
The Difference Between Fun Math and Meaningful Math
From Modern Math Teacher- Teaching Strategies for High School and Middle School Math Teachers by Kristen Moore- High School Algebra Teacher + AI Educator + PBL Coach
April 22, 2026 · 10 min · Episode 166
About this episode
This episode discusses the distinction between fun math and meaningful math, emphasizing how to design lessons that promote real learning.
Let’s talk. Send me a message with your email and I’ll get back to you! Not all engagement leads to learning. In this episode, we break down the difference between fun math and meaningful math—and how to start designing lessons that actually stick. In This Episode: Why “fun” doesn’t always equal learningThe 3-part framework: real, relevant, rigorousHow to improve your lessons without starting overA simple shift you can try right away Key Takeaway: Meaningful math = real + relevant + rigorous...
People in this episode
Host: Kristen Moore
Topics covered
- engagement in math
- fun vs meaningful math
- lesson design
- educational strategies
- math education
Keywords
- fun math
- meaningful math
- lesson design
- engagement
- educational framework
More episodes of Modern Math Teacher- Teaching Strategies for High School and Middle School Math Teachers
- 175 Why Every Math Teacher Should Study Above and Below Their Grade Level · June 11, 2026 · 10 min
- 174 The Math Concepts I Finally Understand More Deeply as a Teacher · June 9, 2026 · 11 min
- 173 Why Teaching the Same Lesson Five Times Never Actually Works · June 4, 2026 · 9 min
- 172 Why I Stopped Winging It as a Math Teacher This Year · June 2, 2026 · 15 min
- 171 Turn Any Math Lesson Into a Real-World Experience (In About 15 Minutes) · May 26, 2026 · 8 min
- 170 You Don’t Have Time for This… Or Do You? (3 Biggest Myths About Real-World Math) · May 19, 2026 · 10 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Modern Math Teacher- Teaching Strategies for High School and Middle School Math Teachers podcast page.