Math is Figure-Out-Able!

You might want your magnifying glass for this one, because in this episode we're getting a little nitpicky. Pam and Kim discuss common and often traditional nomenclature/math-slang that can take the reasoning out of mathematics. They offer useful alternatives and illustrate the importance of using clear mathematical language so students have less opportunites for misunderstaning the mathemati...

Math is Figure-Out-Able, but surely there are some parts that are only memorizable, right? In this episode Pam and Kim parse out the difference between social knowledge and logical mathematical knowledge. They explain how knowing the difference can help determine how we teach the content. Talking Points: What is the difference between social and logical knowledge? What are some examples for elemen...

This week's episode is for all you parents and teachers of young children. Pam and Kim discuss ways to make counting Figure-Out-Able! How can we help kids make sense of our counting system and master the meaning behind the words we give to numbers? No matter what grade you teach, you're sure to learn something this episode. Talking Points: How different languages name numbers How to supp...

Have you tried teaching your students "the steps" to approaching word problems, but your students still struggled? Pam and Kim discuss a better way to help kids tackle math problems. They explain why the acronyms and problem annotation methods of the past simply won't cut it. They suggest to help your students live the problem solving process, and not just memorize it.  Talking Poin...

Pam and Kim have some fun in this episode as they read out a submission from Aaron Houston about his mathy dad and having mathy fun at a restaurant. They talk about the kinds of things parents can do with their kids to have fun mathematizing!  Talking Points: I Have, You Need Kids Menus vs Adult Menus Guess my Number game How do you think about finding Prime Numbers? Math can be fun!

There are so many aspects to teaching, and it gets more complex when we want to discuss teaching math. Pam and Kim define the 5 layers for mathematics teaching. What do math teachers, who want to help their students mathematize, need to focus on?  Talking Points: Building your own numeracy Know the major strategies and models for your content Modeling student thinking to make it visible and take-u...

As Pam and Kim wrap up their series on how to start the school year right, they discuss the importance of having your beliefs about teaching and learning solidified, so that everything that you do fits when making decisions in your classroom. They discuss how they approach analyzing and implementing other's ideas into their teaching practice, without giving up on their integrity. Talking Poin...

Join Pam and Kim in part two of their Top 3 Things to Start the Year series. This week its all about building a classroom culture where students and students' thinking is valued. They'll talk about how to implement and facilitate familiar tasks and routines remotely and throw out some great advise  that build a community of learners. You won't want to miss it! Talking Points: Buildi...

As the world prepares for one of the most interesting beginnings to the school year, Pam and Kim are here to help us get it right. They start off this 3 part series by dialing in on the importance of using students' names to help them feel seen, acknowledged, and valued.  Talking Points: Pam's maternal mathy person How Pam learns students' names Tips for learning students' name...

What is the difference between a strategy and a model? Listen as Pam and Kim define strategies and models and explain the difference. They also give examples from both elementary and high school content to demonstrate the importance of developing strategies and using models to communicate those strategies.  Talking Points: Shoutout to Clay! Clay uses powerful additive reasoning when he uses his un...

After last weeks discussion on partners of 10, 100, and 1000, Pam and Kim thought of more habits "mathy people" have in common. Listen in as they discuss three fun things mathematicians do. Talking Points: Mathematicians "Notice and Wonder" Mathematicians double and halve numbers Creating habits of thinking (as opposed to grabbing for a calculator) Check out MathStratChat on We...

In this episode Pam and Kim share one of their favorite instructional routines: I Have, You Need. They discuss some of the most common patterns that mathematicians play with, partners of 10, 100, and 1000. These "partners of ___ " patterns pop up everywhere! You'll never guess where they pop up daily for Pam (hint: its when she's the most worked up). Try out I Have, You Need wi...

Reasoning and numeracy doesn't come to an end in highschool! Can we mathematize algebraic concepts? What is Functional Reasoning? Listen as Pam explains how Functional Reasoning builds off of Proportional Reasoning and empowers students to analyze and understand patterns of related value sets. Sounds complicated? Don't worry, Kim does her best to keep Pam on track and grounded.  Talking...

This episode is so important! Pam and Kim describe the Development of Mathematical Reasoning, and how it transforms our understanding of what it means to learn and teach mathematics. They discuss how freeing it feels to know that everyone can develop their reasoning, and how the Development of Mathematical Reasoning empowers teachers to know how best to help their students. Stay tuned to the end f...

Who's shaping math education today? Does Pam come up with it all herself? Far from it! In her fourth episode Pam wanted to pay homage to her top 10 influencers as well as share with you all some of her favorite resources for teaching Real Math. Join Pam and Kim as they share stories ranging from the excitement of the first graphing calculators to the embarrassment of mispronouncing their hero...

When we read, we are reading. When we write, we are writing. What is the verb for doing math?  Pam and Kim continue from Episode 2 to discuss what it means to do and teach Real Mathematics.  Listen in as they discuss what mathematicians really do, and how teachers can mentor students as mathematicians. Talking Points: What does "Math is Figure-Out-Able" mean? What are Real Math and fake...

What is 99 plus anything? What is 99 times anything? How can you use relationships to solve those problems? In this episode, Pam and Kim talk about how Real Math is not about mimicking an algorithm, but rather about letting the numbers and the structure dictate the strategy. Teaching Real Math is about listening to students - that you must know your content, and know your kids. Talking Points: Wha...

In this debut podcast, mathematics teacher educator Pam Harris talks with her cohost, Kim Montague, about how they met and the work that they do together now. They set the stage that in this podcast they will talk about Real Mathematics and about how to teach mathematics. They answer the question, "If not algorithms, then what?"