Math Professional Development: Your Options Compared
Looking for professional development that actually improves your math teaching? Here's how to choose.
You've Decided You Need Support. Now What?
You know something needs to change. Teaching math isn't working—for you or your students.
But when you look at professional development options, it gets confusing fast:
- District workshops that leave you with a folder you'll never open
- Curriculum "training" that teaches you how to use the teacher's manual
- Online courses that feel disconnected from your real classroom
- Coaches who want to observe and critique without actually helping
- Conferences that inspire you for a weekend but don't change your practice
How do you choose?
This guide breaks down your options honestly—what works, what doesn't, and what to look for.
Option 1: District-Led Professional Development
What it is:
Workshops provided by your school district, often focused on curriculum implementation or district initiatives.
- ✅ Free (usually)
- ✅ Convenient (during contract hours)
- ✅ Colleagues attend with you
- ❌ Often one-size-fits-all
- ❌ Rarely addresses your specific needs
- ❌ Focuses on compliance, not transformation
- ❌ No follow-up or support
Best for: Learning district-specific procedures, curriculum basics.
Not for: Deep mathematical understanding, lasting instructional change.
Option 2: Curriculum-Provided Training
What it is:
Training sessions provided by whatever curriculum your school purchased (Eureka, Bridges, Investigations, etc.).
- ✅ Focused on materials you're actually using
- ✅ Practical lesson-by-lesson support
- ✅ Usually included with curriculum purchase
- ❌ Teaches you to follow the curriculum, not to think mathematically
- ❌ Doesn't address why students struggle with concepts
- ❌ If the curriculum changes, you're back to square one
- ❌ Doesn't build YOUR mathematical knowledge
Best for: Learning the mechanics of your specific curriculum.
Not for: Developing you as a mathematical thinker, transferable teaching skills.
Option 3: University Courses or Graduate Programs
What it is:
Formal coursework toward a degree or certificate, often focused on mathematics education theory.
- ✅ Deep, research-based content
- ✅ Builds theoretical understanding
- ✅ Can lead to credentials or pay increases
- ❌ Expensive ($1,000s per course)
- ❌ Time-intensive (semesters-long commitment)
- ❌ Often theory-heavy, practice-light
- ❌ Homework and assignments add to your already-full plate
Best for: Long-term career development, research interests.
Not for: Immediate classroom transformation, practical strategies.
Option 4: Online Courses and Webinars
What it is:
Self-paced or scheduled online learning, often focused on specific strategies or activities.
- ✅ Flexible timing (fit around your schedule)
- ✅ Often affordable or free
- ✅ Wide variety of topics available
- ❌ Easy to start, hard to finish
- ❌ No accountability or community
- ❌ Generic content that doesn't address your specific situation
- ❌ No feedback on your actual teaching
Best for: Learning specific techniques, flexible exploration.
Not for: Sustained change, personalized support, accountability.
Option 5: Instructional Coaching
What it is:
One-on-one or small group coaching focused on your specific classroom practice.
- ✅ Personalized to your needs
- ✅ Ongoing support and feedback
- ✅ Focuses on your actual teaching
- ❌ Expensive (often $200+ per hour)
- ❌ Quality varies enormously
- ❌ Can feel judgmental or evaluative
- ❌ Requires trust and vulnerability
Best for: Targeted improvement in specific areas, personalized growth.
Not for: Budget-conscious schools, teachers who need content knowledge (not just pedagogy).
Option 6: The Math Success Program (DMTI)
What it is:
Comprehensive professional development designed specifically for elementary teachers, focused on building mathematical understanding through hands-on experiences.
- ✅ Starts with YOUR mathematical understanding (not just activities to implement)
- ✅ Practical strategies you can use immediately
- ✅ Designed by teachers, for teachers
- ✅ Ongoing support and community
- ✅ Affordable compared to coaching or university courses
- ✅ Focused on lasting change, not quick fixes
- ❌ Requires commitment (not a one-day fix)
- ❌ You have to do the work (no shortcuts)
- ❌ May require advocating with your admin for support
Best for: Teachers ready for transformation, schools wanting sustainable improvement.
Not for: Teachers looking for quick activities without deeper understanding.
