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 272: What is Fluency Anyway?
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...
#MathStratChat - August 27, 2025
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 strategie...
Ep 271: Direct Variation
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 P...
#MathStratChat - August 20, 2025
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 strategie...
Ep 270: Mathematical Behaviors
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 ...
#MathStratChat - August 13, 2025
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 strategie...
Ep 269: Why the Debate between Inquiry and Direct Instruction, Developing Reasoning and Teaching Procedures.
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 studentsS...
#MathStratChat - August 6, 2025
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...
Ep 268: Connecting Strategies, Properties, and Models in Addition
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 ...
#MathStratChat - July 30, 2025
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,...
Ep 267: Connecting Strategies, Properties, and Models in Multiplication
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 usin...
#MathStratChat - July 23, 2025
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,...
Ep 266: Solving Proportions - Within & Between
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 reas...
#MathStratChat - July 16, 2025
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,...
Ep 265: Show Your Work
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 quest...
#MathStratChat - July 9, 2025
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, ...
Ep 264: Facilitating an Equivalence Structure Problem String - Multiplicative Reasoning
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:
#MathStratChat - July 2, 2025
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, ...
Ep 263: Facilitating an Equivalence Structure Problem String - Additive Reasoning
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 response
#MathStratChat - June 25, 2025
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,...
Ep 262: Code Switching in Mathematics
What if finding equivalence between fractions, decimals, and precents wasn't just a task for students to do, but a tool making them more efficient in rational number computations? In this episode Pam and Kim talk about code switching with ratio...
#MathStratChat - June 18, 2025
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on June 18, 2025. Note: It’s more fun if you try to solve the problem, share it on social media, comment on others strategies,...
Ep 261: Five Year Anniversary Episode
Five years of important conversations, lots of laughs and a blooper every once in a while. In this episode Pam and Kim revisit some important moments of the podcast from the last 5 years.Talking Points:Clips from the past 5 ...
#MathStratChat - June 11, 2025
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on June 11, 2025. Note: It’s more fun if you try to solve the problem, share it on social media, comment on others strategies,...
Ep 260: Refining And Extending I Have, You Need
How can you get the most out of I Have, You Need in your classroom? In this podcast Pam and Kim answer some common questions and dig deeper into one of their favorite routines, I Have You Need.Talking Points:Do cars speak the la...