Math is Figure-Out-Able!
Episodes
Ep 95: If Not the Addition Algorithm, Then What?
12 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What are the major strategies students need to know to solve any addition problem that is reasonable to solve without a calculator? In this episode Pa...
Ep 94: If Not Algorithms, Then What?
05 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We want students to be real problem solvers, and we know that means much more than helping them get correct answers. But we never want to put students...
Ep 93: Partnering With Parents: Do Correct Answers Matter?
28 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When we feel passionately about the way we teach, we can sometimes inadvertently miscommunicate when speaking with parents. In this episode, Pam and K...
Ep 92: Partnering With Parents: Math Night!
22 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Partnering with parents can be a blast! In this episode Pam and Kim describe how they organize and run math nights to help parents experience mathemat...
Ep 91: Partnering With Parents: Over Communicate
15 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How can we proactively partner with and support parents? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss ways they over communicate to parents to keep parents inv...
Ep 90: Partnering With Parents: Listening
08 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Parents are so important, and sometimes they get concerned when their child isn't being taught math they way they were expecting. In this episode...
Ep 89: Playing With Fraction Multiplication
01 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kim has a story to tell that Pam hasn't heard yet! Listen in to get a feel of how math can be when students understand that Math is Figure-Out-Ab...
Ep 88: Getting Correct Answers or Building Relationships?
22 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Most of us are probably teaching the way we were taught, to get correct answers to problems. But we aren't actually helping students understand a...
Ep 87: But I'm Required to Teach Algorithms
15 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Do your standards require you to teach algorithms? What then? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss how they prepare their students for success on high ...
Ep 86: Are Algorithms Necessary?
08 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What purpose has and should algorithms have in mathematics education? Are step by step What purpose has and should algorithms have in mathematics educ...
Ep 85: Single Digit Addition Facts Finale
01 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Aren't addition facts cool?! By this point you've learned some amazing relationships and strategies to help your students make real sense of...
Ep 84: Single Addition Facts, Part 4
25 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's time for you to learn about the most important relationship your students need to know to automatize their addition facts: partners of ten. ...
Ep 83: Single Digit Addition Facts Pt 3
18 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We build addition facts through relationships and fluency through experience. So what important patterns and relationships can help students master ...
Ep 82: Single Digit Addition Facts, Pt 2
11 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Addition is figure-out-able! In this episode Pam and Kim describe some of the fundamental patterns students should learn as they get familiar and auto...
Ep 81: Single Digit Addition Facts Pt 1
04 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
So many people get left behind when it comes to higher math, because they never learned mathematize or to think more sophisticatedly and build complex...
Ep 80: Resolutions Anyone?
28 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We've come to the end of another year, and we'd thought we'd leave you with some suggestions on goals you can set for your teaching. In...
Ep 79: Talking Math With Your Kids For The Holidays
21 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Don't you love the holidays? We sure do! It's such a great excuse to talk math with your family! In this episode Pam and Kim describe some w...
Ep 78: Gift Giving Ideas - Mathy Games for All Ages
14 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As we approach Christmas and the holidays, we thought we'd talk about some of our favorite games that we love to gift others! In this episode Pam...
Ep 77: The 'Relational Thinking' Instructional Routine
07 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We've got another one of our favorite routines for you today! In this episode Pam and Kim demonstrate the Relational Thinking routine, a routine ...
Ep 76: The 'As Close As It Gets' Instructional Routine
30 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There are a lot of great instructional routines out there, and today we want to highlight As Close as it Gets. In this episode Pam and Kim discuss how...
Ep 75: Stop Labeling Students
23 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Are your students dumb or smart? Fast or slow? Under achiever or advance achiever? Or are they just your students with varying experiences? In this ep...
Ep 74: Know Your Content, Know Your Kids
16 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How can we take what students already know and leverage that to make other mathematical connections? You've probably heard us mention that you sh...
Ep 73: Some Favorite Numbers - Milestones for Math is Figure-Out-Able
09 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We did it! We made it to episode 73! Why is that an important milestone? Just cause it's Kim's favorite number :-). In this episode Pam and ...
Ep 72: The Do's and Dont's of Problem Strings
02 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Facilitating a Problem String is tricky business, so Pam and Kim take the time in this episode to provide some do's and don'ts that anyone c...
