Math is Figure-Out-Able!
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
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on October 15, 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: @PWHarris
Instagram: Pam Harris_math
Facebook: Pam Harris,...
What role can technology play in mathematics education? In this episode Pam and Kim explore a Problem String for solving systems of equations using Desmos.
Talking Points:
- Graphing systems of equations
- Where lines intersect with different parent functions
- Using graphing to understand the behavior of a cubic function and more
- Using technology as a tool to understand what's happening, not as a crutch just to get answers...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on October 8, 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: @PWHarris
Instagram: Pam Harris_math
Facebook: Pam Harris, ...
What is the difference between "knowing" and "owning" facts? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss how to help all students make the most of multiplication facts.
Talking Points:
- How different people respond when asked to "memorize facts"
- "Own the facts" versus "Know the facts" - Do they mean the same thing?
- Napkin Math
- Using Problem Strings to teach facts and more
- How reaso...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on October 1, 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: @PWHarris
Instagram: Pam Harris_math
Facebook: Pam Harris, ...
Facilitating a Problem String is much more than providing a list of problems. In this episode Pam shares the moment to moment decisions she makes when facilitating a "Sticks of Gum" proportional realtionship building Problem String.
Talking Points:
- Setting the stage
- How to pull out thinking
- Using this string to math with teachers in professional development
- Reinforcing mathematical behaviors
- Strategically determ...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on September 24, 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: @PWHarris
Instagram: Pam Harris_math
Facebook: Pam Harri...
Mathematics is everywhere, but if students don't know how to reason they may not want to engage and play with numbers or see all the opportunities to do so. In this episode Pam and Kim discuss scenarios where they play with mathematical concepts in their daily lives.
Talking Points
- Playing with numbers...double, half, factors, multiples, etc.
- What numbers do they play with? House numbers, license plates, time, price...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on September 17, 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: @PWHarris
Instagram: Pam Harris_math
Facebook: Pam Harri...
Have students that struggle with word problems? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss the best way to help students succeed when faced with a word problem.
Talking points:
- Why mimicking makes word problems harder
- Reasoners develop greater stamina
- Developing the feel of actions of the operations
Check out our social media
Twitter: @PWHarris
Instagram: Pam Harris_math
Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics ...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on September 10, 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: @PWHarris
Instagram: Pam Harris_math
Facebook: Pam Harri...
Is the goal of math class all about getting answers? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss how their work differs from those who promote traditional math classrooms and even some conceptual inquiry based classrooms.
Talking Points:
- Teaching algorithms as the goal is detrimental
- What is the goal?
- Teachers need their own math learning experiences
- We want students to own relationships to develop strategies that they will use in...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on September 3, 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: @PWHarris
Instagram: Pam Harris_math
Facebook: Pam Harris...
How does the definition of fluency change when your goal for math class changes? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss in some areas of mathematics they aim for fluency and how students use those relationships to build from.
Talking Points:
- Buzzwords
- What are our goals?
- Does automaticity need to be drilled or can it develop naturally?
- Strategies are synergistic
- Fluency with decomposing numbers
- Functional fluency
- Fluency with p...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on August 27, 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: @PWHarris
Instagram: Pam Harris_math
Facebook: Pam Harris, ...
How can we bridge from proportional reasoning to functional reasoning? In this episode Pam and Kim talk through a Problem String that moves students from proportional reasoning into linear functions.
Talking Points:
- Building Proportions Problem String
- Thinking about "between" and "within" relationships in a ratio table
- Slope, rate of change, similar triangles, equivalence: all figure-out-able
- Ratios and...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on August 20, 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: @PWHarris
Instagram: Pam Harris_math
Facebook: Pam Harris, ...
How do mathy people approach mathematics? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss different mathematical behaviors and the value of engendering them in students.
Talking Points:
- Reflecting about what else you could have done that might be more sophisticated
- Seeking the "ooh" factor or the "aha" moment
- Compare strategies and make connections
- Making choices based on numbers or the structure
- Seeking efficiency ...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on August 13, 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: @PWHarris
Instagram: Pam Harris_math
Facebook: Pam Harris, ...
Does inquiry mean leaving students to their own devices? In this episode Pam and Kim share their thoughts on the debate teaching reasoning vs. teaching procedures.
Talking Points:
- We all want what's best for students
- Sometimes educators talk past each other, using words without examples to give meaning
- Experiencing mathing is different from helping students learn to do the mental actions of mathing
- Is there a continuu...
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