Math is Figure-Out-Able!

Latest Episodes:

Ep 188: The Whole Matters Jan 23, 2024

Show notes

Does it really matter what we call the whole? In this episode Pam and Kim take a closer look at fraction problems where the unit matters.
Talking Points:

Kim and the beach
How can there be 2 possible answers to the question "What is 1/2?"
Focusing on the unit
Naming the unit
What happens when the unit changes?
Help students focus on the unit, changing the unit, and finding a fractional amount of that new unit
Even test writers struggle with fractions
Re-unitizing will support students to reason through fraction multiplication

Check out our social media
Twitter: @PWHarris
Instagram: Pam Harris_math
Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education
Linkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC

#MathStratChat - January 17, 2024 Jan 17, 2024

Show notes

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on January 17, 2024.

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 archive of all of our #MathStratChat posts!

Ep 187: Getting Answers to Fraction Problems is Not Enough Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

How many people do you know that shy away from fractions? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss why teaching students to use step by step procedures to solve fraction problems actually leaves them not able to think about fractions at all.
Talking Points:

We love hearing your stories!
What kind of reasoning do fractions engage?
What happens when students learn to mimic steps rather than reason about fractions?
What does reasoning about fractions look like?
Are least common denominators really that important?

See Episode 5, 67, 68 for more about Development of Mathematical Reasoning
Check out our social media
Twitter: @PWHarris
Instagram: Pam Harris_math
Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education
Linkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC

#MathStratChat - January 10, 2023 Jan 10, 2024

Show notes

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on January 10, 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: @PWHarris

Instagram: Pam Harris_math

Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education

Want more? Check out the archive of all of our #MathStratChat posts!

Ep 186: Subtracting Integers - Add The Opposite Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

Minus-minus, plus-plus, or is integer subtraction actually figureoutable? In this episode Pam and Kim use a Problem String to build real understanding of integer subtraction.

Talking Points:

The importance of having multiple contexts
Seeing the negative symbol as "opposite of"
Using distance
Understanding takes time, but is so worth it!

See Episodes 181-183 for more about Integer operations.
See Ep 242 for more information on Integer Multiplication
Check out our social media
Twitter: @PWHarris
Instagram: Pam Harris_math
Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education
Linkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC

#MathStratChat - January 3, 2024 Jan 03, 2024

Show notes

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on January 3, 2024.

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 archive of all of our #MathStratChat posts!

Ep 185: Tracking Jan 02, 2024

Show notes

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.
Talking Points

Who does tracking benefit, who does it hurt?
Distaste for the vocabulary used to describe tracks of kids
Everyone can do more real math than fake math
From our experience as a teacher
From our experience as a parent
From a student's perspective

Check out our social media
Twitter: @PWHarris
Instagram: Pam Harris_math
Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education
Linkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC

#MathStratChat - December 27, 2023 Dec 27, 2023

Show notes

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 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 archive of all of our #MathStratChat posts!

Ep 184: Revisiting - But I'm Required To Teach Algorithms Dec 26, 2023

Show notes

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 invest your time wisely helping kids learn to reason, increasing their sophistication of relationships and solving more difficult problems.
Students can and will perform well on standardized tests if they have been thinking and reasoning, experiencing new situations all year.
Students will approach a standardized test with confidence and less stress if they have been given opportunities to struggle productively all year and become good mathematicians.
Introduce the algorithm as a study of why the algorithm works for the very end of the year. Introducing the algorithm too early in the year risks giving students the option to turn their brains off.

Check out our social media
Twitter: @PWHarris
Instagram: Pam Harris_math
Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education
Linkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC

#MathStratChat - December 20, 2023 Dec 20, 2023

Show notes

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 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 archive of all of our #MathStratChat posts!

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