Why do students give up on learning math? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss how using algorithms as teaching tools is distorting students' perception of what the definition of math is, which results in a poor mathematical identity.

Talking Points:

• A mysterious five pound bag
• A proportional reasoning Problem String
• Trap #1 and #2 (see Ep 246 and 247 for more details)
• Trap #3 a false definition of math that leads to Identity Definition of Math Trap
• Read Pam's new book for more information: Developing Mathematical Reasoning: Avoiding the Trap of Algorithms

Purchase Book here: http://www.mathisfigureoutable.com/avoidthetraps

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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 12, 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!

Why do students not realize their incorrect answers are completely unreasonable? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss another trap students fall into when taught to mimic algorithms as 'the way' to solve problems.

Talking Points:

• The patterns in Remove a Friendly Number Over strategy
• Important place value conversations
• How students can be stuck dealing with only digits rather than magnitude
• Reasonableness, or "Ish", numbers
• Parsing out polynomials into too many pieces

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 5, 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!

If a student can perform an algorithm, have they developed the mathematical reasoning that operation calls for? Or are they answer-getting? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss a major trap students fall into when we teach mathematics as a series of steps to rotely memorize.

Talking Points:

• A closer look at the multiplication algorithm and a major trap.
• Problem String that helps give students a high does of patterns for a multiplicative strategy.
• Algorithms disregard reasonableness.
• Memorizing an algorithm is forgetable but every strategy learned helps build mental maps to the make subsequent strategies easier to develop.

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 February 26, 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!

If math is figure-out-able why does the world not always teach it that way? In this episode Pam and Kim discuss the three major distortions holding back math education today.

• Autostereograms as a metaphor
• How the distortions are learned
• How the distortions create frustration
• How classrooms transform without distortions
• We want all kids to "see the shark"!

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 February 19, 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!