Math is Figure-Out-Able!

Are Problem Strings the same thing as Thin Slicing? In this episode Pam and Kim talk about the similarities between Problem Strings and Dr. Peter Liljedahl's Thin Slicing. Talking Points: Example Problem String: Calling on students strategically in a Problem String Strategic seating arrangements for partner talk Similarities between Problem Strings and Thin Slicing: Purposefully designed sequ...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on May 7, 2025.  Note: It’s more fun if you try to solve the problem, share it on social media, comment on others strategies, before you listen to Pam and Kim’s strategies. Check out #MathStratChat on your favorite social media site and join in the conversation. Twitter: @PWHarris Instagram: Pam Harris_m...

You facilitated a Problem String! ... Now what? In this episode Pam and Kim share they think about after facilitating a Problem String and what their next steps for their classroom might be. Talking Points: Ways to up the ante Echo strings How much to change at once Next Step strings When to move on When to anchor Get Problem String books here: https://www.mathisfigureoutable.com/books      Check...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on April 30, 2025.  Note: It’s more fun if you try to solve the problem, share it on social media, comment on others strategies, before you listen to Pam and Kim’s strategies. Check out #MathStratChat on your favorite social media site and join in the conversation. Twitter: @PWHarris Instagram: Pam Harri...

You've chosen a Problem String to teach, but does it need any preparation? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss how they prepare to facilitate a Problem String. Talking Points: Is it ok to adjust a pre-written Problem String? What should you include in your 'Kim's Notes'? What will your final board layout look like? Naming specific teacher moves  Practice using models ahead of t...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on April 23, 2025.  Note: It’s more fun if you try to solve the problem, share it on social media, comment on others strategies, before you listen to Pam and Kim’s strategies. Check out #MathStratChat on your favorite social media site and join in the conversation. Twitter: @PWHarris Instagram: Pam Harri...

Which Problem Strings are appropriate for your students? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss what they consider when choosing a Problem String for a classroom. Talking Points: A fraction addition example string Things to consider when choosing a Problem String: Prewritten vs write your own Time of year Strategies students already own Building a model vs building a strategy Order of sophistication...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on April 16, 2025.  Note: It’s more fun if you try to solve the problem, share it on social media, comment on others strategies, before you listen to Pam and Kim’s strategies. Check out #MathStratChat on your favorite social media site and join in the conversation. Twitter: @PWHarris Instagram: Pam Harri...

What kinds of tasks help students build multi-digit multiplication and division strategies? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss how to sequence tasks to develop the foundational strategies and relationships for multi-digit multiplication and division: Scaling, Over and Adjust, Partial Products, Factoring Talking Points: Benefits of using diverse task types Sample of three "messy" tasks t...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on April 9, 2025.  Note: It’s more fun if you try to solve the problem, share it on social media, comment on others strategies, before you listen to Pam and Kim’s strategies. Check out #MathStratChat on your favorite social media site and join in the conversation. Twitter: @PWHarris Instagram: Pam Harris...

What kinds of tasks help students build multi-digit addition and subtraction strategies? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss how to sequence tasks to develop the foundational strategies and relationships for multi-digit addition and subtraction: Friendly numbers, place value, adjusting, the commutative property, decomposing Talking Points: Sequencing tasks is more than just moving from one page to...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on April 2, 2025.  Note: It’s more fun if you try to solve the problem, share it on social media, comment on others strategies, before you listen to Pam and Kim’s strategies. Check out #MathStratChat on your favorite social media site and join in the conversation. Twitter: @PWHarris Instagram: Pam Harris...

Math class is richer and more fun when the goal is more than answer-getting! In this episode Pam and Kim discuss how to sequence tasks to develop the foundational strategies and relationships for single digit multiplication and division: doubling, making use of ten, and partial products/quotients. Talking Points: Three sample sequence of tasks that use: A product approach Student exploration of pa...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on March 26, 2025.  Note: It’s more fun if you try to solve the problem, share it on social media, comment on others strategies, before you listen to Pam and Kim’s strategies. Check out #MathStratChat on your favorite social media site and join in the conversation. Twitter: @PWHarris Instagram: Pam Harri...

What should the bulk of math class look like? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss sequencing tasks to build foundational relationships that develop into major strategies. Talking Points Major relationships that build the major strategies Problem Strings are one kind of task Foundational Relationships for young learners Rich tasks that get kids messing with relationships What does practice look lik...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on March 19, 2025.  Note: It’s more fun if you try to solve the problem, share it on social media, comment on others strategies, before you listen to Pam and Kim’s strategies. Check out #MathStratChat on your favorite social media site and join in the conversation. Twitter: @PWHarris Instagram: Pam Harri...

Why do students give up on learning math? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss how using algorithms as teaching tools is distorting students' perception of what the definition of math is, which results in a poor mathematical identity.  Talking Points: A mysterious five pound bag A proportional reasoning Problem String Trap #1 and #2 (see Ep 246 and 247 for more details) Trap #3 a false definit...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on March 12, 2025.  Note: It’s more fun if you try to solve the problem, share it on social media, comment on others strategies, before you listen to Pam and Kim’s strategies. Check out #MathStratChat on your favorite social media site and join in the conversation. Twitter: @PWHarris Instagram: Pam Harri...

Why do students not realize their incorrect answers are completely unreasonable? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss another trap students fall into when taught to mimic algorithms as 'the way' to solve problems. Talking Points: The patterns in Remove a Friendly Number Over strategy Important place value conversations How students can be stuck dealing with only digits rather than magnitu...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on March 5, 2025.  Note: It’s more fun if you try to solve the problem, share it on social media, comment on others strategies, before you listen to Pam and Kim’s strategies. Check out #MathStratChat on your favorite social media site and join in the conversation. Twitter: @PWHarris Instagram: Pam Harris...

If a student can perform an algorithm, have they developed the mathematical reasoning that operation calls for? Or are they answer-getting? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss a major trap students fall into when we teach mathematics as a series of steps to rotely memorize.  Talking Points: A closer look at the multiplication algorithm and a major trap. Problem String that helps give students a hi...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on February 26, 2025.  Note: It’s more fun if you try to solve the problem, share it on social media, comment on others strategies, before you listen to Pam and Kim’s strategies. Check out #MathStratChat on your favorite social media site and join in the conversation. Twitter: @PWHarris Instagram: Pam Ha...

If math is figure-out-able why does the world not always teach it that way? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss the three major distortions holding back math education today. Autostereograms as a metaphor How the distortions are learned How the distortions create frustration How classrooms transform without distortions We want all kids to "see the shark"! Check out our social media Twitt...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on February 19, 2025.  Note: It’s more fun if you try to solve the problem, share it on social media, comment on others strategies, before you listen to Pam and Kim’s strategies. Check out #MathStratChat on your favorite social media site and join in the conversation. Twitter: @PWHarris Instagram: Pam Ha...

There are so many way to participate in math professional learning! In this episode Pam and Kim discuss some benefits of choosing your own learning and engaging in free opportunities. Talking Points: Traditional forms of professional development Benefits of multi-day online summits/conferences The value of a shared experience Join in on these great math summits from other fantastic educators! Buli...