Ep 71: What are Problem Strings Anyways?
26 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What makes Problem Strings different from other sequences of problems? In this episode Pam and Kim get into the nitty gritty on how Problem Strings wo...
Ep 70: Equations of Lines Pt 2
19 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Problem Strings are meant to build off each other so that the math is always moving forward. That's why we've decided to build off the last ...
Ep 69: Equations of Lines Pt 1
12 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We've talked a lot about the types of reasoning we need to help students develop, but a lot of teachers believe that there comes a point in highe...
Ep 68: Revisiting the Development of Mathematical Reasoning Pt 2
05 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In Episode 67 revisited the Development of Mathematical Reasoning (DMR) and we described how students can solve addition problems with Counting Strate...
Ep 67: Revisiting the Development of Mathematical Reasoning
28 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's been over a year since Pam and Kim first introduced the DMR (Development of Mathematical Reasoning) and in that time they've refined th...
Ep 66: Shout Out to Leaders!
21 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Math conferences are powerful ways to improve your teaching. But it's also really easy to go to a conference and accidently miss all the good ses...
Ep 65: Collaborative Coaching through Shared Experiences
14 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How can we best grow as teachers? Together of course! In this episode Pam and Kim discuss the power of teachers honing their craft through collaborati...
Ep 64: Fun with Division: The Equivalent Ratios Strategy
07 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Fun with Division: An Important StrategyThere is so much to division! Pam and Kim go through a quick Problem String that builds a less known, but supe...
Ep 63: Counting is More Than A, B, C
31 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Counting strategies can often go overlooked. Learning to count in a way that prepares students for Additive Reasoning is complex. But just how hard ca...
Ep 62: Models That Aren't Our Fav
24 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Pam and Kim show how three popular models - 100 charts, base ten blocks, and algebra tiles - while powerful for developing reasoning, ...
Ep 61: Ten Frames
17 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Continuing their series on models and modeling, Pam and Kim discuss the advantages and pitfalls of Ten Frames. They emphasize the power of models that...
Ep 60: Number Bonds and Tape Diagrams
10 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Let's keep talking about modeling! A lot of you may be familiar with Number Bonds and Tape Diagrams and may be wondering about how they fit in wi...
Ep 59: Why Not Manipulatives?
03 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Are manipulatives sometimes overemphasized? When are they useful, and when can they actually get in the way of the mathematics? What role do they play...
Ep 58: Introducing the Modeling Framework
27 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's time to talk about one of our foundational ideas for facilitating Real Math! In this episode Pam and Kim detail a modeling framework that he...
Ep 57: For Parents: How Can I Help My Kid?
20 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If my experiences as a student are different than my child's experience at school, how can I help them succeed? In this episode for parents, we p...
Ep 56: For Parents: Why Does "New Math" Look Different?
13 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hey parents! Thank you so much for listening to part two of our series for parents. It can be really frustrating to not understand what it is your kid...
Ep 55: For Parents: Why All the "New Math"?
06 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is for all the parents out there who are invested in helping their children! It can be frustrating to see how math class looks different ...
Ep 54: Q&A Part 2, Data Analytics and Advice for First Year Teachers
29 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We love answering your questions! In this episode Pam and Kim answer a question submitted from Rachel Adler. Pam shares her experiences familiarizing ...
Ep 53: Q&A Part 1, Do Strategies Change Over Time?
22 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We loved getting all of your questions! Because there's so many questions, Pam and Kim will have to spend the next couple episodes answering them...
Ep 52: One Year Anniversary Highlight Reel
15 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We are so grateful to be celebrating our one year anniversary of the podcast! It's been wonderful to hear all the feedback you've given us a...
Ep 51: Fractions, a Clock Model Pt 2
08 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We've had so much fun talking about fractions! In this episode Pam and Kim do another Problem String to demonstrate the effective use of a clock ...
Ep 50: Fractions, A Clock Model
01 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How important is fractional equivalence? Important enough for another model! These models are fantastic for helping students develop a natural underst...
Ep 49: Fractions, A Money Model Pt 2
25 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Pam and Kim finish up their money Problem String from the last episode. But first, Pam wanted to reflect a little on how she was less ...
Ep 48: Fractions, A Money Model
18 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's time to talk about everyone's two favorite things: fractions and money! Fraction equivalence is a super important concept in mathematic...
