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 March 11, 2026.
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, author, mat...
What is a great way for student's to increase their factor fluency and move from additive reasoning to multiplicative reasoning? In this episode, Pam and Kim play with factor puzzles and describe their many benefits.
Talking Points:
- Kim loves podcast reviews!
- Factor Puzzles routine
- Generalizing patterns to develop algebraic reasoning
- Building multplicative reasoning
- Fluency with factor pairs
- Ties to factoring quadratic...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on March 11, 2026.
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, author, mat...
What does the day-to-day of a math is figureoutable classroom look like? In this episode, Pam and Kim discuss the new book for teachers of Grades 3-5 to transform their teaching.
Talking Points:
- New book release for Grades 3-5!
- Development of Mathematical Reasoning
- Additive Reasoning
- Multiplicative Reasoning
- Problem String walkthroughs and videos
- Rich tasks, routines, models and modeling
- Next steps for teachers, specific to ...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on March 4, 2026.
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, author, math...
Using strategies to solve problems sounds good, but what if my students don't know the basics? In this episode, Pam and Kim dispel the myth that "the basics" needed for mimicking algorithms are the same as the fundamentals for math-ing.
Talking Points
- The limitations of rote memorization and the benefits of strategic thinking
- The challenges of shifting away from traditional math teaching methods
- Redefining ...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on February 25, 2026.
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, author, ...
What does it take to make real change in a school's math program? In this episode, Pam and Kim share what does and doesn't work to make lasting, systemic change in mathematics teaching for schools and school districts.
Talking Points:
- Teachers should not have to be expert teachers and expert curriculum writers at the same time.
- Good curriculum change alone is not enough
- Lock-step plans backfire
- Teachers need mat...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on February 18, 2026.
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, author, ...
It's great to learn from other educators. In this episode, Pam and Kim relay their experience at NCTM Spring 2026, giving their unique perspective of modern teaching trends.
Talking Points:
- The need to define the terms curriculum, resources, scope and sequence, standards, content
- Clarity before competence
- Mathematics as both a noun and a verb
- Caution around "research" and the "science of math"
- The...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on February 11, 2026.
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, author, ...
How can you tweak a Problem String to work perfectly for your class? In this episode, Pam and Kim share a subtraction Problem String, and then unpack what changes they'd make for different audiences.
Talking Points:
- A subtraction Problem String with the Over strategy
- The purpose of "what could a Helper be"?
- When to provide a Helper problem
- Adult-ish Problem Strings can cover more content
- Making a Problem Stri...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on February 4, 2026.
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, author, m...
Introducing new math concepts can be tricky. In this episode, Pam and Kim do a Problem String to introduce logarithms in a natural, figureoutable way.
Talking Points
- Problem String to introduce students to logarithms
- Differences between logarithms and algorithms
- Relationship between logarithms and exponents
- Developing exponential equations
Check out our social media
Twitter: @PWHarris
Instagram: Pam Harris...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on January 28, 2026.
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, author, m...
Are your Number Talks purposeful? In this episode, Pam and Kim discuss the when, how, and why of Number Talks, which they call Problem Talks.
Talking Points:
- Problem Talk vs. Problem String
- When and why to use a Problem Talk
- Example Problem Talk of 15 x 36
- Deciding whose strategy to represent
- Problem Talks are still instructional
- How many students to choose
- Choosing a rich problem
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on January 21, 2026.
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, author, m...
There is much more to fractions than "cross multiply and divide". In this episode, Pam and Kim facilitate a Problem String to explore the partitive meaning of fractions.
Talking Points:
- Fractions and division
- The partitive meaning of fractions
- Equivalent fractions
- Relational reasoning in understanding fractions
- Scaling up or down to find equivalent, simpler problems
Check out our social media
Twitter:...
In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on January 14, 2026.
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, author, m...
Part of being a good teacher is teaching with integrity and consistency. In this episode, Pam and Kim discuss the importance of knowing your beliefs about teaching and learning math to guide your choices and decision making.
Talking Points:
- Mathematics is hierarchical
- Development of Mathematical Reasoning framework
- Know your content, know your kids
- Success Map framework
- Developing a cohesive vision for math and math teachi...
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