Comparison Chart
| Feature | District PD | Curriculum Training | University | Online | Coaching | Math Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free | $$$ | $-$$ | $$$ | $$ |
| Builds YOUR math knowledge | Rarely | No | Sometimes | Rarely | Sometimes | Yes ✓ |
| Practical for tomorrow | Sometimes | Yes | Rarely | Sometimes | Yes | Yes ✓ |
| Ongoing support | No | No | Limited | No | Yes | Yes ✓ |
| Personalized to you | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes ✓ |
| Community of peers | Yes | Yes | Limited | No | Limited | Yes ✓ |
| Sustainable change | Rarely | Rarely | Yes | Rarely | Yes | Yes ✓ |
How to Choose: Questions to Ask
Before committing to any PD, ask:
1. Will this build my mathematical understanding, or just give me activities?
If it's just activities, you'll be back searching for more in a few months.
2. Is there follow-up support, or is it one-and-done?
Sustainable change requires ongoing reflection and adjustment.
3. Is this designed for elementary teachers specifically?
Secondary math PD often misses the unique challenges of K-5 instruction.
4. Will I have a community to learn with?
Teaching is isolating. Learning with peers makes it stick.
5. Can I afford this financially and timewise?
The best PD in the world doesn't help if you can't actually do it.
6. Does this address my specific struggles?
Generic strategies are less useful than targeted support.
Red Flags: PD That Probably Won't Help
- 🚩 "Just use these strategies" — without addressing why they work
- 🚩 One-day workshops — no follow-up, no accountability
- 🚩 Generic content — not specific to elementary math or your situation
- 🚩 No practice component — just sitting and listening
- 🚩 No community — learning in isolation
- 🚩 Focuses only on student activities — doesn't develop teacher understanding
Green Flags: PD That Actually Works
- ✅ Builds mathematical understanding — you learn the math, not just how to teach it
- ✅ Hands-on experiences — you do the math yourself
- ✅ Ongoing support — not a one-time event
- ✅ Community of peers — learning together
- ✅ Practical and sustainable — strategies you can actually implement
- ✅ Addresses your specific needs — personalized, not generic
What Makes Math Success Different
We built the Math Success Program because we saw teachers struggling with options that didn't actually help.
1. Start With You
Before you can teach mathematical thinking, you need to experience it. We begin by exploring mathematical concepts together—giving you the "aha!" moments you never got as a student.
2. Learn by Doing
This isn't sit-and-get. You're actively engaged in mathematical thinking, experiencing what your students will experience. That builds genuine confidence.
3. Immediate Application
Every session includes strategies you can use the very next day. But unlike generic "best practices," you'll understand WHY they work.
4. Ongoing Support
Change happens over time. We stay with you through the implementation process, helping you adjust and refine.
5. Community
You'll learn alongside other elementary teachers who get it. Share struggles, celebrate wins, figure it out together.
6. Affordable
Quality professional development shouldn't require a second mortgage. We've designed pricing that works for schools and individual teachers.
Ready to Learn More?
If the Math Success Program sounds like what you've been looking for, let's talk. We'll answer your questions, discuss your specific situation, and help you figure out if it's the right fit. No pressure. No sales pitch. Just a conversation about what you need.
Schedule a free consultation →Your Decision Framework
- Choose District PD if: You need to learn district systems or curriculum basics.
- Choose Curriculum Training if: You want to implement your current curriculum more effectively.
- Choose University Courses if: You're pursuing long-term credentials or love educational theory.
- Choose Online Courses if: You want flexible, self-directed exploration.
- Choose Coaching if: You need highly personalized support and have the budget.
- Choose Math Success if: You're ready for comprehensive transformation and want affordable, practical support that actually works.
Remember
You're already working incredibly hard. The question isn't whether you're willing to put in effort—it's whether you're getting support that makes that effort count.
The right professional development doesn't add to your burden. It makes everything else easier.
You deserve that. Let's make it happen.
About the Developing Mathematical Thinking Institute
DMTI is dedicated to transforming mathematics education by developing teachers' mathematical thinking and providing practical strategies that create lasting change in classrooms. The Math Success Program is their flagship professional development offering.
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