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Top Reasons Students Struggle in Elementary Math and What to Do About It
Thursday, April 2, 2026 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm EDT
Presented by Jen Hunt, Lead Math Specialist, New Math Minds, and Author; and Laura Nelson, Lead Math Specialist, Mathways NW, and Author
Sponsored by Zaner-Bloser
Watch the RecordingListen to the Podcast
Learn more about earning a CE certificate and our accessibility features.
Year after year, students struggle with elementary math concepts. Research shows that there are specific, targeted ways to help.
In this edWebinar, math specialists and former classroom teachers Jen Hunt and Laura Nelson present the most common reasons students may not be ready to access grade-level material and offer research-based solutions to address those challenges within the school day.
By the end of the session, viewers are able to:
- Describe reasons students aren’t accessing their grade-level materials
- Identify effective strategies for building conceptual understanding of foundational math skills
- Consider the roles positivity, identity, and self-confidence play in math achievement
- Create requirements for an intervention plan that works for your school or district
This recorded edWebinar is of interest to K-5 teachers, school leaders, and district leaders.
About the Presenters
Jen Hunt serves as Lead Math Specialist for New Math Minds, working in schools across the U.S. to approach math education through the lens of child development and brain research. Formerly an elementary classroom teacher, Jen specializes in small-group math instruction, number sense, primary interventions, maximizing engagement for efficiency, and reflective practice. She developed Kickstart: Counting and Number Sense; Kickstart: Operations; and Kickstart: Fractions in response to needs she saw while working with teachers in over 100 school districts throughout the Northwest.
Laura Nelson has been a full-time math consultant since 2014, supporting elementary educators in all aspects of math instruction. Laura combines decades of elementary teaching experience with a background in advertising and visual design to help educators bridge the art of teaching with research-based strategies that make math concepts visible, accessible, and engaging for students. She is co-author of Kickstart: Counting and Number Sense; Kickstart: Operations; and Kickstart: Fractions.
Learn more about earning a CE certificate and our accessibility features.
Join the Building Math Proficiency community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.
Zaner-Bloser develops curriculum resources to teach foundational literacy and math skills to students in prekindergarten through sixth grade. Our resources help teachers engage and empower students and inspire more “aha” moments to harness the creative power of learning. As a member of the Highlights Family of Companies, we believe children are the most important people, so we strive to always do what’s right for children and to make a significant contribution to their education.
