Math is Figure-Out-Able!

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on April 23, 2025. 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!

Which Problem Strings are appropriate for your students? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss what they consider when choosing a Problem String for a classroom.Talking Points:A fraction addition example stringThings to consider when choosing a Problem String:Prewritten vs write your ownTime of yearStrategies students already ownBuilding a model vs building a strategyOrder of sophistication of strategiesBuilding a model vs strategyNew content versus review/reteachSee episodes 33, 71, 72, 163, 226, 241 for more on Problem Strings!Check out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationLinkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC 

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on April 16, 2025. 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!

What kinds of tasks help students build multi-digit multiplication and division strategies? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss how to sequence tasks to develop the foundational strategies and relationships for multi-digit multiplication and division: Scaling, Over and Adjust, Partial Products, FactoringTalking Points:Benefits of using diverse task typesSample of three "messy" tasks to develop:Ratio tablesArea model2 different kinds of divisionRelationship between multiplication and divisionPractice ideasGet your kit from Hand2mind here: https://www.hand2mind.com/item/foundations-for-strategies-multi-digit-multiplication-division-small-group-kitCheck out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationLinkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC  

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on April 9, 2025. 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!

What kinds of tasks help students build multi-digit addition and subtraction strategies? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss how to sequence tasks to develop the foundational strategies and relationships for multi-digit addition and subtraction: Friendly numbers, place value, adjusting, the commutative property, decomposingTalking Points:Sequencing tasks is more than just moving from one page to the next in the teacher guideSample of three "messy" tasks to:develop number linesmake connections between addition and subtractionanalyze strategiessolidify a strategyFor more sequences, check out the Foundations for Strategies from Hand2mind!: https://www.hand2mind.com/item/foundations-for-strategies-multi-digit-addition-subtraction-small-group-kitCheck out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationLinkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC 

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on April 2, 2025. 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!

Math class is richer and more fun when the goal is more than answer-getting!In this episode Pam and Kim discuss how to sequence tasks to develop the foundational strategies and relationships for single digit multiplication and division: doubling, making use of ten, and partial products/quotients.Talking Points:Three sample sequence of tasks that use:A product approachStudent exploration of patternsJust in time vocabularyDifferentiation Foundations of multiplicative reasoning, area, geometryContexts to develop 3 major modelsUseful fact practiceAnchoring the learningFor more sequences, check out the Foundations for Strategies from Hand2mind!: https://www.hand2mind.com/item/foundations-for-strategies-multi-digit-addition-subtraction-small-group-kitCheck out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationLinkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC 

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on March 26, 2025. 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!

What should the bulk of math class look like? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss sequencing tasks to build foundational relationships that develop into major strategies.Talking PointsMajor relationships that build the major strategiesProblem Strings are one kind of taskFoundational Relationships for young learnersRich tasks that get kids messing with relationshipsWhat does practice look like? (See Episode 38 for more information on Hint Cards)Check out pre planned sequence of tasks in the Foundation for Strategies small group kit Order information for Foundation for Strategies here: https://www.hand2mind.com/item/foundations-for-strategies-multi-digit-addition-subtraction-small-group-kit  Order your copy of Avoiding the Trap of Algorithms here: https://www.mathisfigureoutable.com/avoidthetrapsCheck out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationLinkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC