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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Just imagine, you know you're supposed to get the p all alone...but it has a - in front of it, and it's not at the beginning of the left side. So many traps! And not a scrap of sense making. #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I think "algebra" is seen as this thing where we introduce variables and weird notation and we're somehow doing something new, and not a thing where we are adding new and efficient notation to the algebraic reasoning we've been doing all along. #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Credit goes to Barbara Dougherty, who I think was at the U of Mizzou when she published this tidbit, then at U of Hawaii. Alas, I don't have the actual citation. #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I'd be okay with that! It does make me wonder if every Tiny Library in @triangleman.bsky.social 's neighborhood has seen Which One Doesn't Belong? or How Did You Count?" pass through, or if he's more subtle than that. #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

"Studies" have shown that if you ask kids to solve 12 - p = 5, they freak out. Ask them to solve 12 - [box] = 5, they think you're an idiot and say, "7! Why are you asking a stupid question?" The variable makes folx think they're supposed to "do" something rather than think. #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I can report that every math-y book I have left in my next door neighbors' Tiny Library over the years has disappeared. I am hopeful they have found good homes and cultivated lots of great discussion. I don't regularly check on the ones further from home. #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I think there's a tendency to think "algebra is doing real math" if you ever learned it, even when there are way easier methods, and you haven't done alg since undergrad (and maybe didn't even get it then). Using number sense instead of variables is valid math! #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I love doing probs with "mixed" groups of Ts - say grades 3-12. The MS and HS Ts are all using algebra, and the Gr3 T is like, "Duh. Just do this and you're done. Why are you doing all that work??" (It's even better if I didn't think of it already!) #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

For me, it's good books to put in local Tiny Libraries! I'll start another buying list. #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

But SO beautiful when they have a moment like this. "But, wait, you mean you can [do that]?? Lemme try one!" #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

And so that they HAVE power - they can dig into things with numbers and explain them and not rely on others to explain it. (Unfortunately, sometimes those other folks don't have your best interests in mind...) #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

When we had the Problems of the Week at #TheMathForum, my brain got SO much bigger by not using algebraic representations all the time for the Gr3-5 and Gr6-8 problems. It was magic! #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I'm a sucker for talking to kids who want to understand something! #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I'll be there. This can definitely be a topic of conversation if one of us remembers! #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

An elem T friend had a Gr3 student who HAD to know why the 3 rule worked, so I speakerphoned with them (pre-Zoom et al). He left the convo determined to figure out why some of the other rules work (and he learned some number theory, though he didn't know that at the time). #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I've shared Splat! with lots of people. It's so fun! I turned a few of them into Desmos activities to use with collaborative online groups (previous grant-funded project) and they definitely fulfilled some needs and fostered great conversation. #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

A3: Number talks, with a focus on coming up with as many ways as possible - and make sure that when you're "done", you #NoticeWonder about the ways. Ruth Parker told me "it's a game changer". #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I added myself to the spreadsheet tonight if that's what you mean! Sorry I am a little slow getting that done.

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Oh, excellent point. Take them apart, and put them back together in lots of different ways. Flexibility is indeed key. #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

A2: I think you call attention to them. I know @triangleman.bsky.social has lots of example on his talkingmathwithkids.com blog - just have a normal convo with your kid, and lob a few numbers in and see what happens. #ElemMathChat

talkingmathwithkids.com

Talking Math With Your Kids

Supporting children’s early mathematical development

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I do know that facility with taking apart numbers and putting them back together is super important and an indicator of future "success". #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

A1b: And it's important because we are surrounded by numbers and need to make sense of and use them constantly. Without facility with numbers, you lose a lot of agency. #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

A1: Geez, start with an easy one, whydontcha?? Knowing numbers represent quantities (context-specific, perhaps), and that they can be broken apart and combined, and being able to "do things" with them fluidly. Talk about word salad! #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Hey #ElemMathChat. Annie, joining from suburban Philly. I'm mostly a consultant these days, I guess - I pick and choose (it is a luxury, I freely admit).

