Math is Figure-Out-Able!
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!
Episodes
549 episodes
Ep 185: Tracking
Tracking students and sorting them into 'higher'/'lower' tracks is a topic that we have really, really firm feelings about. In this episode Pam and Kim discuss the unintended consequences of tracking students and offer some ideas to consider.
#MathStratChat - December 27, 2023
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on December 27, 2023. Note: It’s more fun if you try to solve the problem, share it on social media, comment on others strateg...
Ep 184: Revisiting - But I'm Required To Teach Algorithms
Happy holidays! Pam and Kim invite you to revisit Ep 87, it's super important! How do you navigate teaching math that is figure-out-able if your standards include the teaching of algorithms?Talking Points: All year long inv...
#MathStratChat - December 20, 2023
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on December 20, 2023. Note: It’s more fun if you try to solve the problem, share it on social media, comment on others strateg...
Ep 183: Integer Subtraction
Can integer subtraction feel intuitive without rote memory? In this episode Pam and Kim delve into a Problem String and explore integer subtraction relationships.Talking Points:Integer chips?Students reason about subtra...
#MathStratChat - December 13, 2023
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on December 13, 2023. Note: It’s more fun if you try to solve the problem, share it on social media, comment on others strateg...
Ep 182: Integer Addition
Mimicking rules for integer operations does not help students become doers of Real Math, and frankly doesn't often stick in their long term memory. In this episode Pam and Kim walk through a Problem String that helps students develop an intuiti...
#MathStratChat - December 6, 2023
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 strategi...
Ep 181: Integers
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 ...
#MathStratChat - November 29, 2023
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 strateg...
Ep 180: Revisit With a Twist - An Important Subtraction Pitfall
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.&nb...
#MathStratChat - November 22, 2023
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 strateg...
Ep 179: Fake Math, Not Fake People
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 ow...
#MathStratChat - November 15, 2023
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 strateg...
Ep 178: Talking Math With Your Kids: Division With Decimals
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 yo...
#MathStratChat - November 8, 2023
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 strategi...
Ep 177: NCTM Conference Reflections
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 well<...
#MathStratChat - November 1, 2023
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 strategi...
Ep 176: Place Value and Exploding Dots
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 p...
#MathStratChat - October 25, 2023
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 strategi...
Ep 175: The Most Sophisticated Division Strategy
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 Stri...
#MathStratChat - October 18, 2023
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 strategi...
Ep 174: The Most Sophisticated Multiplication Strategy
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 equ...
#MathStratChat - October 11, 2023
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 strategi...
Ep 173: The Most Sophisticated Subtraction Strategy
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 subtrac...