“We Want Number Sense and Fluency”—So Why Are You Skipping Data?

Making Math Moments That Matter · Feb 23, 2026 · 19m

Why does data always feel like the thing we don’t have time for in math?

Teachers and leaders say they want students who can think critically, reason mathematically, and engage with real-world problems. But when time gets tight, data is often the first strand to go—seen as extra, wishy-washy, or disconnected from “real math.” In this episode, Jon Orr and Yvette Lehman challenge that thinking and argue that data isn’t competing with number sense—it’s one of the most powerful ways to build it.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

Why data is often perceived as less rigorous or less important in math…