Math is Figure-Out-Able with Pam Harris

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on December 6, 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: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationWant more? Check out the archive of all of our #MathStratChat posts!

How can we help students reason about integers? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss fun and natural ways to explore and understand both positive and negative integers.Talking Points:The Pen/Pencil argument continues5th graders can reason about integersGames do develp understanding of integersClothes line math with integersExploring four useful contexts for integersCheck out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationLinkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on November 29, 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: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationWant more? Check out the archive of all of our #MathStratChat posts!

How do you label fractions on an open number line? How do you label a fraction of a candy bar? How many cuts do you make to cut a candy bar into fourths? Pam and Kim invite you to revisit episode 138, this time with an ear towards fractions. Do your students ever get confused about counting obects vs counting distance? In this episode 138 Pam and Kim use a Problem String to help build intuition about everyday subtraction problems.Talking Points:Experience a Problem String to build relationshipsFencepost Problems are all over the placeStudents can't just pluck numbers out of Fencepost problemsCathy Fosnot's replacement unit, "Measuring For the Art Show"Other places these kind of problems show upKim explains her strategySee episode 111 for more about "Measuring for the Art Show"!Check out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationLinkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on November 22, 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: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationWant more? Check out the archive of all of our #MathStratChat posts!

What does it mean when we say 'fake math' or 'less sophisticated'? Pam and Kim discuss how learning Real Math is empowering and opens a whole new world of understanding.Talking Points:Are squared numbers an important thing to own?The MatrixIt takes experience to understand perspectivesMartiansDoing 'fake math' or using a 'less sophisticated' way of thinking does not make the person fake or unsophisticatedReal math is empowering and can open up a new reality!Check out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationLinkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on November 15, 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: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationWant more? Check out the archive of all of our #MathStratChat posts!

We can be our own kids' best teachers, even when it comes to gnarly division problems. In this episode Pam and Kim relay their experiences exploring decimal division with their own kids. Talking Points:A tool for holding your thinking - a ratio tableIt's not about how much you can hold in your headHelp them start with what they knowProblem Strings are not about answering just the last problemIt isn't about being able to solve every problem It's about owning the major relationships in order to think like a mathematicianCheck out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationLinkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on November 8, 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: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationWant more? Check out the archive of all of our #MathStratChat posts!

Recorded live from NCTM! Pam and Kim discuss some of their experiences and takeaways from the 2023 National Council of Teachers of Mathematics conference.Talking Points:Travel storiesAs kids grow, teachers grow as wellKnow your content know your kids to choose Problem Strings for your studentsTools that focus on answer getting stifle students reasoningUsing a neutral response to keep students and adults continue their thinkingWe all need to understand the content - teachers and learning Check out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationLinkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on November 1, 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: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationWant more? Check out the archive of all of our #MathStratChat posts!

Place value is so much more than labeling digits. In this episode Pam and Kim dive into place value and common teaching practices that are necessary, but not enough.Talking Points:A fascination with the macabreTypical place value labeling and additional things you can think about to develop place valuePrecise questioning yields deeper place value thinkingWhat are Exploding Dots?More about our place value systemPracticing expanded notation is not enoughYou can register for the Place Value Mini-Workshop now! Don't miss your opportunity to transform your math teaching: https://www.mathisfigureoutable.com/mini Check out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationLinkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on October 25, 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: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationWant more? Check out the archive of all of our #MathStratChat posts!

Division is figure-out-able! In this episode Pam and Kim discuss the most sophisticated strategy for division and precursors that students can begin developing in the fourth grade!Talking Points:An Equivalent Ratios Problem StringPrecursor relationshipsScaling up or Scaling downWhat makes Equivalent Ratios the most sophisticated strategy for division4th grade can begin to reason about division using the "bigger, smaller thing" to reason about division5th grade can begin to reason about equivalence Relational thinkingSee Ep 64 and 132 for more on equivalent ratios!Checkout mathisfigureoutable.com/relational-thinking for free exercises to develop the equivalent ratios strategy..Check out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationLinkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on October 18, 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: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationWant more? Check out the archive of all of our #MathStratChat posts!

Our students can learn to approach math problems like mathematicians! In this episode Pam and Kim look at one of the most sophisticated multiplication strategies that many mathematicians use.  Talking Points:Creating an equivalent problem by Doubling and Halving.What makes a problem reasonable to solve without a calculator?Double/Halve; Triple/Find a Third; Quadruple/Find a fourthWhat makes Doubling and Halving one of the most sophisticated multiplication strategiesFlexible Factoring -  for more information see Ep 153Pitfalls of direct teaching and strategyCheck out the Instructional Routine called Relational Thinking at:  mathisfigureoutable.com/relational-thinkingCheck out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationLinkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on October 11, 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: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationWant more? Check out the archive of all of our #MathStratChat posts!

Some subtraction strategies can only get you so far, but with a little more sophistication complex problems become really nice to think and reason about! In this episode Pam and Kim build and discuss the Constant Difference strategy for subtraction and use it to solve a really gnarly problem.Talking Points:Equivalence strategies are more sophisticatedHallmarks of sophisticated stategiesModeling Constant DifferenceRelational Thinking RoutineCheck out the Instructional Routine called Relational Thinking at: mathisfigureoutable.com/relational-thinkingCheck out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationLinkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on October 4, 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: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationWant more? Check out the archive of all of our #MathStratChat posts!

What makes a strategy sophisticated? In this episode Pam and Kim build the most sophisticated strategy and talk about how and why to develop it with students.Talking Points:What are the most sophisticated strategies?Strategies that require more simultaneity require more time to developSimultaneous versus sequentialRepresenting Give and TakeWe need more than one strategy