DCSD MathFest 2026

Have you ever had a day of teaching math to students that felt more like pulling teeth. You push, pull, twist, bend, do a cartwheel, whatever – and they still don’t budge. But you are not a dentist, and you sure aren't paid like one. Whether it is trying to get them to do an assignment, participate in an activity, or contribute to a class discussion, some days it feels like you are doing all the pulling. Instead of the dentist-derived gymnastics, you'll find tremendous success (and relief) by simply tapping into the brain's natural motivation systems. In this session we will unpack the brain’s three hard-wired motivators that work to motivate any student regardless of age, subject, background, etc. We will explore dozens of strategies that can get students “ready” to learn math at any grade level.