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 Harris, author, mathematics education

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

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 math class and throughout life

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 September 3, 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!

How does the definition of fluency change when your goal for math class changes? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss in some areas of mathematics they aim for fluency and how students use those relationships to build from.

Talking Points:

• Buzzwords
• What are our goals?
• Does automaticity need to be drilled or can it develop naturally?
• Strategies are synergistic 
• Fluency with decomposing numbers
• Functional fluency
• Fluency with prime and square numbers
• Fluency in mathematical behaviors

Check out these episodes to learn more about "working with multiplication facts".

• Ep 97: If Not the Multiplication Algorithm, Then What?
• Ep 34 - 38: Multiplication: The Good, The Bad, And the Ugly

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 August 27, 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!

How can we bridge from proportional reasoning to functional reasoning? In this episode Pam and Kim talk through a Problem String that moves students from proportional reasoning into linear functions.

Talking Points:

• Building Proportions Problem String
• Thinking about "between" and "within" relationships in a ratio table
• Slope, rate of change, similar triangles, equivalence: all figure-out-able
• Ratios and proportional reasoning to functional reasoning
• Slope is a ratio

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 August 20, 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!

How do mathy people approach mathematics? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss different mathematical behaviors and the value of engendering them in students.

Talking Points:

• Reflecting about what else you could have done that might be more sophisticated
• Seeking the "ooh" factor or the "aha" moment
• Compare strategies and make connections
• Making choices based on numbers or the structure
• Seeking efficiency and making generalizations
• Start with "What do I know?"
• Seek understanding and asking for more
• The importance of acknowledging mathematical behaviors

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 August 13, 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!

Does inquiry mean leaving students to their own devices? In this episode Pam and Kim share their thoughts on the debate teaching reasoning vs. teaching procedures.

Talking Points:

• We all want what's best for students
• Sometimes educators talk past each other, using words without examples to give meaning
• Experiencing mathing is different from helping students learn to do the mental actions of mathing
• Is there a continuum of how to teach?
• Examples of "direct" and "inquiry based" instruction
• Should we ever be explicit?
• Why is it so important to have a common experience?

See the debate here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CANtr9OHAvU

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