When students ask this question, it’s not about attitude.

👉 It’s about relevance.

In this episode, we break down what students are really asking—and how to start making math feel more meaningful without redesigning your entire curriculum.

In This Episode:

• Why students struggle to see the value in math
• Why common teacher responses don’t work
• What students actually need to stay engaged
• A simple shift to make your lessons more relevant

Key Takeaway: Students engage when math feels useful—not just important.

💌Free Guide: Project or Practice?
Not sure when to use real-world projects vs. skill-based practice?

Download here: https://moorethanjustx.myflodesk.com/practice

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you!

This podcast is a member of the Teach Better Podcast Network. Better Today. Better Tomorrow. And the Podcasts to Help You Get There.

Connect with Kristen:

• Follow on Instagram @moorethanjustx
• Join the Facebook Community: The Modern Math Teachers Movement

More About the Modern Math Teacher Podcast

Kristen Moore, classroom teacher and instructional coach at Moore Than Just X, empowers modern secondary math teachers to transform the student experience with the strategies and the confidence to implement project-based learning, mastery-based assessment, and student engagement strategies in their classrooms.

Whether you're a math education newbie or a seasoned veteran, you'll find something new and inspiring in every episode. You’re already a listener, why not join the Movement inside ✨The Modern Math Teachers Movement Facebook group. Join the community of math teachers who are not afraid to shake things up and make math class the best part of the day for our students. So tune in each Tuesday, have some fun, and let's elevate our math teaching game together!

*Amazon orders may provide a small affiliate payout at no extra cost to you. These payouts help keep the podcast free for all!

If your students feel disengaged during math class… it’s probably not you.

👉 It’s the lesson design.

In this episode, we break down why students check out—and why trying to be more “fun” isn’t the fix. Instead, we’re shifting toward what actually works: real, relevant, meaningful math.

In This Episode:

✨ Why engagement ≠ entertainment
✨ The real reason students lose interest in math
✨ The difference between fun vs. meaningful lessons
✨ One simple shift to try right away

Engagement comes from meaning, not energy.

Start by asking:
👉 “Why would my students care about this?”

📥 FREE GUIDE: Project or Practice?

Not sure when to use real-world projects vs. skill-based practice?

👉 Grab the free guide: https://moorethanjustx.myflodesk.com/practice

A simple way to start making your math lessons more engaging—without adding more to your plate.

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you!

This podcast is a member of the Teach Better Podcast Network. Better Today. Better Tomorrow. And the Podcasts to Help You Get There.

Connect with Kristen:

• Follow on Instagram @moorethanjustx
• Join the Facebook Community: The Modern Math Teachers Movement

More About the Modern Math Teacher Podcast

Kristen Moore, classroom teacher and instructional coach at Moore Than Just X, empowers modern secondary math teachers to transform the student experience with the strategies and the confidence to implement project-based learning, mastery-based assessment, and student engagement strategies in their classrooms.

Whether you're a math education newbie or a seasoned veteran, you'll find something new and inspiring in every episode. You’re already a listener, why not join the Movement inside ✨The Modern Math Teachers Movement Facebook group. Join the community of math teachers who are not afraid to shake things up and make math class the best part of the day for our students. So tune in each Tuesday, have some fun, and let's elevate our math teaching game together!

*Amazon orders may provide a small affiliate payout at no extra cost to you. These payouts help keep the podcast free for all!

Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming part of everyday classroom life—but the real conversation may be bigger than whether students should be using it.

Students using AI isn’t the real story.

The real story is what their use of AI is revealing about how school currently works.

In this episode, I’m joined by Aron Boxer, CEO and Founder of Diversified Education Services and a former special education teacher and executive functioning specialist. Aron has more than 15 years of experience working with students and families and brings a relationship-based perspective to how students learn and develop.

Together, we explore what the rise of AI in education may actually be revealing about our current system.

Instead of focusing only on the technology itself, we dig into deeper questions:

• Why has student AI use accelerated so quickly?
• What does that trend tell us about the way students experience school?
• What does meaningful human development look like in a world where information is no longer scarce?

For math teachers and classroom educators, this conversation also raises an important challenge: if technology can generate answers instantly, how do we design learning experiences that still prioritize reasoning, problem solving, and human connection?

This episode offers a thoughtful perspective on the future of learning and the skills students need most in an AI-driven world.

In This Episode We Discuss
✔ Why students are rapidly adopting AI tools
✔ The difference between cheating and adaptation
✔ How AI may be exposing deeper shortcomings in our education system
✔ Why banning AI may not solve the real problem
✔ The skills schools should prioritize when information is no longer scarce
✔ How teachers can preserve human connection and authentic thinking in AI-rich classrooms

About Our Guest
Aron Boxer is the CEO and Founder of Diversified Education Services. A former special education teacher and Director of Special Services, Aron specializes in executive fun

Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you!

This podcast is a member of the Teach Better Podcast Network. Better Today. Better Tomorrow. And the Podcasts to Help You Get There.

Connect with Kristen:

• Follow on Instagram @moorethanjustx
• Join the Facebook Community: The Modern Math Teachers Movement

More About the Modern Math Teacher Podcast

Kristen Moore, classroom teacher and instructional coach at Moore Than Just X, empowers modern secondary math teachers to transform the student experience with the strategies and the confidence to implement project-based learning, mastery-based assessment, and student engagement strategies in their classrooms.

Whether you're a math education newbie or a seasoned veteran, you'll find something new and inspiring in every episode. You’re already a listener, why not join the Movement inside ✨The Modern Math Teachers Movement Facebook group. Join the community of math teachers who are not afraid to shake things up and make math class the best part of the day for our students. So tune in each Tuesday, have some fun, and let's elevate our math teaching game together!

*Amazon orders may provide a small affiliate payout at no extra cost to you. These payouts help keep the podcast free for all!