Math is Figure-Out-Able!

We made it to our final episode in our multiplication facts series! In this episode Pam and Kim share ideas about helping kids narrow in on facts they struggle with after many opportunities and experiences with multiplication. This final episode exemplifies why we believe that taking the long view and building relationships and Multiplicative Reasoning all year can help students' fact fluency...

It's time for what you've all been waiting for. GAMES! Sure we don't want kids memorizing songs or rhymes to build their facts, but in this episode Pam and Kim bring the fun into multiplication. What games are out there that can help students build their facts and Multiplicative Reasoning at the same time? We're glad you asked :-) Talking Points: Teacher and parent attitude is...

Last episode Pam and Kim discussed how not to teach multiplication facts. So how should we teach them? This episode we look at multiplication facts through the lens of mathematizing using Problem Strings! Talking Points: The order that we teach math content matters to give students the best experience with multiplication throughout the year The sequence we teach the multiplication facts matters Ex...

When choosing tasks to teach multiplication facts, what are the pitfalls to avoid? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss ways teachers may inadvertently 1) overemphasize speed, 2) introduce shame into their classrooms, and 3) focus on learning facts in isolation.  We've all made mistakes, and this episode is about learning and growing for our students. Talking Points: What the research says abo...

In this episode Pam and Kim begin the first of another series: Multiplication Facts! What role can mathematizing and Real Math play in helping kids master their multiplication facts? Listen in as Pam and Kim outline the differences between 'knowing' and 'rote memorizing' multiplication facts.  Talking Points: Multiplication facts are important The problem is not the facts but t...

In the last two episodes, Pam and Kim did some really cool Problem Strings, but what do they think about Number Talks? Listen in as Pam explains how Number Talks and Problem Strings can go hand in hand for powerful results. Talking Points: Why call 'Number Talks' 'Problem Talks'? Short term goals for Problem Talks The major purpose of Problem Talks MathStratChat as a Problem Ta...

It's time for another Problem String! In this episode Pam and Kim highlight one of their favorite multiplication strategies. It's so slick! In doing so they continue the conversation about the importance of letting students discover and develop relationships, as opposed to teaching strategies step by step. Talking Points: A Problem String for the ____ strategy Modeling the strategy on an...

In this episode Pam and Kim want to help you develop a cool multiplication strategy. Which multiplication strategy? We aren't going to tell you until the end of the episode : -). We believe in developing strategies as natural outcomes, and then giving it a name. How do we do it? With Problem Strings! Listen in as Pam and Kim go through a Problem String to develop this super efficient multipli...

Don't you just love taking a break to play with numbers? In this week's episode, Pam and Kim share some of the ways that they engage with kids of all ages outside of school to get them mathematizing. Parents, ever wondered what can you do for just ten minutes to help your kids build relationships? This episode is perfect for you. Together we can all learn to make math fun! Talking points...

In this episode Pam and Kim dive deep into their favorite model for multiplication, division, and solving proportions: ratio tables! They'll discuss 3 ways ratio tables can be a powerful tool to help students mathematize from 3rd grade to high school. Talking Points: What are ratio tables? How to, and not to, use ratio tables in the classroom Three ways 3-5 grade can use a ratio table: -to or...

This week Pam and Kim wrap up their discussion on the Perspectives that Impact Math Pedagogy. Understanding the X, Y, and Z perspectives not only helps us understand one another better, but empowers us to choose to take on the Real Mathematics perspective. Listen in as Pam and Kim discuss the need for mathematics to be experienced, and the power in developing mathematical reasoning. Talking Points...

We've made it to our last (and maybe favorite) perspective that impacts pedagogy. The Y perspective describes those who struggle with fake math because they deeply desire to know "why". Pam and Kim describe people in their lives who grew up with the Y perspective and discuss their great value to the mathematics community. Talking Points: What describes the Y perspective? Pam and Kim...

This episode is all about the Z perspective. Listen in to hear about the perspective that This episode is all about the Z perspective. Listen in to hear about the perspective that Pam estimates influences the majority of math educators. It was Pam's perspective too! Pam and Kim parse out the characteristics of the Z perspective and the huge impact it has on teaching today.  Talking Points: Pa...

Continuing in the Perspectives Impacting Pedagogy Series, Pam and Kim discuss the X perspective. Did you play with numbers as a kid? Did math make natural sense to you, regardless of how your teacher taught it? You might relate to the X perspective. Listen in to learn how the X perspective influences teachers and students in mathematics.   Talking Points: What is the X perspective? Why X-perspecti...

This episode is part one to a new five part series! Pam and Kim introduce the three main perspectives that influence the way we teach math. Understanding these perspectives helps teachers analyze their past perspective so they can make choices and have productive conversations regarding changing and improving math education for all students.  Talking Points: The three perspectives impacting our pe...

How can we help students feel comfortable with using the commutative property? In this episode Pam and Kim go through some addition and multiplication problems to demonstrate how they think and reason using the the commutative property.  Talking Points: The commutative property when a student is counting on to add The commutative property in addition of larger numbers Using models to represent the...

Pam went most of her life not knowing about this really cool thing! Listen in as Kim relates a great math experience she had with her son, Luke, while they were messing around with addition. Pam and Kim discuss the importance and kinds of place value experiences we provide for students as we mentor them as mathematicians. Talking Points: Introducing the Swapping strategy What problems fit nicely w...

Are percents truly figure-out-able? You bet! Grab a pen and paper for this one as Pam and Kim discuss the 3 types of percent problems and how they solve them using relations, not with algorithms.    Talking Points: What Journey members are emailing about The three types of percent problems Pam and Kim share their thinking as they solve all three types of percent problems Two traditional ways of te...

So are percents really figure-out-able too? In this episode Pam and Kim do a Problem String and share their strategies to solve some percent problems. Listen in as they play with percents! Talking Points: Can we make math fun? Benchmarks that kids need to know around percents Percent Problem String

Pam and Kim explore what it means to be flexible with fractions, decimals, and percents. They discuss how we can become more flexible as we deal with rational numbers to help us be more judicious problem solvers. Talking Points: Why kids of today are more familiar with percentages Using benchmark fractions, decimals and percentages How students might mess with gnarly fractions, decimals and percen...

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!