Talk 80: Bigger on the Inside: The Surprising Power of Short Math Routines

How do you begin math class? I start each class with a short problem or discussion prompt designed to get students thinking. These quick routines activate prior knowledge, strengthen conceptual understanding, and build an engaging classroom community. Drawing on ideas from James Lang's Small Teaching and classroom research on retrieval practice and connection-making, this session explores how brief, purposeful activities can make a lasting impact on mathematical learning. Together, we'll examine the pedagogy behind these routines, share examples that spark curiosity and discussion, and consider how to adapt them across different secondary math courses. Participants will leave with a collection of ready-to-use question banks featuring a variety of prompt types, along with strategies for designing their own and weaving them into daily practice. Registration for all webinars at https://oame.on.ca/mcis/
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Podcast notes: Recorded August 2026 - Erick is a Math teacher in Halifax, NS