Using a Student-Centered Math Approach
Have you ever felt like every new math strategy or program is just more to juggle? From colorful problem-solving cards to trendy new resources, it’s easy to feel like you’re constantly adding to your plate — without seeing deeper learning stick. In this episode, Mona Iehl shares how she stopped the cycle of piling on and started using a student-centered math approach that truly transformed her classroom.
📚 Get ready to rethink your math block and ditch the overwhelm.
🎙️ Meet Mona Iehl — Teacher, Coach & Math Thought Partner
Mona Iehl is a seasoned math coach and the creator of Word Problem Workshop, a framework designed to help teachers turn word problems into the most powerful part of their day. Her approach focuses on deep thinking, collaboration, and math confidence—without adding to your workload. In this episode, Mona walks through how to stop relying on one-off “add-ons” and start teaching from a core approach that works with your curriculum, not on top of it.
📣 Think of it as your official permission slip to teach smarter, not heavier.
❓ Add-On or Approach? Know the Difference (And Why It Matters)
What’s the difference between using a strategy as an add-on versus building it into your approach? Mona breaks it down simply: an add-on is a one-time activity that gets squeezed in, like “Word Problem Wednesdays.” An approach, on the other hand, is how you teach every day—it’s embedded into your planning, classroom routines, and mindset.
⚖️ This section will help you assess whether your current routines are adding weight or building impact.
🧠 Why “More” Isn’t Helping—And What Actually Does
When we rely on add-ons, we might spark quick engagement—but we rarely see long-term understanding. Mona shares her own experience of trying to use problem-solving cards and realizing that without consistency, even the best resources fall flat. Shifting to a daily student-centered math routine—where students grapple, discuss, and reflect—made the difference in her students’ thinking, confidence, and independence.
📊 Get a real-life look at how shifting from “do it all” to “do what matters” pays off.
🔄 Ready to Shift? Here’s How to Make It Happen
You don’t need a new curriculum—you need a new lens. Here are Mona’s three actionable tips to shift from an add-on mindset to a student-centered math approach:
- Ask yourself: Does this help students think?
If it’s busy work, skip it. If it builds reasoning, keep it. - Look for overlap, not extras.
Use new strategies that align with what you’re already doing—not that compete with it. - Give yourself permission to pass.
Just because it’s trendy doesn’t mean it fits your teaching style or your students’ needs.
🔧 Simple, doable shifts that can start today.
🎁 Wrap-Up: A Better Way Forward
Here’s the big takeaway: You don’t need more. You need meaningful. When your math block is guided by a clear, student-centered approach, you stop spinning your wheels—and your students start doing the deep thinking they were meant to. Mona encourages teachers to look for teaching moves that embed meaning, routine, and flexibility. That’s the heart of Word Problem Workshop—and it’s a game-changer.
📘 Want to make word problems the main course in your math class?
👉 Enroll now in Word Problem Workshop Teacher Training or pre-order the book releasing this fall!
🎧 Listen + Subscribe
Ready to make math teaching lighter, deeper, and more joyful?
🎧 Tune in now to hear the full episode
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⭐ Leave a review to help more teachers stop adding more and start teaching with clarity and purpose
📥 Join Word Problem Workshop HERE!
Your students don’t need more worksheets. They need more opportunities to think. And you don’t need more stress—you just need the right approach.
You’ve got this, and Mona’s here to help you make it happen.
