Math is Figure-Out-Able!

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

Is mathing just about allowing students to solve problems their way? Aren't Probem Strings and Problem Talks really just the same routine? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss how Problem Strings move beyond Problem Talks to develop student's mathematical reasoning at a more sophisticated level. Talking Points: Example of a Problem Talk What do we gain from Problem Talks? Example of a Pro...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on January 22, 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 Har...

Math may be figureoutable, but communication can be tricky! In this episode Pam and Kim discuss things to consider in order to be clear in the message we send when we speak about mathematics education. Talking Points: Duking it out! Are algorithms fake math? A better word than mathing? What do mathematicians think about algorithms? Do the math in mathematics education discussions so we have a comm...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on January 15, 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 Har...

People across the world are changing math education. In this episode Pam and Kim discuss the documentary Counted Out that they were fortunate to see. They spotlight some of the thoughts of a few of the great researchers and add their thoughts about affecting change. Talking Points: Spoilers!  The effects of algorithms today  What needs to change? How do we contribute to change? Math is everywhere...

People across the world are changing math education. In this episode Pam and Kim discuss the documentary Counted Out that they were fortunate to see. They spotlight some of the thoughts of a few of the great researchers and add their thoughts about affecting change. Talking Points: Spoilers!  The effects of algorithms today  What needs to change? How do we contribute to change? Math is everywhere...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on January 8, 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...

Are inverse functions figureoutable? In this episode Pam and Kim go more into the nuance of when and how we want students to tackle inverse relationships. Talking Points: When to introduce inverse proportions  Experience versus instruction Allowing students to grapple to in order to experience those aha moments Problem String design Check out our social media Twitter: @PWHarris Instagram: Pam Harr...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on January 1, 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 Harr...

What does it mean for something to be an inverse, or to be inversely proportional? In this episode Pam and Kim look at a specific kind of proportional reasoning. Talking Points: It's worth thinking before doing Inversely proportional vs direct variation with non-unit scaling Common misunderstandings Check out our social media Twitter: @PWHarris Instagram: Pam Harris_math Facebook: Pam Harris,...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on December 25, 2024.  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...

Did you know that students can understand negative exponents without being told what they mean? In this episode Pam and Kim wrap up their series on exponent relationships. Talking Points: New listeners, where to start? Episode 156 Start Here Discovering Negative Exponents Give students experiences first and let them make sense of it Using equivalent expressions to help students visualize and make...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on December 18, 2024.  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...

What if students actually understood using common factors to simplify complex division expressions? In this episode Pam and Kim divide exponents without reciting a rule. Talking Points: Thinking versus reasoning Problem String Dividing Exponents "Canceling" vs "Dividing out to equal 1" Focus on left over factors vs mimicking a rule Why start with smaller bases? Check out our so...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on December 11, 2024.  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...

When variables and exponents start mixing, we need to memorize the rules, right? In this episode Pam and Kim develop exponential relationships, not rules. Talking Points: How "Kim's Notes" became "Half Sheets" Problem String to explore multiplicative relationships when working with exponents. Generalizing multiplication of exponents Check out our social media Twitter: @PWH...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on December 4, 2024.  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 Har...

Would you believe I'm more comfortable dealing with exponents because I haven't memorized the rules? In this episode Pam and Kim continue building exponentiation with a great problem string Talking Points: Problem string to help build exponentiation When and how to introduce vocabulary Teacher move: Choosing who shares, and in what order More confident reasoning without the rules Teacher...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on November 27, 2024.  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...

Can we prepare students for really hairy exponent problems without resorting to memorized rules? In this first episode of a series, Pam and Kim share a task that could get kids and teachers thinking more and more multiplicatively and understandably about exponents. Talking Points: Can a task have too many layers for students to be successful? Can we sequence a task that works for 3rd grade to Alge...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on November 20, 2024.  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...

Should high school mathematicians be given choice of which strategy to use? In this episode Pam and Kim wrap up their exploration of systems of equations. Talking Points: What is needed to understand 3x? Where students mess up using substitution  How do different systems lend themselves to different strategies? Ketchup problems Next step Problem Strings and comparing strategies Giving students cho...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on November 13, 2024.  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...

Don't you think math needs more cookies in it? In this episode Pam and Kim use Desmos graphing calculator to go through a routine to make sense of systems of equations before doing any elimination or substitution. Talking Points: Kim going to a Cafe for sandwiches and cookies Graphing on Desmos graphing calculator Understanding x and y intercepts Understanding where the lines intersect  Relat...