Pam Harris Podcastok

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on November 29, 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 c…

How do you label fractions on an open number line? How do you label a fraction of a candy bar? How many cuts do you make to cut a candy bar into fourths? Pam and Kim invite you to revisit episode 138, this time with an ear towards fractions. Do your students ever get confused about counting obects vs counting distance? In this episode 138 Pam and K…

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on November 22, 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 c…

What does it mean when we say 'fake math' or 'less sophisticated'? Pam and Kim discuss how learning Real Math is empowering and opens a whole new world of understanding. Talking Points: Are squared numbers an important thing to own? The Matrix It takes experience to understand perspectives Martians Doing 'fake math' or using a 'less sophisticated' …

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on November 15, 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 c…

We can be our own kids' best teachers, even when it comes to gnarly division problems. In this episode Pam and Kim relay their experiences exploring decimal division with their own kids. Talking Points: A tool for holding your thinking - a ratio table It's not about how much you can hold in your head Help them start with what they know Problem Stri…

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on November 8, 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 co…

Recorded live from NCTM! Pam and Kim discuss some of their experiences and takeaways from the 2023 National Council of Teachers of Mathematics conference. Talking Points: Travel stories As kids grow, teachers grow as well Know your content know your kids to choose Problem Strings for your students Tools that focus on answer getting stifle students …

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Place value is so much more than labeling digits. In this episode Pam and Kim dive into place value and common teaching practices that are necessary, but not enough. Talking Points: A fascination with the macabre Typical place value labeling and additional things you can think about to develop place value Precise questioning yields deeper place val…

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on October 25, 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 co…

Division is figure-out-able! In this episode Pam and Kim discuss the most sophisticated strategy for division and precursors that students can begin developing in the fourth grade! Talking Points: An Equivalent Ratios Problem String Precursor relationships Scaling up or Scaling down What makes Equivalent Ratios the most sophisticated strategy for d…

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on October 18, 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 co…

Our students can learn to approach math problems like mathematicians! In this episode Pam and Kim look at one of the most sophisticated multiplication strategies that many mathematicians use. Talking Points: Creating an equivalent problem by Doubling and Halving. What makes a problem reasonable to solve without a calculator? Double/Halve; Triple/Fi…

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on October 11, 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 co…

Some subtraction strategies can only get you so far, but with a little more sophistication complex problems become really nice to think and reason about! In this episode Pam and Kim build and discuss the Constant Difference strategy for subtraction and use it to solve a really gnarly problem. Talking Points: Equivalence strategies are more sophisti…

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on October 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 con…

What makes a strategy sophisticated? In this episode Pam and Kim build the most sophisticated strategy and talk about how and why to develop it with students. Talking Points: What are the most sophisticated strategies? Strategies that require more simultaneity require more time to develop Simultaneous versus sequential Representing Give and Take We…

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on September 27, 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 …

Kids learn best with support from their parents, and helping with math has never been easier! In this episode, Pam and Kim are excited to share some tips about how to encourage your children as they grow in mathematical thinking and reasoning. Talking Points: Wait a little longer Resist the urge to tell the right answer Ask questions to cement the …

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on September 20, 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 …

This one's for all you, parents! How can you support your children in becoming mathematicians? In this episode Pam and Kim go over their favorite ways to explore math at home in fun game-like activities. Talking Points: Speak about math positively Wondering Doubling and Halving Using 10s to find 9s and using 10s to find 5s I Have, You Need Get the …

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on September 13, 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 …

Can you reason about what it means for a point to be within a given quadrant? Can your students? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss weather and geography to develop understanding of the quadrants in the cartesian coordinate system. Talking Points: Understanding points relative to their quadrants and the y = x line Kim's connection to Alaska What m…

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on September 6, 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 c…

Let's do some guessing! In this episode Pam and Kim develop some functional reasoning by analyzing the relationships between their guesses and reality. Talking Points: Pam's guesses using her pop culture knowledge How would you know if you are a good guesser? Graphing guesses and actual age as an ordered pair Using the data to discuss the meaning o…

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on August 30, 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 con…

What does it mean for math to be figure-out-able? What will you teach? How? Why? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss their thoughts to changing the "how" and "what" of math education around the world and explore the "why". Talking Points: "What" math we teach should come first "How" the math should be embedded in the "what" What Pam and Kim think a…

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on August 23, 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 con…

What role does terminology have in math teaching? How do we want students to approach problems? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss when to teach vocabulary how we can prepare students to tackle problems with confidence. Talking Points: "Just In Case" vs "Just In Time" vocabulary Social Knowledge vs Logical Mathematical Knowledge Anchor Charts to c…

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on August 16, 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 con…

There is so much that is good happening in the math teaching community! In this episode Pam and Kim discuss how we can determine how much of which good things to put into our classrooms. Talking Points: Going beyond nixing tricks Social versus logical knowledge Nixing the tricks is more than explaining the math better The dangers of going all in on…

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on August 9, 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 conv…

Who does not love a quick, easy routine that gives students useful problem solving relationships? In this episode Pam and Kim revisit I Have, You Need and apply it with different target numbers. Talking Points: Kim and Pam play I Have, You Need often with clocks and marathons It's not about speed Goal is reducing cognitive load in the midst of solv…

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on August 2, 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 conv…

What exactly is a Problem String? In this episode Pam and Kim dig into that question and give examples of what a problem string is and is not. Talking Points: Pam's conversation with Howie Hua - Problem Strings are not strategies Example of a helper clunker structure Problem String What is structure vs strategy? Example of an equivalent structred P…

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on July 26, 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 conve…

What are some important relationships that students can use to do Real Math with fractions? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss some important relationships that can help develop deeper understanding about fractions for fractional equivalence and comparison. Talking Points: A listener's review Using benchmark fractions to compare Using a number lin…

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on July 19, 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 conve…

What if your students could think and reason about the relative sizes of fractions? In this episode Pam and Kim think about where fractions go on clotheslines to show how you can help your students compare fractions without a memorized procedure. Talking points: A podcast listener shares her perspective of mathematics as a student Clothesline Math …

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on July 12, 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 conve…

How we teach and what we teach are both really important. In this episode Pam and Kim wrap up their discussion on Peter Liljedahl's book Building Thinking Classrooms and how it meshes with the Math Is Figure-Out-Able movement. Talking Points: When we suggest to defront the classsroom Don't let language hamper the math for students during a Rich Tas…

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on July 5, 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 conver…

We think Dr. Peter Liljedahl has some great ideas about how to keep students thinking and reasoning in math class. In this episode Pam and Kim continue to discuss some of his ideas and how they align with the Math is Figure-Out-Able mindset. Talking Points: Which questions to answer Get in, get out Approach groups with your own question Using neutr…

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on June 28, 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 conve…

We love it when students are thinking and reasoning, and it's important to know how best to build and experience sophisticated strategies. In this episode Pam and Kim continue discussing Dr. Peter Liljedahl's work and finetune where it's appropriate to use vertical nonpermanent surfaces, and what other kind of tasks we should be doing whole class w…

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on June 21, 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 conve…

We want our students to be confident problem solvers who can think and reason through complex problems. In this episode, Pam and Kim highlight some of Dr. Peter Liljedahl's work on Building Thinking Classrooms to use student's natural inclinations to help them work better and more collaboratively. Talking Points: It's about thinking, not mimicking …

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on June 14, 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 conve…

We've reached our third anniversary of the podcast! There's a lot that's been said, so we thought we'd highlight some of the quintessential Pam Harris topics from previous episodes that you need to transform your math classroom. In this episode Pam and Kim blitz through what makes the Math is Figure-out-able Movement so important and unique. They a…