

Math is Figure-Out-Able!
Pam Harris, Kim Montague
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
Mentioned books

Aug 8, 2023 • 21min
Ep 164: I Have, You Need With a Twist
Who does not love a quick, easy routine that gives students useful problem solving relationships? In this episode Pam and Kim revisit I Have, You Need and apply it with different target numbers.Talking Points:Kim and Pam play I Have, You Need often with clocks and marathonsIt's not about speedGoal is reducing cognitive load in the midst of solving other problems Another goal is building fluency Other important target numbers for early elementary and even middle and high school studentsGet the free I Have, You Need download! bit.ly/ihynroutineSee Episode 7 and 121 for more on I Have, You NeedCheck out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationLinkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC

Aug 3, 2023 • 3min
#MathStratChat - August 2, 2023
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on August 2, 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!

Aug 1, 2023 • 28min
Ep 163: A Problem String Is NOT
What exactly is a Problem String? In this episode Pam and Kim dig into that question and give examples of what a problem string is and is not.Talking Points:Pam's conversation with Howie Hua - Problem Strings are not strategiesExample of a helper clunker structure Problem StringWhat is structure vs strategy? Example of an equivalent structred Problem StringThe power of owning multiple strategiesIf you want to hear more about Problem Strings, check out Episodes 71, 72 and 260. Check out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationLinkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC

Jul 27, 2023 • 6min
#MathStratChat - July 26, 2023
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on July 26, 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!

Jul 25, 2023 • 17min
Ep 162: Comparing Fractions Pt 2
What are some important relationships that students can use to do Real Math with fractions? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss some important relationships that can help develop deeper understanding about fractions for fractional equivalence and comparison.Talking Points:A listener's reviewUsing benchmark fractions to compareUsing a number line to compare fractionsHow does understanding unit fractions help compare ugly fractions?Why we use symbols to represent complex ideasCheck out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationLinkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC

Jul 20, 2023 • 4min
#MathStratChat - July 19, 2023
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on July 19, 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!

Jul 18, 2023 • 24min
Ep 161: Comparing Fractions Pt 1
What if your students could think and reason about the relative sizes of fractions? In this episode Pam and Kim think about where fractions go on clotheslines to show how you can help your students compare fractions without a memorized procedure.Talking points:A podcast listener shares her perspective of mathematics as a studentClothesline Math examples using fractions and percentsConnecting fractions and percentsGeneralizing about comparing fractions using reasoningHelp students clarify the meaning of numerators and denominatorsTake our math perspectives quiz! http://bit.ly/xyzquizSee Episodes 24-27 for more about The XYZ Math PerspectivesCheck out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationLinkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC

Jul 13, 2023 • 4min
#MathStratChat - July 12, 2023
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on July 12, 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!

Jul 11, 2023 • 25min
Ep 160: Building Thinking Classrooms and Math is FigureOutAble Pt 3
How we teach and what we teach are both really important. In this episode Pam and Kim wrap up their discussion on Peter Liljedahl's book Building Thinking Classrooms and how it meshes with the Math Is Figure-Out-Able movement.Talking Points:When we suggest to defront the classsroomDon't let language hamper the math for students during a Rich TaskConsolidation versus Math CongressUse hints and extensions to keep students at the edge of the Zone of Proximal development and that requires knowing the math deeplyTeachers need to know both the "how" and the "what" of the math for students to be successfulSee Ep 128 for more about students can do more than they can say and say more than they can representCheck out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education

Jul 6, 2023 • 5min
#MathStratChat - July 5, 2023
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on July 5, 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!


