Mona Math
Transform Math Class into a Community of Problem Solvers
A 5 step daily routine that helps teachers teach word problems with clarity and confidence.
word problem workshop
is a 5 step instructional strategy that gives a structure for math discussion, and meaningful problem solving.
Designed for K–5 classrooms. Adaptable to any math curriculum.
When there isn’t a clear routine for teaching word problems, students:
- Shut down or disengage when problems feel overwhelming.
- Struggle to understand what the question is asking
- Rush to guess without thinking critically
and teachers:
- Feel overwhelmed and unsure how to support all learners
- Spend too much time troubleshooting instead of facilitating thinking
- Struggle to create consistency and clarity in across math lessons
it's less about effort or ability... and more about having a clear routine that supports thinking.
Word problems aren’t the problem... Inconsistent routines are.
What is Word Problem Workshop?
A 5 step daily routine that gives teachers a clear structure for supporting sense making and problem solving in their classrooms.
Launch: Prepares students to make sense of the problem
Grapple: Protected time for students to think and explore
Share: Surfaces student thinking for collective sense making
Discuss: Connects strategies and ideas to deepen understanding
Reflect: Builds metacognition and supports transfer to future problems
Word Problem Workshop isn’t about finding the perfect problem, it’s about having a routine that works with any curriculum.
what you’ll find inside the book
A daily routine for teaching word problems that gets every student meaningfully engaged
Clear teacher moves to support sense making across a range of learners
Guidance for using your existing curriculum (this isn’t one more thing)
Support for helping students reflect on their thinking so learning transfers to new problems
Structures that help create a classroom culture where struggle is expected and productive
Concrete examples that show what the 5 steps look like in real classrooms
Teacher Tested!
Teachers across grade levels have used Word Problem Workshop to bring consistency and clarity to their math instruction.
” Mona lays out a five-step routine that any teacher can implement, providing all the tools and strategies needed to bring it to life. She truly thinks of everything.”
– Molly Lindhart, 5th Grade Teacher
“Word Problem Workshop changed how I teach math; my students are thriving.”
-Amanda, 2nd Grade Teacher
“I’ve been utilizing Word Problem Workshop in my classroom and there is a noticeable difference in how my students think and approach math.”
– Jimmy, 3rd Grade Teacher
expert approved!
“This will be my go-to resource as a coach supporting teachers in creating meaningful problem-solving experiences for their students!”
– Nicora Placa, author of 6 Tools for Collaborative Mathematics Coaching
“Mona Iehl’s own transformation as a math teacher serves as inspiration and encouragement for teachers who are committed to enriching the mathematics learning experiences of their students. A must have for any elementary teacher ready for a change!”
– Peg Smith, Co-Author of 5 Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematics Discussions
Start using Word Problem Workshop in your classroom
This book gives you a clear, flexible routine you can use with the curriculum you already teach.
download the book resources
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Bring Word Problem Workshop to life in your classroom.
The Math Teacher Support Circle is a guided implementation space for teachers using Word Problem Workshop. It’s designed to support you as you try the routine, adapt it to your students, and refine your practice over time.
💻 Monthly live support calls focused on real classroom questions.
📲 Ongoing chat space for questions as they come up
🎥 Monthly training aligned to where teachers typically get stuck
👯 A community of teachers using the same routine