Math is Figure-Out-Able!

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on November 6, 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...

Do we flip the sign when its negative? Or is it we keep the sign and flip the minus? I'm confused! In this episode Pam and Kim avoid all that confusion and make solving inequalities figureoutable! Talking Points: Open Number Lines for Inequalities Using "Reflecting the inequality" vs "flipping the sign" Reasoning about balancing the equation Check out our social media Twit...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on October 30, 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...

Solving equations is figureoutable! In this episode Pam and Kim do a follow up string to last week's episode to further develop algebraic reasoning. Talking Points Using a double open number line to build proportional reasoning Using what you know to find x and explore multiple relationships Understanding equations vs mimicking steps Simultaneity can be tricky Additive vs Multiplicative think...

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

Do we need to memorize a bunch of rules to solve linear equations or can we reason about them? In this episode Pam and Kim use a model to make thinking visible and keep students reasoning!  Talking Points:  Modeling on a double open number line Finding where x lies on a double open number line. Grappling with the opposite of x  Building integer sense as well as building equation solving sense Reas...

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

How can we help students who have always mimicked learn to reason through the content we need to teach? In this episode Pam and Kim lay out their approach to getting students up to speed while preparing them for the content of the day. Talking Points: How to avoid students feeling belittled  Using a 1/3, 2/3 mindest to planning  Planning with the entire year in mind Layering in complexity to build...

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

Do your students struggle with place value? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss great tasks to build real place value understanding for students of all ages. Talking Points: "Adding a zero" vs shifting place value Place Value versus Place Labeling Avoiding rules that expire Build a Number activity Place Value Mini-Workshop! Check out our social media Twitter: @PWHarris Instagram: Pam Har...

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

We love the math teaching community! In this episode Pam and Kim are live from NCTM and discuss the many things they are learning from other math teaching educators at NCSM and NCTM in Chicago. Talking Points: Too many great sessions to list! But here are a few. Announcing: Developing Mathematical Reasoning: Avoiding the Trap of Algorithms Announced: Foundations for Strategies Small Group Lessons...

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

How do you plan for the content you teach? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss task sequencing and a new resource for every classroom. Talking Points:  Determining the big ideas, strategies, models Alternating between instructional routines Leading into and getting out of a rich task Introducing Foundations For Strategies Small Group Lessons a collaboration with hand2mind!   Check out our social m...

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

You all know we love playing games in the classroom. In this episode Pam and Kim discuss the advantages of playing games to change students attitudes and beliefs about math, and just have some fun. Talking Points: The benefits of games They don't even have to be math games Multiple Machine by Michael Minas Check out more of Michael Minas' games at Love Maths: https://www.lovemaths.me/gam...

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

In this episode Pam and Kim discuss a fun way for students to practice their geometry vocabulary and relationships. Talking Points: Geometry riddles Hierarchies of polygons Practice vocabulary in a meaningful way, in context Check out our social media Twitter: @PWHarris Instagram: Pam Harris_math Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education Linkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC 

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

How can you intentionally build a Math is FigureOutAble culture in your classroom? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss Pam's recent month long trip to Australia and the important teacher moves she showcased in the lab lessons while she was there.  Talking Points: Pam's time Down Under Wait time Private Signal Focus on thinking verses focus on the answer A challenge for some students: Wha...

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on August 28, 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 Harr...

Statistics Problem Strings? Yes Please! In this episode Pam and Kim demonstrate a Problem String that helps students develop intuition for the meanings of mean, median, and mode. Talking Points: Names are social knowledge, but the feel for what they mean in the data is logical mathematical knowledge Experience with data helps students develop real understanding of mean, median, mode  Changing the...

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

Is statistics figureoutable? In this episode Pam and Kim explore a Problem String to build logical mathematical sense for the meaning of mean. Talking Points: What is the mean? Just in time vocabulary Social vs Logical Mathematical knowledge Understanding mean/average is much more than performing an averaging procedure Check out our social media Twitter: @PWHarris Instagram: Pam Harris_math Facebo...

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