For many teachers, changing a maths resource can feel like a big leap — especially if it’s something your team has been using for years. But just because it’s familiar doesn’t mean your maths program is working. In fact, one of the most common blockers to better maths outcomes is sticking with a resource that’s no longer doing the job.
So how can you tell if your maths program isn’t working?
Here are the signs your current maths resource might be holding your students, or you, back.
1. You’re spending hours reworking lessons
A good resource should save you time, not create more work, teachers are too time poor for that. If you find yourself constantly rewriting lessons, sourcing additional materials, or creating your own scaffolding to make the content usable, that’s a red flag that your maths program isn’t working for you.
Effective resources come ready to deliver, with structured lesson ideas, worked examples, clear explanations, and formative assessment opportunities built in. You should be able to focus on teaching, not piecing things together.
2 . Students aren’t progressing
One of the clearest indicators your maths resource might not be working is student stagnation. Are students still struggling with the same concepts week after week? A good program should support student growth. If your current solution doesn’t provide clear feedback or tools to address learning gaps, it might be holding students back.
Look for signs like:
- Repeated confusion around core topics
- Minimal improvement on assessments
- Gaps in understanding that aren’t being addressed
3. Differentiation is too hard
Mixed-ability classrooms are the reality, not the exception. If your current resource only teaches to the middle, offers token “support” and “extension” worksheets, or assumes all students are progressing at the same pace, it’s likely leaving many learners behind.
Resources that build in diagnostics, adaptive pathways, and targeted tasks help you meet students where they’re at, without multiplying your prep time.
4. Data is either missing or unhelpful
Data should inform your teaching, not overwhelm it. If your resource doesn’t offer insights into where students are struggling, or if the data it does provide is difficult to interpret, you’re flying blind.
Look for tools that help you identify:
- Which students need intervention
- What topics require re-teaching
- Who’s ready for extension
5. Students are disengaged
Sometimes the clearest sign is how your students are responding. Are your stronger students coasting through tasks with little challenge? Are others switching off because they don’t understand the content or can’t keep up?
When a resource doesn’t support varied learning needs, confidence and engagement both suffer. Which makes disengagement a sign that your maths program may not be working.
Disengagement could look like:
- Behaviour issues during maths lessons
- Lack of effort on tasks
- Resistance to new concepts
A great resource makes maths feel meaningful, manageable, and rewarding.
6. It’s not supporting team consistency
Improving maths outcomes across a school takes more than individual teacher effort—it requires consistent, high-quality teaching across classes. If your resource leaves too much open to interpretation or puts the burden of planning on each teacher, consistency will suffer.
Shared lessons, structured approaches, and faculty-wide tools help ensure that no matter who’s teaching, students are receiving a cohesive experience.
What a great maths resource should do
The best programs support teachers and stretch learners. They go beyond curriculum alignment to be truly classroom-ready, offering:
- Fully planned, sequenced lessons
- Clear instructional strategies
- Built-in differentiation
- Formative assessments and live data
- Resources that work across your team
Time to explore something new?
If any of these signs feel familiar, it might be time to reconsider your current program. Not every resource is built for today’s classroom, but Instructive is.
Instructive is a complete teaching and learning program designed by teachers, for teachers. It includes curriculum-aligned, classroom-tested lessons, diagnostic tools, and real-time data dashboards to help you target support where it matters.
With over 12 years of refinement and input from 10,000+ teachers, Instructive helps schools simplify planning, boost student engagement, and deliver measurable results.
Learn more at Instructive.com
