You've chosen a Problem String to teach, but does it need any preparation? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss how they prepare to facilitate a Problem String.

Talking Points:
Is it ok to adjust a pre-written Problem String?
What should you include in your 'Kim's Notes'?
What will your final board layout look like?
Naming specific teacher moves 
Practice using models ahead of time
Are pre-created models ok?
Where can you find pre-written strings complete with facilitation notes and final display? https://www.mathisfigureoutable.com/big 

Check out our social media
Twitter: @PWHarris
Instagram: Pam Harris_math
Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education
Linkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC 

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: @PWHarris

Instagram: Pam Harris_math

Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education

Want 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 string
• Things to consider when choosing a Problem String:
  • Prewritten vs write your own
  • Time of year
  • Strategies students already own
  • Building a model vs building a strategy
  • Order of sophistication of strategies
  • Building a model vs strategy
  • New content versus review/reteach

See episodes 33, 71, 72, 163, 226, 241 for more on Problem Strings!

Check out our social media
Twitter: @PWHarris
Instagram: Pam Harris_math
Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education
Linkedin: 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: @PWHarris

Instagram: Pam Harris_math

Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education

Want 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, Factoring

Talking Points:

• Benefits of using diverse task types
• Sample of three "messy" tasks to develop:
• Ratio tables
• Area model
• 2 different kinds of division
• Relationship between multiplication and division
• Practice ideas

Get your kit from Hand2mind here: https://www.hand2mind.com/item/foundations-for-strategies-multi-digit-multiplication-division-small-group-kit

Check out our social media
Twitter: @PWHarris
Instagram: Pam Harris_math
Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education
Linkedin: 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: @PWHarris

Instagram: Pam Harris_math

Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education

Want 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, decomposing

Talking Points:

• Sequencing tasks is more than just moving from one page to the next in the teacher guide
• Sample of three "messy" tasks to:
  • develop number lines
  • make connections between addition and subtraction
  • analyze strategies
  • solidify a strategy

For more sequences, check out the Foundations for Strategies from Hand2mind!: https://www.hand2mind.com/item/foundations-for-strategies-multi-digit-addition-subtraction-small-group-kit

Check out our social media
Twitter: @PWHarris
Instagram: Pam Harris_math
Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education
Linkedin: 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: @PWHarris

Instagram: Pam Harris_math

Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education

Want 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 approach
• Student exploration of patterns
• Just in time vocabulary
• Differentiation 
• Foundations of multiplicative reasoning, area, geometry
• Contexts to develop 3 major models
• Useful fact practice
• Anchoring the learning

For more sequences, check out the Foundations for Strategies from Hand2mind!: https://www.hand2mind.com/item/foundations-for-strategies-multi-digit-addition-subtraction-small-group-kit

Check out our social media
Twitter: @PWHarris
Instagram: Pam Harris_math
Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education
Linkedin: 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: @PWHarris

Instagram: Pam Harris_math

Facebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics education

Want more? Check out the archive of all of our #MathStratChat posts!