MathSuccessJourney.
- Tag @NationalGeographicLearning @BigIdeasLearning @SophieSpecjal
- Join the mid-series webinar for interactive Q&A and teacher spotlights.
- Contribute classroom examples for future spotlights by contacting me at [email protected]
Looking Ahead
Mathematics education has never had a stronger research base or a more dedicated community of teachers. The future is bright, and it begins with you—the educators who spark curiosity, build confidence, and prepare students for a lifetime of mathematical thinking.
Stay tuned for the next blog: Strategy #1: Focus and Coherence.
Let’s begin this journey together!