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Even better! How much information can we remove and still expect them to recreate the structure of the story? #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

A8: Letting kids pick the numbers they want to work with, after discussing the structure of the story, gives them all a chance to pick their level of "challenge" - after all, if you know the structure, you're now just focused on calculation. And then you can try some "harder" numbers! #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

A6: Reduces calculation compulsion! How to help students focus on story/problem structure. How to launch a math-y conversation with the students' ideas, not what the teacher says is important. #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

First thing I saw (or thought I saw) was foccacia, which I made recently in an experiment. #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

A5: N: baked goods, lots of different things, shaker of powder (W: confectioner's sugar?), seems like sweet & savory. W: what's the confectioner's sugar for? baking potluck? more sweet or more savory? Is near part of table savory and far part sweet? #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

A4: It's really key to help students focus on the structure of the story, and NOT resort to calculation compulsion. Removing the numbers is one way. Another is to leave them, but focus conversation/#NoticeWonder on "tell me something about the story." #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

A4: We could remove the numbers. "Grae 3 raised some money. Grade 4 raised less money. Together they raised some money. #NoticeWonder about the story." #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Oh, I can totally do that - having trained myself not to resort of algebra all the time years ago at #TheMathForum - but I focused more on structure in this answer. Interesting! #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

A3: Oh, gosh....big one would be paying attention to the story and not just doing rando things with the numbers. Overcoming "calculation compulsion", as it were. #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

And it's so interesting that you're focused on how you imagine kids could do the operations, and I just skipped right over that! #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

A2: My instinct is to subtract 68 from 437, then add the result to 437, so I'd know what the 4th graders raised. But you could also just add 437 to itself, then subtract 68 from the total, since nobody actually asked how much the 4th graders raised. #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

A1: So many ways to answer this. One is that people (students, adults, everyone) should feel like they can engage in things mathematically and not rely on other people to "explain" things to them and, consequently, have power over them. #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Hi! I'm Annie, joining from suburban Philly. And yes, I'll be helping @mnmmath.bsky.social out this summer on her project - it's going to be wicked fun! #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

A7: A normal staircase or a steep one? #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

That's the answer to how to ask my question about multiple layers. Thanks, Gregory! #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

A7: Does your pattern have reflection symmetry across a vertical plane? #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

A7: Trying to think about how best to ask whether it has multiple layers horizontally - because nothing is 2D here, but some are just one "layer" (like first and last in third row). #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

I think of it more as fascination about visual perception. It sure looks green. I'm 100% sure it isn't, if I zoomed in, but I can't argue with how it looks. And isn't that cool? #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

I love giving the answer. To convince kids you don't care about the answer, you have to actually not care about the answer. An elem T friend of mine learned that quickly with her kids - it's not what you "say" you care about, it's what you actually care about - they can tell! #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

No, just chunky square pixels, at least in my youth (the late 70s and early 80s). Maybe it is just the nightmare of the ships constantly advancing down the screen.... #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

And in #3, "might". Not "does", but "might". So inviting! #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Oh, man, the PLURAL thing is so important! It opens up the door - how many ways can we think of? what are some possible answers? instead of "what's THE answer?" I might need a shirt (though it might be too subtle). #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

A6: how many hexagons? Are there an equal number of white and blue hexagons? Why did my brain say "Space Invaders!" Is there a pattern that generates this? #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

A5: And sorry, should have read directions and gone right to asking questions! How many layers? Is it iterative to a certain depth? Are they blue triangles or yellow triangles as the main form? Are the involved ratios something interesting? #ElemMathChat

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Annie Fetter @mfannie.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

A5: Noticing blue and yellow triangles - my brain sees blue triangles and yellow negative space. N: it looks green in the center. W: if it was built with yellow triangles or blue ones. N: it almost reminds me of a Poincare disk but that it's not quite that. W: how many layers. #ElemMathChat

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