Misconception Decoder: 2 Session online Workshop for Math Educators

About Course

Before we can fix misconceptions, we need to understand them.

In primary math, some mistakes are not just slips—they’re signs of deep-rooted misunderstandings. These misconceptions often persist for years, quietly disrupting learning until they show up in more complex topics like fractions or algebra.

The Decoder Sessions are the essential foundation of the My Misconception Mentor series. Think of them as a diagnostic toolkit—equipping you to look beyond correct or incorrect answers and focus instead on how students are thinking.

Why These Sessions Are Different

Traditional assessments miss the “why” behind mistakes

Most tests reveal whether an answer is right or wrong, but not what led a student there. ASSET assessments are designed to uncover the thinking behind the errors—helping you identify misconceptions with precision.

Misconceptions aren’t bad habits—they’re faulty blueprints

While a question may be posed to a student at a particular grade, the student’s approach to the question is often a culmination of the teaching-learning process across several grades prior.

Thus, misconceptions are not just careless errors. They’re misunderstandings that have been reinforced over time. Addressing them requires a fresh look at how concepts are introduced and reinforced.

We go beyond fixes and quick tricks. Instead, you’ll learn how to teach differently, so students build strong, accurate mental models from the start.

What You’ll Gain

• The 10 most common math misconceptions in Grades 1–5 for Primary and 6-8 for Middle School

• Real student responses drawn from large-scale ASSET assessments

• Insights into why these misconceptions form—and why they persist

• Practical strategies to shift how you teach core concepts

• Classroom-ready tools and questions that promote deeper understanding

• A framework to identify, respond to, and prevent common learning gaps

Who Should Attend

• Math Teachers (Grades 1–8) looking to deepen their practice

• Tutors and Intervention Educators who want to address root-level errors

• Parents who are homeschooling or seeking a strong, conceptual math foundation for their child

Start Here

These sessions are designed to shift your perspective on student errors—from problems to be fixed to windows into student thinking.

They lay the groundwork for the rest of the My Misconception Mentor series by helping you diagnose first—so you can teach better, sooner. From here, you will be able to continue the conversation into the 6 series deep dive of My Misconception Mentor if you choose.