Math is Figure-Out-Able!

We have heard from both teachers and leaders that it's a struggle to know what to look for in a Math is Figure-out-able classsroom and how to evaluate it, and help each other better our teaching craft. In this episode Pam and Kim go through the NCTM Effective Teaching practices and discuss and suggest conversations about how those standards look in a Math is Figure-out-able classroom.Talking Points:What does it mean to "establish mathematics goals to focus on learning"?What do tasks that "promote reasoning and problem solving" vs direct teaching look like?What all is entailed in "connecting matematical representations"? Why is "meaningful mathematical discourse" critical and what does it sound like? (listen to Episode 128 for more about Do, Say, Represent)What do "purposeful questions" sound like? The difference between funneling vs focusing questions.How we tweak "build (procedural) fluency with conceptual understanding"?What is "productive struggle"? Do you need time, or help? (listen to Episode 113 for more about productive struggle)What do tasks or problems look like that "elicit evidence of student thinking" then "use the thinking" to move the math forward?Don't forget to join the You Can Change Math Class Challenge! Register at mathisfigureoutable.com/changeCheck 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 January 4, 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.

It's our wrap up episode on ratio tables. In this episode Pam and Kim answer some frequently asked questions and talk about how we can take ratio tables into higher math and beyond.Talking Points:Why teachers erase and when should students erase?Do, Say, Represent: how to help students represent what's going on in their heads Ratio tables aren't a gimmick, they make thinking visiable of how mathematicians and other mathy people think for the massesUsing ratio tables to notice patterns and reason using mathematical relationships in order to write the equation of a lineUsing ratio tables to reason about rational functions and transformationsCheck 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 December 28, 2022. 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.

It's time to talk equivalent ratios and fractions! In this episode Pam and Kim demonstrate how understanding equivalent ratios leads to powerful reasoning about fraction operation, without the need to memorize steps and rules or algorithms.Talking Points:Empowerment is about having choiceRatio tables aren't a strategy, they're a model/representation of the strategy or strategies being usedIf you understand fractional equivalence, you don't need rules for fraction operationsHow to add 3/4 and 5/7 thinking and reasoning using a ratio tableDo non-equivalent ratios go on the same ratio table? How do you handle adding non-equivalent ratios?Note: for more information about the packs and sticks of gum scenario, listen to Episode 131See Ep 64 and 176 for more on equivalent ratios!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 December 21, 2022. 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.

Have we convinced you to love ratio tables as much as we do yet? In this episode Pam and Kim tackle another model building Problem String to show what a powerful model a ratio table can be.Talking Points:A non-unit ratio Problem StringRatios must be equivalent in a ratio tableReasoning proportionally can be much cleaner than cross-multiply-and-divideModel building strings verses strategy building stringsStart with reasoning and representing thinking then dive deeper into propertiesWhat's next? A strategy building string using a ratio table as a modelDon't forget to post how you represented your ratio table on social media!

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on December 14, 2022. 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.

We can't get enough of ratio tables! In this episode Pam and Kim go through another division Problem String, highlighting how they model-represent their thinking on ratio tables. They invite listeners to grab a pen or pencil and practice representing their own thinking on a ratio table.Talking Points:Noticings from MathStratChatDoes context matter?Does a ratio table have to be in sequential order?Does it matter when to erase during the Problem String?Does it matter when to use brackets or arrows?Can color help highlight relationships?How do you introduce a ratio table?A tool to represent thinking that can lead to new thinking

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on December 7, 2022. 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.