Ep 277: Memorize the Facts - It Makes All the Difference

How can we adjust our teaching to meet the needs of our students? In this episode, Pam proposes a series of rapid-fire pedagogical scenarios for Kim to respond to with her best advice. What will Kim say in 90 seconds or less? Talking Points:What to do about a student who only solves addition problems left to right?How to handle a student who always signals to pass during Problem Strings?Ways to encourage students to use strategies learned in Problem Strings when doing independent math work.Managing students who always yell out answers.Using Hint Cards/Clue Cards effectivelySuggestions for students who have additional time accommodations The importance of knowing your studentsFor additional information on Hint Cards, listen to Podcast Episode 38: Multiplication Facts: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Pt. 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 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: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: 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 VakhariaHow the Science of Reading does not correlate or correspond with what the people who call themselves the Science of Math are suggestingThe importance of Affirming Learning WalksClarifying 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 ClearinghouseShout-out to James Tanton for being intellectually curious!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 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: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: 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 equationsWhere lines intersect with different parent functionsUsing graphing to understand the behavior of a cubic function and moreUsing technology as a tool to understand what's happening, not as a crutch just to get answers.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 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: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: 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 moreHow reasoning about facts builds important multiplicative relationshipsHow reasoning in Problem Strings supports reasoning in word problemsRedefining what "memorization" meansTeaching for operational fluencyFacts Problem Strings: www.mathisfigureoutable.com/factspsCheck 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 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: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationWant 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 stageHow to pull out thinking Using this string to math with teachers in professional developmentReinforcing mathematical behaviorsStrategically determining wait timeUsing potential misunderstandings as learning opportunities Applying models to student thinkingDeciding the order of strategies to elicitChoosing the numbers in the Problem StringCheck out the Sticks of Gum Problem String here:https://www.mathisfigureoutable.com/ratio-tables   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 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: @PWHarrisInstagram: Pam Harris_mathFacebook: Pam Harris, author, mathematics educationWant more? Check out the archive of all of our #MathStratChat posts!