
152: How to Extend Student Thinking (Without More Worksheets)
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About this episode
Ever looked at your stack of printed math worksheets and thought, “There’s got to be a better way”? You're not alone. In today’s episode, we’re flipping the script on word problems—and showing you how just a few small tweaks can stretch your students' thinking without stretching your copy limit.
In this episode, I dive into how to extend student thinking using the problems you already have—no extra pages required. You’ll learn what actually makes a word problem “good,” why how you use a task matters more than what the task is, and three easy ways to tweak your current word problems for deeper student reasoning.
Whether you're a new teacher looking to build problem-solving confidence or a seasoned educator tired of one-size-fits-all worksheets, this conversation will leave you encouraged, inspired, and ready to transform your math block into a space for real thinking.
✨ Resources and Links Mentioned:
🔗 Register for the Mini Workshop – June 20th
🔗 Episode 150: 35 Questions to Get Students Thinking in Math Class
🔗 Download the Free 35 Questions Printable
📲 Stay Connected:
Follow Mona on Instagram → @hellomonamath
Visit the website → monamath.com
✨ Subscribe and leave a quick review to help more teachers find the show—and keep the math buzz going strong!
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