The Math Genius Squad: Math Expressions Support for Teachers
Shannon Kiebler 
Learn what Math Genius Squad is, what it isn’t, and how Shannon Kiebler’s Math Expressions support helps teachers plan faster & teach with confidence.
Math Expressions Support for Teachers
If you use Math Expressions, you probably already know there is a lot packed into the curriculum. Lessons, routines, methods, models, assessments, differentiation ideas, student pages, teacher guidance...and only so much time to plan and teach it all.
That is exactly why I created the Math Genius Squad.
The Math Genius Squad is not another math curriculum. You already have Math Expressions. The Squad is the support I built to help you use that curriculum more effectively, plan more efficiently, and respond to what your students actually need.
So, What Is the Math Genius Squad?
The Math Genius Squad, or MGS, is lesson-by-lesson support designed specifically for teachers using Math Expressions.
You can go directly to your grade level, unit, and lesson and find resources that connect to what you are already teaching. These may include ready-to-use slides, teacher guidance, scaffolds, sentence frames, discussion support, reasoning routines, small-group resources, additional practice, Spanish resources, and more.
The goal is not to give you another pile of things to do.
It is to make it easier to answer the questions teachers are already asking while they plan:
What matters most in this lesson? Where might students struggle? What support could help? How can I get students talking and thinking more deeply about the mathematics?
Instead of starting from scratch, you have support already connected to the lesson in front of you.
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What the Math Genius Squad Is NOT
Just as important, the Squad is not a replacement for Math Expressions.
It is designed to strengthen the curriculum you already use, not compete with it.
It is also not a collection of random worksheets or activities. There are plenty of places to find another math page. What teachers often need more is help deciding how to use the curriculum well.
And you are definitely not expected to use every Squad resource every day.
Some days you may need the lesson slides. Another day, a lesson video might be the most useful tool. You may use the ready-made slides to strengthen discussion or pull a small-group resource when a few students need additional support.
The resource should support your teaching, not create another program you have to manage.
Good Math Support Should Do More Than Add More Problems
One of the things I think about often, especially at the beginning of the school year, is the kind of math classroom we are trying to build.
Math Expressions asks students to share strategies, explain their thinking, listen to different approaches, make mistakes, revise ideas, and defend their reasoning. Students need more than math problems to do that well. They need routines, language support, good teacher questions, and a classroom where it feels safe to share unfinished thinking.
That is why the Math Genius Squad support includes resources like these alongside more traditional lesson resources.
Strong math instruction is not just about getting through the lesson. It is about helping students make sense of the mathematics.
A Simple Test for Any Math Resource
Before adding something new to your planning routine, ask yourself three questions:
Does this strengthen the curriculum I already use?
A resource should connect to the methods, models, language, and progression students are already learning rather than creating a completely separate path.
Does it help students think more deeply?
Sometimes students need more practice, but sometimes they need a better question, another representation, or a chance to compare strategies.
Does it actually save me time?
If a resource takes another hour to figure out how it fits your lesson, it may not be making planning any easier.
Those questions have shaped the way I build resources inside the Squad.
When Would I Use the Math Genius Squad?
Teachers use the Squad in different ways depending on what they need.
You might open it while planning a new unit to get a better sense of where the mathematics is headed. You might use it while planning your week to identify important lesson support, or the night before a lesson when you need something ready to go.
You may turn to it when students are struggling and you need a scaffold, a small-group option, or another way to approach the concept. You might also use it to strengthen classroom discussion or help students explain their mathematical thinking more clearly.
The goal is for the Squad to become a place you can go when you need help answering, “What do my students need from this lesson?”
You Already Have the Curriculum. Let Me Help You Use It Well.
That is really the heart of the Math Genius Squad.
I am not trying to give you more math to teach. I want to help you make thoughtful decisions about the math you are already teaching, spend less time creating everything yourself, and feel more confident responding to your students.
Whether you are getting ready for back to school, planning a new unit, or simply trying to make tomorrow's lesson a little easier, the support is there when you need it.
You already have Math Expressions. The Math Genius Squad helps you make the most of it.
Categories: : back to school, elementary math, Lesson Planning, Math class, shannon kiebler