Math is Figure-Out-Able!

What does it mean for math to be figure-out-able? What will you teach? How? Why? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss their thoughts to changing the "how" and "what" of math education around the world and explore the "why". Talking Points: "What" math we teach should come first "How" the math should be embedded in the "what" What Pam and K...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on August 23, 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 Harr...

What role does terminology have in math teaching? How do we want students to approach problems? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss when to teach vocabulary how we can prepare students to tackle problems with confidence. Talking Points: "Just In Case" vs "Just In Time" vocabulary Social Knowledge vs Logical Mathematical Knowledge Anchor Charts to cinch learning Rejecting key wo...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on August 16, 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 Harr...

There is so much that is good happening in the math teaching community! In this episode Pam and Kim discuss how we can determine how much of which good things to put into our classrooms. Talking Points: Going beyond nixing tricks Social versus logical knowledge Nixing the tricks is more than explaining the math better The dangers of going all in on any good teaching practice Number Talks  Explodin...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on August 9, 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...

Who does not love a quick, easy routine that gives students useful problem solving relationships? In this episode Pam and Kim revisit I Have, You Need and apply it with different target numbers. Talking Points: Kim and Pam play I Have, You Need often with clocks and marathons It's not about speed Goal is reducing cognitive load in the midst of solving other problems Another goal is building f...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on August 2, 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...

What exactly is a Problem String? In this episode Pam and Kim dig into that question and give examples of what a problem string is and is not. Talking Points: Pam's conversation with Howie Hua - Problem Strings are not strategies Example of a helper clunker structure Problem String What is structure vs strategy?  Example of an equivalent structred Problem String The power of owning multiple s...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on July 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 Harris...

What are some important relationships that students can use to do Real Math with fractions? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss some important relationships that can help develop deeper understanding about fractions for fractional equivalence and comparison. Talking Points: A listener's review Using benchmark fractions to compare Using a number line to compare fractions How does understanding...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on July 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 Harris...

What if your students could think and reason about the relative sizes of fractions? In this episode Pam and Kim think about where fractions go on clotheslines to show how you can help your students compare fractions without a memorized procedure. Talking points: A podcast listener shares her perspective of mathematics as a student Clothesline Math examples using fractions and percents Connecting f...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on July 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 Harris...

How we teach and what we teach are both really important. In this episode Pam and Kim wrap up their discussion on Peter Liljedahl's book Building Thinking Classrooms and how it meshes with the Math Is Figure-Out-Able movement. Talking Points: When we suggest to defront the classsroom Don't let language hamper the math for students during a Rich Task Consolidation versus Math Congress Use...

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

We think Dr. Peter Liljedahl has some great ideas about how to keep students thinking and reasoning in math class. In this episode Pam and Kim continue to discuss some of his ideas and how they align with the Math is Figure-Out-Able mindset.  Talking Points:  Which questions to answer  Get in, get out Approach groups with your own question Using neutral responses Check out our social media Twitter...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on June 28, 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 love it when students are thinking and reasoning, and it's important to know how best to build and experience sophisticated strategies. In this episode Pam and Kim continue discussing Dr. Peter Liljedahl's work and finetune where it's appropriate to use vertical nonpermanent surfaces, and what other kind of tasks we should be doing whole class with students. Talking Points: Rando...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on June 21, 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 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...