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, author, mathematics education

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 of Intentional Talk And Listening 
• The joy of celebrating someone else's learning from Vanessa Vakharia
• How the Science of Reading does not correlate or correspond with what the people who call themselves the Science of Math are suggesting
• The importance of Affirming Learning Walks
• Clarifying the meaning of the word "procedural", as in "procedural fluency"
• The misleading nature of much of the math research currently being approved by What Works Clearinghouse
• Shout-out to James Tanton for being intellectually curious!

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 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, author, mathematics education

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.

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 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, author, mathematics education

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 reasoning about facts builds important multiplicative relationships
• How reasoning in Problem Strings supports reasoning in word problems
• Redefining what "memorization" means
• Teaching for operational fluency

Facts Problem Strings: www.mathisfigureoutable.com/factsps

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 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, author, mathematics education

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

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 determining wait time
• Using potential misunderstandings as learning opportunities 
• Applying models to student thinking
• Deciding the order of strategies to elicit
• Choosing the numbers in the Problem String

Check out the Sticks of Gum Problem String here:
https://www.mathisfigureoutable.com/ratio-tables   

Check out our social mediaTwitter: @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 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 Harris, author, mathematics education

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

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, prices, interstate signs
• I Have, You Need with time and distance
• Which is a better deal? Cost per ounce
• Mindset to engage in play with math

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