MathMemos is a teacher space where adult educators share rich math problems, samples of student work, and practical suggestions for bringing the problems to life in the classroom. All math problems are:
(1) Open-ended, meaning that it might have more than one answer or there may be multiple solution pathways to solve the problem.
(2) The prompt does not clearly direct the students towards a procedural pathway in solving the problem.
(3) Students should be able to struggle productively with the problem for an extended period of time: they are student driven.
The problems include and integrate a wide range of math content and topics such as: Algebra, Geometry, Functions, Number & Quantity, and Statistics & Probability. You can also search for specific topics (fractions, systems of equations, equality) or problem solving strategies (guess & check, charts & tables, visual strategies, manipulatives).
The resources is designed so that teachers can be thoroughly connected to a problem before taking it into the classroom, by solving it themselves and looking at samples of student work that other teachers have posted online. Then, teachers are encouraged to reflect on how the problem played out in their own classroom and post their reflections.
This collection is an ongoing project with new problems being added as teachers submit new write-ups.
A PD Module is available for Professional Developers.
MathMemos was created by Tyler Holzer with a grant from the New York State Education Department Office of Adult Career and Continuing Education Services.