Debate 51 - Should We Pause Grade Level Instruction to Rebuild Prior Skills?

This month’s debate is a recording from a LIVE debate that took place at the West Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics (WVCTM) Conference in March of 2026. When students don’t have the prerequisite skills, do we hit pause? Or do we stay the course and fix gaps in real time? You’re working on solving equations, but integer operations are falling apart. Or you’re introducing functions, and foundational algebra skills are missing. If you pause grade-level content, are you giving students what they truly need — or widening opportunity gaps by lowering expectations and delaying access to rigorous math? If you push forward, are you maintaining high standards — or setting students up for confusion and frustration? Listen in as two teams argue their side in a LIVE debate on this resolution: It is better to pause grade-level instruction to rebuild prior skills than to push forward and address gaps as they appear. -You can reach Sissy Collins at the Harrison County Board of Education, via email at [email protected], or on Facebook. -You can find Sarah McGivern via Jefferson County Schools or on Instagram: @SSMcGivern -You can reach Ellen Holt at Summers County HS, via email at [email protected], or on LinkedIn -And find Jason Massie via Mountain View School. -And thanks to the WVCTM Conference for inviting us in! ---------------- Listened to the episode? Now, it’s your turn to share! Go to our Instagram or BlueSky: @DebateMath to share your thoughts. Keep up with all the latest info by following @DebateMath or going to debatemath.com. Follow us @Rob_Baier & @cluzniak. And don’t forget to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts!