Math is Figure-Out-Able!

We want our students to be confident problem solvers who can think and reason through complex problems. In this episode, Pam and Kim highlight some of Dr. Peter Liljedahl's work on Building Thinking Classrooms to use student's natural inclinations to help them work better and more collaboratively.  Talking Points: It's about thinking, not mimicking Thinking Tasks not mimicking tasks...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on June 14, 2023.  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...

We've reached our third anniversary of the podcast! There's a lot that's been said, so we thought we'd highlight some of the quintessential Pam Harris topics from previous episodes that you need to transform your math classroom. In this episode Pam and Kim blitz through what makes the Math is Figure-out-able Movement so important and unique. They also list out which episodes yo...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on June 7, 2023.  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_...

Can kids reason about fraction division? In this episode Pam and Kim explore the definition of fractions through a Problem String and show how you can help students build experiences so that fraction division is a natural outcome. Talking Points: Can students reason about 1/25 divided by 4? Dividing parts of candy bars Problem String experience Discovering the definition of fractions Kids can intu...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on May 31, 2023.  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_...

It's exciting to watch our students gain confidence and mathematize with the best of them, but what about next year? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss how you can communicate expectations to students and teachers alike to embolden your students that math will always be figure-out-able. Talking Points: What is your job for this year? What do students need to know leaving your classroom to pr...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on May 24, 2023.  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_...

How sophisticated is your multiplicative reasoning? In this episode Pam and Kim build Flexible Factoring and show how powerful understanding can be! Talking Points: We love hearing from listeners! A Problem String Develping distributive, associative and commutative properties Where does Flexible Factoring fit into Multiplicative Reasoning? Why understanding and owning multiplication facts is more...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on May 17, 2023.  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_...

How do you naturally approach math problems? How do you wish  you would naturally approach problems? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss how we as teachers and our students can form powerful new habits to become better mathematicians. Talking Points: We all have habits based on our own experiences Can we change our old habits? Is it easy to change old habits? Do you have to know the most efficient...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on May 10, 2023.  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_...

How can we help students own subtraction facts? In this episode Pam and Kim describe some basic strategies and then walk us through facilitating two Problem Strings to build subtraction relationships. Talking Points: I Have, You Need - see Episode 7 for more on I Have, You Need Patterns in a subtraction chart Generalizing about subtracting 9 Noticing differences of 1 or 2 Diagonal patterns of Cons...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on May 3, 2023.  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...

We're digging deep into subtraction! In this episode Pam and Kim talk about what they mean by "memorizing" single digit subtraction facts and the relationships that can empower students to own single digit facts and apply the same relationships to more sophisticated numbers as well. Talking Points: The different meanings of "memorize the facts" Relying on rote memory of fa...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on April 26, 2023.  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...

There's so much power to understanding subtraction that extends all the way to higher math. In this episode Pam and Kim discuss beginning steps to help students develop an understanding of subtraction, preparing them for success. Talking Points: How does I Have, You Need apply to subtraction? Subtracting across zeros is a beast! So what do we do? Where subtraction helps in multiplication, div...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on April 19, 2023.  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...

Establishing a strong understanding of the area model also prepares students for more advanced topics all the way into college! In this episode, Pam and Kim describe how useful the area model is as a foundation for further understanding throughout a student's learning career. Talking Points: Using the area model builds intuition of the distributive property Using and understanding the area mo...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on April 12, 2023.  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...

The area model can do more than build Spatial Reasoning. It can help make sense of the major multiplication and division strategies! In this episode Pam and Kim use a Problem String to show how reasoning about area can build more sophisticated and efficient multiplicative relationships. Talking Points: Multiplication is about grouping groups The area model can help make sense of multiplicative rel...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on April 5, 2023.  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...

The area model is a great tool to help students develop multiplicative and spatial reasoning, but let's get clear on some things. In this episode Pam and Kim discuss some of the common misconceptions about the area model and show how it can be used help students make connections between area and multiplication.  Talking points: What is an area model? Common misunderstanding around an area mod...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on March 29, 2023.  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...

There are a lot of small shifts needed in math education, and they can  have huge impacts. In this episode Pam and Kim talk about some of these shifts that will be included in the new mini workshop. This workshop will help you address the most important things to get right as a math teacher. Talking Points: Algorithms verses strategies Models verses strategies Common vocabulary A few major relatio...