In today’s MathStratChat, Pam and Kim discuss the MathStratChat problem shared on social media on April 15, 2026.

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

How should context and models be used to build strategy? In this episode, Pam and Kim share a sequence of tasks regarding area to demonstrate a better approach for building understanding, abstraction, and strategy as a natural outcome.

Talking Points

• Hand2mind Foundations for Strategies
• Use of manipulatives to feel the meaning of area
• Guiding students to become more sophisticated, both in models and in strategies
• The importance of context for clarity and developing strategy
• Moving from concrete, to representational, to abstract to deepen understanding, strategy, and independence, NOT to apply an algorithm

Hand2mind Webinar: https://bit.ly/hand2mindmif

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 April 8, 2026.

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

If multiplication facts are so fundamental, why do students who memorize them struggle with multiplicative reasoning? In this episode, Pam and Kim take a hard look at what students need to succeed multiplicatively.

Talking Points

• What does it mean to 'know' multiplication facts?
• Using multiplication to solve subtraction problems
• Memorizing facts doesn't build complex multiplicative reasoning
• Redefining the mathematical 'basics'
• Applications to algebra
• How "productive practice" engages students in meaningful activities to build knowledge

Links

Ep.139: Factor to Add and Subract!?
Hand2mind Webinar: https://bit.ly/hand2mindmif

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 April 1, 2026.

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

How can we prepare students to grapple with algebraic concepts? In this episode, Pam and Kim further adapt factor puzzles for developing understanding of both decomposing and combining expressions.

Talking Points:

• Helping students understand algebraic expressions
• Differences in adding and multiplying variables
• Relationships between terms in algebraic expressions
• The need for multiplicative reasoning in algebra
• Advanced Factor Puzzles for high school

Links:

1) Ep.139: Factor to Add and Subract!?
2) Factor Puzzle Blog

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 March 25, 2026.

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

Why is practice sometimes not enough for students to become comfortable multiplying and adding integers? In this episode, Pam and Kim explore more with Factor Puzzles, this time with integers!

Talking Points:

• Gaining experience multiplying and adding with negative integers
• Purposefulness of keeping certain numbers constant in the factor puzzles
• Practical applications of when to do Factor Puzzles
• Importance of understanding the absolute value of numbers
• Connection between Factor Puzzles and factoring quadratic trinomials

Link to Blog: https:https://www.mathisfigureoutable.com/blog

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