Ep 47: Fractions as Fair Sharing
11 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Let's keep talking fractions! In this episode Pam and Kim discuss an interesting rich task from Cathy Fosnot to help students reason about fracti...
Ep 46: Fractions for Young Learners
04 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How young can young learners begin to experience fractions? Younger than you think! In this episode Pam and Kim describe simple ways we can help young...
Ep 45: 5 Interpretations of Rational Numbers
27 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Time to get into fractions! There is so much to learn about teaching fractions and in this episode we wanted to lay some important ground work. All ...
Ep 44: Is it About Personality?
20 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Though some people think Kim and Pam's voices are hard to tell apart, teaching Real Math has nothing to do with a particular style or even person...
Ep 43: Standardized Tests
13 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If there's one thing that often comes up in teachers' conversations, it's standardized tests. And Pam and Kim are not afraid to tackle ...
Ep 42: Homework Pt 3
06 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this final episode in our series on homework, Pam and Kim discuss what types of homework teachers should send out, as well as some important pitfal...
Ep 41: Homework Pt 2
30 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's part two of our series on homework! Last time we heard Kim's perspective on when and what kinds of homework to give. Now it's Pam&...
Ep 40: Homework Pt 1
23 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to our first off the cuff episode! Pam and Kim have no notes this time and are happy to tackle the topic of homework. Turns out, they have eno...
Ep 39: Everybody Learns, Everybody Grows
16 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Pam and Kim discuss why a traditional teaching approach is not effective and propose an alternate way of teaching to help every studen...
Ep 38: Multiplication Facts: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Pt 5
09 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We made it to our final episode in our multiplication facts series! In this episode Pam and Kim share ideas about helping kids narrow in on facts they...
Ep 37: Multiplication Facts: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Pt 4
02 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's time for what you've all been waiting for. GAMES! Sure we don't want kids memorizing songs or rhymes to build their facts, but in ...
Ep 36: Multiplication Facts: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Pt 3
23 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Last episode Pam and Kim discussed how not to teach multiplication facts. So how should we teach them? This episode we look at multiplication facts th...
Ep 35: Multiplication Facts: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Pt 2
16 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When choosing tasks to teach multiplication facts, what are the pitfalls to avoid? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss ways teachers may inadvertently...
Ep 34: Multiplication Facts: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Pt 1
09 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Pam and Kim begin the first of another series: Multiplication Facts! What role can mathematizing and Real Math play in helping kids ma...
Ep 33: Problem Strings vs Problem Talks
02 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the last two episodes, Pam and Kim did some really cool Problem Strings, but what do they think about Number Talks? Listen in as Pam explains how N...
Ep 32: Another Cool Multiplication Strategy
26 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's time for another Problem String! In this episode Pam and Kim highlight one of their favorite multiplication strategies. It's so slick! ...
Ep: 31: A Cool Multiplication Strategy
19 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Pam and Kim want to help you develop a cool multiplication strategy. Which multiplication strategy? We aren't going to tell you u...
Ep 30: Ten Minute Math
12 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Don't you just love taking a break to play with numbers? In this week's episode, Pam and Kim share some of the ways that they engage with ki...
Ep 29: Ratio Tables!
05 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Pam and Kim dive deep into their favorite model for multiplication, division, and solving proportions: ratio tables! They'll disc...
Ep 28: Why Doesn't Everyone Teach Math This Way?
29 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week Pam and Kim wrap up their discussion on the Perspectives that Impact Math Pedagogy. Understanding the X, Y, and Z perspectives not only help...
Ep 27: Need to Know Why (The Y Perspective)
22 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We've made it to our last (and maybe favorite) perspective that impacts pedagogy. The Y perspective describes those who struggle with fake math b...
Ep 26: Math is Mimicking (The Z Perspective)
15 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is all about the Z perspective. Listen in to hear about the perspective that This episode is all about the Z perspective. Listen in to he...
Ep 25: Making Sense of the Math (The X Perspective)
08 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Continuing in the Perspectives Impacting Pedagogy Series, Pam and Kim discuss the X perspective. Did you play with numbers as a kid? Did math make nat...
Ep 24: Perspectives Impacting Pedagogy: How Did You View Math?
