Ep 258: Universal Screeners: The Good, Bad, and Ugly - Part 1

How does a Problem String look in front of real students? In this episode Pam and Kim give a play by play for how a Problem String could be facilitated.Talking Points:When to circulate and when to ask for choral responseHelping students communicate thinkingHow and when to engage students in conversationsWhen to anchor strategiesWhen to be intentionally curious to solidify thinkingCheck out our grade level Problem String books!Grade 1 Problem Strings: https://www.mathisfigureoutable.com/nps-1Grade 2 Problem Strings: https://www.mathisfigureoutable.com/NPS-2Grade 3 Problem Strings: https://www.mathisfigureoutable.com/nps-3Grade 4 Problem Strings: https://www.mathisfigureoutable.com/nps-4Grade 5 Problem Strings: https://www.mathisfigureoutable.com/nps-5Check out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationLinkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC 

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on June 25, 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: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationWant more? Check out the archive of all of our #MathStratChat posts!

What if finding equivalence between fractions, decimals, and precents wasn't just a task for students to do, but a tool making them more efficient in rational number computations? In this episode Pam and Kim talk about code switching with rational numbers to make complex problems more figure-out-able.Talking Points:What is code switching in rational numbers?A Problem String using equivalence to think about multiplicationTasks that use equivalency to solve problems rather than just practicing conversionsSee episode 219 for learning about finding the mean: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1062400/episodes/15561786Check out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationLinkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC 

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on June 18, 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: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationWant more? Check out the archive of all of our #MathStratChat posts!

Five years of important conversations, lots of laughs and a blooper every once in a while. In this episode Pam and Kim revisit some important moments of the podcast from the last 5 years.Talking Points:Clips from the past 5 years!Types of questioningStudent compliance Problem Strings vs Problem TalksMath distortionsWait time and Private signalsCheck out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationLinkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC 

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on June 11, 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: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationWant more? Check out the archive of all of our #MathStratChat posts!

How can you get the most out of I Have, You Need in your classroom? In this podcast Pam and Kim answer some common questions and dig deeper into one of their favorite routines, I Have You Need.Talking Points:Do cars speak the language of fractions?I Have, You Need (See also Ep 7 and 164)Why it is helpful to know partners of 1, 10, 100, 1000, etc.Common misconceptionsWhy it is important for the teacher to call the numbersIs it about creativity or efficiency?Discussing strategy is a big part of I Have, You NeedGet the free download at:https://www.mathisfigureoutable.com/youneed Check out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationLinkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on June 4, 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: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationWant more? Check out the archive of all of our #MathStratChat posts!

We've got a lot to say about screeners! In this episode Pam and Kim dig a bit more into why we screen and what we do with the results.Talking Points:Are screeners useful for diagnosing and grouping students?Are assessments important?What would be a helpful way to spend the first few weeks of school with students? What to do with required screenersSome recommended screenersCheck out our social mediaTwitter: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationLinkedin: Pam Harris Consulting LLC 

In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on May 28, 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: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationWant more? Check out the archive of all of our #MathStratChat posts!