How to Overcome Push-Back in Math Education

In math classrooms, there’s something that shows up again and again: resistance. It can come from students, from teachers, and sometimes even from the school system itself. And over time, it can start to feel like your job is to constantly push against it—trying to convince, redirect, and move people forward. But what if we’ve been thinking about resistance all wrong? What if it’s not something people are, but something they’re experiencing in the moment? Because when students push back or teachers hesitate to try something new, it’s easy to label that as unwillingness. In reality, it’s often rooted in something deeper—fear of being wrong, uncertainty about expectations, past experiences with math, or a lack of trust. And in many cases, the system itself creates the very conditions that lead to resistance in the first place. In this episode, you’ll explore: Why resistance is a state—not a trait What’s really behind student and teacher pushback in math How trust plays a critical role in reducing resistance Why fear and past experiences influence willingness to try new approaches How inconsistent systems and shifting priorities can reinforce resistance What coaches, leaders, and teachers can do to build trust over time If you’ve ever struggled with resistance in your classroom, your coaching, or your school, this episode will help you reframe what’s really happening—and how to respond more effectively. Not sure what matters most when designing math improvement plans? Take this assessment and get a free customized report: Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process. Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem-based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units Show Notes Page Love the show? Text us your big takeaway! Get a Customized Math Improvement Plan For Your District. Are you district leader for mathematics? Take the 12 minute assessment and you’ll get a free, customized improvement plan to shape and grow the 6 parts of any strong mathematics program. Take the assessment Are you wondering how to create K-12 math lesson plans that leave students so engaged they don’t want to stop exploring your math curriculum when the bell rings? In their podcast, Kyle Pearce and Jon Orr—founders of MakeMathMoments.com—share over 19 years of experience inspiring K-12 math students, teachers, and district leaders with effective math activities, engaging resources, and innovative math leadership strategies. Through a 6-step framework, they guide K-12 classroom teachers and district math coordinators on building a strong, balanced math program that grows student and teacher impact. Each week, gain fresh ideas, feedback, and practical strategies to feel more confident and motivate students to see the beauty in math. Start making math moments today by listening to Episode : "Making Math Moments From Day 1 to 180.

You can listen to How to Overcome Push-Back in Math Education online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

How to Overcome Push-Back in Math Education is an episode from Making Math Moments That Matter by Kyle Pearce & Jon Orr.

This episode is 28:28 long.

This episode was published on Apr 23, 2026.

Yes. Use the heart button on the episode page to add it to your favorite episodes list.

Yes. This page shows related episodes from Making Math Moments That Matter when more episodes are available from the podcast feed.