iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Kristen Smith @kristensmith.substack.com · 19/07/2026

Excited to announce that Cultivating Math Confidence is now available at the link below and on Amazon. I hope it shines a light on what we can do to support all learners to grow their confidence in math! #iteachmath #mtbos www.routledge.com/Cultivating-...

010

Kristen Smith @kristensmith.substack.com · 02/09/2025

I have come to understand that being a math teacher is also being a language teacher. #iteachmath #mtbos open.substack.com/pub/kristens...

031

Kristen Smith @kristensmith.substack.com · 01/04/2025

We did a model problem of a roof truss where they calculated the total lengths of wood. We discussed how the shape needs to be symmetrical and each triangle needs to have measurements that are mathematically sound. Other than that, the design was up to them. Here’s the model problem:

010

Kristen Smith @kristensmith.substack.com · 31/03/2025

I started doing this end of unit extension project for trigonometry and similarity where students can design their own roof truss. There were some pretty cool design this year! #mtbos #iteachmath

Roof truss design with measurements and triangles

160

Kristen Smith @kristensmith.substack.com · 13/03/2025

This problem was so much fun! It was really exciting to see how many different solution paths students could come up with to find the perimeter of the square. Beautifully knits together properties of trigonometry and Pythagorean theorem. #iteachmath #mtbos @illustratemath.bsky.social

040

Kristen Smith @kristensmith.substack.com · 04/03/2025

This problem was great! A student said: “Wait but I just realized it also works if you switch them! Sin(41) still equals cos(49) even though it’s a totally different value!” And then another student said: “Wait, does it also work for 30 and 60?” And the whole class was like YES! 🤯 #iteachmath #mtbos

3183

Kristen Smith @kristensmith.substack.com · 27/02/2025

We launched trigonometry today in Math II. I’ve been using this resource for years and it’s still my favorite way for students to investigate the ratios. Students walk away understanding where the values in the calculator “come from”. #iteachmath #mtbos www.projectmaths.ie/documents/T&...

050

Kristen Smith @kristensmith.substack.com · 07/02/2025

Who would have thought that I would by chance put a “someone who is wearing a red shirt…” protocol in a presentation in Kansas City on Red Friday before the Super Bowl 😂 #NCTMKC25 #mtbos

020

Kristen Smith @kristensmith.substack.com · 06/02/2025

Really enjoyed hearing from Gail Burrill about ways to integrate AI with math teaching to empower students as learners #NCTMKC25 #mtbos #iteachmath

020

Kristen Smith @kristensmith.substack.com · 01/02/2025

Excited to be presenting at #NCTMKC25 next week. My session “Student Response Protocols in the Math Classroom” is Friday at 11:30 AM. Let me know if you will also be there — I’d love to connect with other #mtbos #iteachmath folks!

040

Kristen Smith @kristensmith.substack.com · 16/01/2025

This problem always challenges students because they have trouble turning the triangles in their mind — see how they found two different scale factors? This year I finally realized I could turn this into manipulatives that they could actually turn and it was game-changing! #mtbos #iteachmath ♾️

120

Kristen Smith @kristensmith.substack.com · 20/12/2024

Some favorites from the end of semester AP Stats projects. Students chose their own statistical questions to collect data and analyze. And nothing better than a positive review from a student 😁 #mtbos #iteachmath #statschat

250

Kristen Smith @kristensmith.substack.com · 20/12/2024

My favorite way to close out a topic — send a problem! This one was arithmetic or geometric sequences and they could write the explicit or recursive function for their partner’s sequence. A fun way to head off to break #mtbos #iteachmath ♾️

030

Kristen Smith @kristensmith.substack.com · 15/11/2024

Exploring how sample size impacts variability of samples using our class data on number of siblings. I’m always still nervous that the data won’t reveal what I need it to but every time it works out! Students came super close to even deriving CLT 🤓 #mtbos #iteachmath

170