Draft:Pam Harris
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 | This article contains paid contributions. It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia's content policies, particularly neutral point of view. (August 2026) |
Pam Harris | |
|---|---|
 Pam Harris | |
| Born | Pamela Weber Harris |
| Occupations | Mathematics education consultant, author, university lecturer, CEO of Math is FigureOutAble |
| Known for | Mathematics education and reform, numeracy development, founding Math is FigureOutAble |
| Website | mathisfigureoutable |
Pamela Weber Harris (known professionally as Pam Harris) is an American mathematics educator, author, and consultant who focuses on K–12 mathematics education reform. She is known for her work helping teachers move away from algorithm-based instruction toward approaches that build genuine mathematical reasoning in students.[1] Her book Developing Mathematical Reasoning: Avoiding the Trap of Algorithms received the 2026 APEX Grand Prize for Publication Excellence, recognizing its contribution to professional learning in mathematics education.[2]
Career
[edit]Harris began her career as a high school mathematics teacher before moving into consulting, curriculum development, and teacher professional development.[2] She is a former lecturer at Texas State University and works as a K–12 mathematics education consultant.[3] She is also a certified T³ (Teachers Teaching with Technology) National Instructor and a regular presenter at regional, national, and international mathematics education conferences.[3]
Harris founded Math is FigureOutAble, a professional development organization and online platform through which she offers workshops, resources, and partnerships with school districts aimed at improving student outcomes in mathematics.[4] Her work has reached teachers across the United States and internationally.[4]
Publications
[edit]Harris has written and co-authored books published through Heinemann, Corwin Press, and Kendall Hunt, as well as several self-published titles through her organization Math is FigureOutAble. Her work spans elementary through high school mathematics and is particularly noted for applying numeracy research across grade levels.[5]
Corwin Press
[edit]The following titles form a series under the Developing Mathematical Reasoning umbrella:
- Developing Mathematical Reasoning: Avoiding the Trap of Algorithms (Grades K–12, 2025; ISBN 9781071948262)[6] The book received the 2026 APEX Grand Prize for Publication Excellence, awarded annually to recognize excellence in publishing among professional and educational publications.[2][7]
- Developing Mathematical Reasoning: The Strategies, Models, and Lessons to Teach the Big Ideas in Grades K–2 (2025; ISBN 9781071967546)[7]
- Developing Mathematical Reasoning: The Strategies, Models, and Lessons to Teach the Big Ideas in Grades 3–5 (2026; ISBN 9781071978344)[8]
Heinemann
[edit]Kendall Hunt
[edit]- Algebra Problem Strings
- Advanced Algebra Problem Strings
- Discovering Advanced Algebra (co-author)
Other
[edit]Harris was a main writer for Bridges in Mathematics, a K–5 textbook series published by the Math Learning Center.[11]
Self-published (Math is FigureOutAble)
[edit]Harris has self-published several classroom resource books through Math is FigureOutAble. These include Building Powerful Numeracy: A Facilitator's Guide and the Numeracy Problem Strings series, with individual volumes for Kindergarten through Fifth Grade.[12]
Podcast and media
[edit]Harris co-hosts the podcast Math is Figure-Out-Able with Kim Montague, releasing new episodes each week. The podcast covers strategies for mathematics instruction and alternatives to traditional procedural teaching, and is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other platforms.[13]
She has appeared on other education podcasts, including Make Math Moments, where she has discussed problem strings and building numeracy in students.[14]
In February 2024, Harris presented a webinar for Education Week titled "What is it About Math? Making Math Figure-Out-Able," in which she discussed the distinction between what she calls "real math" and rote procedural learning.[15]
Awards and recognition
[edit]Philosophy
[edit]Harris argues that standard algorithmic math instruction distorts what mathematics actually is, creating short-term memorization at the expense of long-term reasoning. Her teaching approach centers on what she calls "real math" — the kind of relational thinking mathematicians use — and she contends that all students can develop this kind of thinking when taught appropriately.[6] Her phrase "math is figureoutable" has become the organizing idea of her professional development work and brand.[4]
References
[edit]- ↑ "About Pam Harris". Math is FigureOutAble.
- 1 2 3 4 "Developing Mathematical Reasoning: With Pam Harris". Grant Wood AEA. 2022.
- 1 2 "Pam Harris Bio". LinkedIn.
- 1 2 3 "Math is FigureOutAble".
- 1 2 Developing Mathematical Reasoning: Avoiding the Trap of Algorithms. Corwin Press. 2025. ISBN 9781071948262.
- 1 2 3 Developing Mathematical Reasoning: Grades K–2. Corwin Press. 2025. ISBN 9781071967546.
- ↑ Developing Mathematical Reasoning: Grades 3–5. Corwin Press. 2026. ISBN 9781071978344.
- ↑ Building Powerful Numeracy for Middle and High School Students. Heinemann. 2006. ISBN 9780325026626.
- ↑ Lessons and Activities for Building Powerful Numeracy. Heinemann. 2011. ISBN 9780325048048.
- ↑ "Bridges in Mathematics". Math Learning Center.
- ↑ "Math is FigureOutAble Book List". Math is FigureOutAble.
- ↑ "Math is Figure-Out-Able with Pam Harris". Apple Podcasts.
- ↑ "Math Is Figureoutable: An Interview With Pam Harris". Make Math Moments.
- ↑ "What is it About Math? Making Math Figure-Out-Able". Education Week. February 21, 2024.
- ↑ "EdWeek's Ultimate PD Reading List Is Here". Education Week. July 2026.
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