01 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is part one to a new five part series! Pam and Kim introduce the three main perspectives that influence the way we teach math. Understand...
Ep 23: The Commutative Property
24 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How can we help students feel comfortable with using the commutative property? In this episode Pam and Kim go through some addition and multiplication...
Ep 22: The Swapping Strategy
17 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Pam went most of her life not knowing about this really cool thing! Listen in as Kim relates a great math experience she had with her son, Luke, while...
Ep 21: Playing with Percents Pt 2
10 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Are percents truly figure-out-able? You bet! Grab a pen and paper for this one as Pam and Kim discuss the 3 types of percent problems and how they sol...
Ep 20: Playing with Percents Pt 1
03 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
So are percents really figure-out-able too? In this episode Pam and Kim do a Problem String and share their strategies to solve some percent problems....
Ep 19: Fractions, Decimals, Percents
27 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Pam and Kim explore what it means to be flexible with fractions, decimals, and percents. They discuss how we can become more flexible as we deal with ...
Ep 18: This, Not That
20 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
You might want your magnifying glass for this one, because in this episode we're getting a little nitpicky. Pam and Kim discuss common and often ...
Ep 17: Social vs Logical Knowledge
13 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Math is Figure-Out-Able, but surely there are some parts that are only memorizable, right? In this episode Pam and Kim parse out the difference betwee...
Ep 16: The Language of Counting
06 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week's episode is for all you parents and teachers of young children. Pam and Kim discuss ways to make counting Figure-Out-Able! How can we ...
Ep. 15: Problem Solving with a Twist
29 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Have you tried teaching your students "the steps" to approaching word problems, but your students still struggled? Pam and Kim discuss a bet...
Ep 14: Guess My Number
22 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Pam and Kim have some fun in this episode as they read out a submission from Aaron Houston about his mathy dad and having mathy fun at a restaurant. T...
Ep 13: Mathematics for Teaching
15 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There are so many aspects to teaching, and it gets more complex when we want to discuss teaching math. Pam and Kim define the 5 layers for mathematics...
Ep 12: Top 3 Things to Start the Year: Know Your Beliefs
08 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As Pam and Kim wrap up their series on how to start the school year right, they discuss the importance of having your beliefs about teaching and learn...
Ep 11: Top 3 Things to Start the Year: Building Culture Remotely
01 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Join Pam and Kim in part two of their Top 3 Things to Start the Year series. This week its all about building a classroom culture where students and s...
Ep 10: Top 3 Things to Start the Year: Student Names
25 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As the world prepares for one of the most interesting beginnings to the school year, Pam and Kim are here to help us get it right. They start off this...
Ep 9: Strategies and Models
18 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What is the difference between a strategy and a model? Listen as Pam and Kim define strategies and models and explain the difference. They also give e...
Ep 8: More Cool Things Mathy People Do
11 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
After last weeks discussion on partners of 10, 100, and 1000, Pam and Kim thought of more habits "mathy people" have in common. Listen in as...
Ep 7: I Have, You Need
04 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Pam and Kim share one of their favorite instructional routines: I Have, You Need. They discuss some of the most common patterns that m...
Ep 6: The Development of Mathematical Reasoning Pt 2: Functional Reasoning
28 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Reasoning and numeracy doesn't come to an end in highschool! Can we mathematize algebraic concepts? What is Functional Reasoning? Listen as Pam e...
Ep 5: The Development of Mathematical Reasoning
21 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is so important! Pam and Kim describe the Development of Mathematical Reasoning, and how it transforms our understanding of what it means...
Ep 4: Top Ten Influencers
14 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Who's shaping math education today? Does Pam come up with it all herself? Far from it! In her fourth episode Pam wanted to pay homage to her top ...
Ep 3: Mentoring Mathematicians
07 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When we read, we are reading. When we write, we are writing. What is the verb for doing math? Pam and Kim continue from Episode 2 to discuss what it...
Ep 2: Math Does Not Equal Algorithms!
30 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What is 99 plus anything? What is 99 times anything? How can you use relationships to solve those problems? In this episode, Pam and Kim talk about ho...
Ep 1: Math is Figureoutable
16 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this debut podcast, mathematics teacher educator Pam Harris talks with her cohost, Kim Montague, about how they met and the work that they do toget...