Math is Figure-Out-Able!

Apr 09 2025 382 ep. 16 mins 218
Math is Figure-Out-Able! Podcast artwork

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!

  Education
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#MathStratChat - April 9, 2025

Apr 09 2025 3 mins  
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on April 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

Ep 251: Foundations for Multi-Digit Addition & Subtraction Strategies

Apr 07 2025 32 mins  
What kinds of tasks help students build multi-digit addition and subtraction strategies? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss how to sequence tasks to develop the foundational strategies and relationships for multi-digit addition and subtraction: Friendly numbers, place value, adjusting, the commutative property, decomposing Talking Points: Sequencing tasks is more than just moving

#MathStratChat - April 2, 2025

Apr 02 2025 2 mins  
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on April 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

Ep 250: Foundations for Single Digit Multiplication & Division Strategies

Mar 31 2025 29 mins  
Math class is richer and more fun when the goal is more than answer-getting! In this episode Pam and Kim discuss how to sequence tasks to develop the foundational strategies and relationships for single digit multiplication and division: doubling, making use of ten, and partial products/quotients. Talking Points: Three sample sequence of tasks that use: A product approachStudent ex

#MathStratChat - March 26, 2025

Mar 26 2025 4 mins  
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on March 26, 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

Ep 249: Foundations for Single Digit Addition & Subtraction Strategies

Mar 24 2025 26 mins  
What should the bulk of math class look like? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss sequencing tasks to build foundational relationships that develop into major strategies. Talking Points Major relationships that build the major strategiesProblem Strings are one kind of taskFoundational Relationships for young learnersRich tasks that get kids messing with relationshipsWhat does pract

#MathStratChat - March 19, 2025

Mar 19 2025 3 mins  
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on March 19, 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

Ep 248: Avoid the I'm Not A Math Person Trap

Mar 17 2025 19 mins  
Why do students give up on learning math? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss how using algorithms as teaching tools is distorting students' perception of what the definition of math is, which results in a poor mathematical identity. Talking Points: A mysterious five pound bagA proportional reasoning Problem StringTrap #1 and #2 (see Ep 246 and 247 for more details)Trap #3 a false

#MathStratChat - March 12, 2025

Mar 12 2025 3 mins  
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on March 12, 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

Ep 247: Avoid the Digit Trap

Mar 10 2025 22 mins  
Why do students not realize their incorrect answers are completely unreasonable? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss another trap students fall into when taught to mimic algorithms as 'the way' to solve problems. Talking Points: The patterns in Remove a Friendly Number Over strategyImportant place value conversationsHow students can be stuck dealing with only digits rather than mag