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Math teacher educator Pam Harris and her cohost Kim Montague answer the question: If not algorithms, then what? Join them for ~15-30 minutes every Tuesday as they cast their vision for mathematics education and give actionable items to help teachers teach math that is Figure-Out-Able. See www.MathisFigureOutAble.com for more great resources!
424 Episodes
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How does the definition of fluency change when your goal for math class changes? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss in some areas of mathematics they aim for fluency and how students use those relationships to build from. Talking Points: BuzzwordsWhat are our goals?Does automaticity need to be drilled or can it develop naturally?Strategies are synergistic Fluency with decomposing numbersFunctional fluencyFluency with prime and square numbersFluency in mathematical behaviorsCheck out th...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on August 27, 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 Harris_math Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education Want more? Check out the a...
How can we bridge from proportional reasoning to functional reasoning? In this episode Pam and Kim talk through a Problem String that moves students from proportional reasoning into linear functions. Talking Points: Building Proportions Problem StringThinking about "between" and "within" relationships in a ratio tableSlope, rate of change, similar triangles, equivalence: all figure-out-ableRatios and proportional reasoning to functional reasoningSlope is a ratioCheck out our social media Twi...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on August 20, 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 Harris_math Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education Want more? Check out the a...
How do mathy people approach mathematics? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss different mathematical behaviors and the value of engendering them in students. Talking Points: Reflecting about what else you could have done that might be more sophisticatedSeeking the "ooh" factor or the "aha" momentCompare strategies and make connectionsMaking choices based on numbers or the structureSeeking efficiency and making generalizationsStart with "What do I know?"Seek understanding and asking for moreT...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on August 13, 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 Harris_math Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education Want more? Check out the a...
Does inquiry mean leaving students to their own devices? In this episode Pam and Kim share their thoughts on the debate teaching reasoning vs. teaching procedures. Talking Points: We all want what's best for studentsSometimes educators talk past each other, using words without examples to give meaningExperiencing mathing is different from helping students learn to do the mental actions of mathingIs there a continuum of how to teach?Examples of "direct" and "inquiry based" instructionShould w...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on August 6, 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 Harris_math Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education Want more? Check out the ar...
How can teachers help students be more sophisticated additive reasoners? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss the major addition strategies, what properties they use, and how to model student thinking. Talking Points: Addition strategies and modelsAddition strategies modeled with equationsProporties that the addition strategies are based onWhen manipulatives are appropriateWhy teachers need to own the major strategies additionGet the free ebook of Major Strategies at: https://www.mathisfigure...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on July 30, 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 Harris_math Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education Want more? Check out the arc...
If your only focus is answer getting, students may never experience and grapple with and understand multiplicative properties. In this episode Pam and Kim discuss how to use models to help students progress to more sophisticated strategies using multiplicative properties. Talking Points: Modelling different strategies on area models, ratio tables, and equationsUsing models to visualize propertiesStrategies that use the associative property are more multiplicative than the those that use the ...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on July 23, 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 Harris_math Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education Want more? Check out the arc...
How does proportional thinking prepare students for reasoning with variables? In this episode Pam and Kim explore the transition from proportional reasoning to functional reasoning. Talking Points: Connecting proportional reasoning to linear functionsScaling trianglesProportions "within" and "between"Introducing tricks stifles students' opportunity to build sophisticated reasoning Rich task with non-unit ratesCheck out our social media Twitter: @PWHarris Instagram: Pam Harris_math Faceb...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on July 16, 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 Harris_math Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education Want more? Check out the arc...
Should you require student's to show their work in mathematics? Whose work? When? How much work? For what purpose? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss classroom culture and the importance of communication in mathematics, diving into these questions and more. Talking Points: Whose work are you asking student to show?Motivations for showing workDon't fix the math, mentor the mathematician - Cathy FosnotCommunication is a mathematical behaviorDetermining 'just enough' is a mentoring opportunity...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on July 9, 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 Harris_math Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education Want more? Check out the arch...
How can Problem Strings help build big ideas? In this episode Pam and Kim walk through a Problem String that helps students dig into area and multiplicative equivalence and help you know how to expertly facilitate. Talking Points: Facilitating the stringTeacher moves during the stringModeling the stringEqual products means total area is the sameWhy we want students to have lots of experience with concepts rather than just direct teaching.Check out our social media Twitter: @PWHarris Instagra...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on July 2, 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 Harris_math Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education Want more? Check out the arch...
How does a Problem String look in front of real students? In this episode Pam and Kim give a play by play for how a Problem String could be facilitated. Talking Points: When to circulate and when to ask for choral responseHelping students communicate thinkingHow and when to engage students in conversationsWhen to anchor strategiesWhen to be intentionally curious to solidify thinkingCheck out our grade level Problem String books! Grade 1 Problem Strings: https://www.mathisfigureoutable.com/np...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on June 25, 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 Harris_math Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education Want more? Check out the arc...
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