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 November 12, 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...
Understanding math is important, and fun. In this episode, Pam and Kim discuss the necessity of play in mathematics education and share when, where, and why they each play differently with math.
Talking Points:
- Dr. Brad Ballinger's view that algorithms are...playful??
- The fun and educational value of simply playing with mathmatics
- How Pam and Kim differ in their purposes and preferences when playing with math
- How #Ma...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on November 5, 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,...
There's a brand new book for K-2 teachers! In this episode, Pam and Kim discuss how strategies in early mathematics build upon each other and increase in sophistication for future learning.
Talking Points:
- Strategies build on each other, algorithms do not
- The importance of building relationships and mental actions in students' brains
- Get to Ten grows up to Get to a Friendly Number
- Add Ten grows up to Add a Friend...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on October 29, 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 adjust our teaching to meet the needs of our students? In this episode, Pam proposes a series of rapid-fire pedagogical scenarios for Kim to respond to with her best advice. What will Kim say in 90 seconds or less?
Talking Points:
- What to do about a student who only solves addition problems left to right?
- How to handle a student who always signals to pass during Problem Strings?
- Ways to encourage students to u...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on October 22, 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,...
Pam and Kim went to NCSM and NCTM in Atlanta! In this episode, they share some of their favorite moments, biggest take-aways, and new insights gleaned from the sessions they attended and the people they met.
Talking Points:
- Discussing the meaning of "algorithm" with Sarah Bush and Karen Karp, authors of The Math Pact
- Importance of talk moves and listening moves, with Elham Kazemi and Allison Hintz, authors o...
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...
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