How to Teach Grade-Level Math Without Leaving Students Behind

Making Math Moments That Matter · Mar 2, 2026 · 19m

If you wait until every student has mastered a math concept, you might still be in Unit 1 in December.

Many teachers feel they can’t move on until students demonstrate mastery—especially after recent learning gaps. But staying in one math unit for weeks or months often creates a different problem: reduced access to grade-level math, missed standards, and growing opportunity gaps for the entire class. In this episode, Jon Orr, Yvette Lehman, and Beth Curran explore the question teachers are asking right now: When is it okay to move on in math—and how do you do it responsibly?

In This Episode…