Math is Figure-Out-Able!

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on March 15, 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!

Fraction division does not have to be scary, and it certainly does not have to be memorized. In this episode Pam and Kim show how to reason through non unit fraction division problems.Talking Points:What is a unit fraction?What does it mean to think quotitively about division?A Problem String building on unit fraction understanding for division of non unit fractionsHow to model this Problem StringUsing whole number relations among fractionsFraction division is accessible!See Episodes 142, 144 and 155 for more about fraction division. Check out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on March 8, 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!

Is fraction division figure-out-able? You bet! In this episode Pam and Kim tackle another listener submitted topic and reason through a fraction division Problem String.Talking Points:A sign of fake mathAn old wound for Pam and KimA listener's questionTwo ways of thinking about division: partitively and quotitivelyA Problem String to develop division of fractionsWhy it helps to develop reasoning early with whole numbersTeacher moves to facilitate the stringSee Episode 64 for another Problem String and discussion of thinking about quotitive division.See Episodes 143, 144 and 155 for more about fraction division. Check out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on March 1, 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!

As teachers we want to help our students, and often we do that through questioning. In this episode Pam and Kim discuss how maybe there isn't a perfect list of questions, but it's our pattern of questioning that matters.Talking PointsWe love hearing your suggestionsFocusing on a list of questions vs a pattern of questioningFunneling pattern of questioning vs. Focusing pattern of questioning Focusing is more like a conversation rather than a list of questionsTo focus students you need to know your content, know your kidsExamples through the grade levelsCheck out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on February 22, 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 education

Have you ever noticed how many different meanings there are for the word simplify? Even if you limit it to mathematical meanings, there's a lot. In this episode Pam and Kim discuss how we can better communicate with students what we really want them to do when we say 'simplify.'Talking Points:Asking students to 'simplify' can often be a guessing game as to what we really want students to do.Why not level the playing field?Some meanings of "simplify" can be contradictory.There are better ways to ask students what we actually mean for them to do when they see that word "simplify".See episode 18 "This, Not That" for other examples of unhelpful words sometimes used in math teaching.Check out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on February 15, 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 education

Happy Valentines Day! We love math, and we love you, our listeners! In this episode Pam and Kim discuss a less familiar addition and subtraction strategy that they're coming to love more and more. Talking Points: A Problem String to build relationships in order to use common factors in addition and subtraction problems Why is it not a main strategy? Where and why teach it anyway? Find our free e-book here! https://www.mathisfigureoutable.com/bigCheck out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education