Every teacher knows the feeling. You are about to introduce a tricky math concept, and suddenly those old acronyms and shortcuts start swirling around: FOIL, Keep Change Flip, Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally. They are familiar, but they do not help students understand why math works the way it does and requires them to rely on memorization, which is not what math is all about.
Many teachers admit they do not always feel fully confident teaching certain standards conceptually. They know the what, but not always the why behind it. Research shows that professional learning is most effective when it happens “just in time,” right before teachers need to apply it in the classroom.
That is where PD on Demand comes in.
Learning That Meets Teachers Where They Are
PD on Demand gives educators access to focused, targeted professional learning exactly when they need it, not months before or after a new concept or unit begins. This “just-in-time” approach helps teachers connect new knowledge to their immediate instructional goals, increasing both confidence and classroom impact.
When teachers have the opportunity to quickly review the conceptual foundations behind a standard, such as understanding what multiplication means rather than simply memorizing the rules for how to multiply, they are better equipped to guide students through authentic mathematical reasoning that can be applied to future learning.
For example, in third grade, students are introduced to multiplication. While fluency is important, if multiplication is not introduced conceptually as “__ groups of __ items,” students are merely memorizing facts without understanding where those products come from. When students grasp that 2 × 3 represents “two groups of three items,” they can visualize and create an array model, connecting meaning to the process. This conceptual grounding allows them to later extend their understanding of multiplication to new contexts, such as multiplying fractions, integers, or polynomials—rather than seeing each as a separate, unrelated skill.
Imagine third grade teachers engaging in PD On-Demand modules that focus on how to conceptually introduce multiplication before planning and teaching these lessons. The result would be teachers who feel confident in both the why and the how—ready to build student understanding first, and fluency second.
From Confidence to Classroom Results
Studies have shown that when teachers receive relevant PD close to the moment they will use it, their confidence levels increase significantly. That confidence translates directly into improved classroom outcomes and stronger student understanding.
NTN’s MathKEYmatics (MKM) platform supports this approach by providing standards-aligned tools and professional learning modules that teachers can use before, during, or after instruction. With built-in resources and problem types that emphasize reasoning and conceptual learning, MKM reinforces the professional growth that begins in PD.
Teaching Math for Understanding
At NTN, we believe professional learning should help educators teach math for understanding, not memorization. PD on Demand is more than a convenient format; it is a mindset shift toward learning that truly sticks, for both teachers and students.
So whether your least favorite math acronym is FOIL or Keep Change Flip, we are here to help you feel confident teaching beyond the rules.