Building Powerful Subtraction Online Workshop 

Building Powerful 
Subtraction Workshop 

 

Teachers, are you ready to. . .

âś” master teaching subtraction?

âś” reach more of your students?

âś” give your students confidence and success?

Teachers, are you ready to. . .

âś” master teaching subtraction?

âś” give your students confidence?

âś” nix rote-memorized procedures?

Yes! Sign me up!

Ready to conquer subtraction?

We got you.

This workshop is everything you need. 7 modules, 7 weeks, a powerful transformation to make a REAL impact for your students.  

Get your school to pay it: Download the executive summary

Teachers - looking for packages to support groups?

Schedule a call with Pam

"If you have even one student in your class that struggles with math, then take a Pam Harris workshop."

-Christopher Peterson, West High School, CA

Ready to conquer subtraction?
We got you.

This workshop is everything you need. 7 modules, 7 weeks, a powerful transformation to make a REAL impact for your students.  

"If you have even one student in your class that struggles with math, then take a Pam Harris workshop."

-Christopher Peterson, West High School, CA

From Participants of the Live Workshop

How will this workshop help your students?
Will taking this workshop empower me to help all of my students?
 
 

Rhonda says this work will give your students power.

This workshop helps Daniel, a high school teacher, reach ALL of his students!

 

 

I teach younger students. Is this Workshop for me?

 

Should you take this workshop?
 
 

Sara is a second grade teacher who gained confidence with subtraction and how to build it with her students.

"This training EXPANDED my brain and I can do the same for my kids!" says Beatriz.

From Participants of the Live Workshop

From Participants of the Live Workshop

How will this workshop help your students?
 

Rhonda says this work will give your students power.

Will taking this workshop empower me to help all of my students?
 

This workshop helps Daniel, a high school teacher, reach ALL of his students!

I teach younger students. Is this Workshop for me?

 

Sara is a second grade teacher who gained confidence with subtraction and how to build it with her students.

Should you take this workshop?

 

"This training EXPANDED my brain and I can do the same for my kids!" says Beatriz.

Is this PD really worth it?

 

Lavell had only good things to say.

"The best PD I've ever had... relevant... revolutionary... this is what we need."

A 7-week deep dive into Subtraction

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Learn:

    • the 2 big ideas of subtraction and how to develop them
    • the most important models for subtraction, the order to use, and their purposes
    • how to develop the top strategies for powerful subtraction

Runs February 18, 2025 - June 9, 2025. That is 7 weeks of content  with 9 additional weeks access. All for $347!

Register Now!

A 7-week deep dive into Subtraction

Placeholder Image

Learn:

- the 2 big ideas of subtraction and how to develop them

- the most important models for subtraction, the order to use, and their purposes

- how to develop the top strategies for powerful subtraction

Runs May 30, 2023 - September 18, 2023.

That is 7 weeks of content with 9 additional weeks access. All for $347!

Sign me up!

 What is in the Workshop?

Module 1: What Does It Mean to Think Additively about Subtraction?

 

 What is in the Workshop?

Module 1: What Does It Mean to Think Additively about Subtraction?

 

What Will I Learn?

  • What "Math is Figure-Out-Able" means, what is real math, and what it means to mathematize
  • What it means to be a mentor to young mathematicians
  • Why it is important to develop reasoning, not just get answers
  • Why the traditional subtraction algorithms are not the goal
  • Steps to take action in your classroom

Why Is This Important?

This is the why, the background, the setting that sets the stage for the rest of the workshop, so that you can implement lessons and strategies knowing how it all fits together.

___________________________________________________

Module 2: Building Strategies

 

What Will I Learn?

  • The two interpretations of subtraction and why students need to deeply understand both of them
  • A spatial model for representing student thinking
  • Problem Strings to build strategies with students
  • Steps to take action in your classroom

Why Is This Important?

Students need to deeply understand the two interpretations of subtraction so they can reason about subtraction across varying contexts. They also need both interpretations in order to decontextualize and develop intuition for efficient subtraction strategies. Owning numerical relationships leads to solving problems in efficient, clever, and creative ways.

___________________________________________________

Module 3: The Connection Between Addition and Subtraction

What Will I Learn?

  • Instructional routines to build number sense and numerical relationships
  • A Problem String to cinch the strategies related to the two interpretations of subtraction
  • How the big mathematical idea of equivalence contributes to efficient problem solving
  • Steps to take action in your classroom

Why Is This Important?

It is not enough for students to solve problems if they are not also growing in mental sophistication. As students build numerical relationships, they draw on them to solve problems in clever and sophisticated ways. Students look at the problem and let the numbers dictate the strategy based on the inherent relationships.

___________________________________________________

Module 4: Getting More Sophisticated

What Will I Learn?

  • A Problem String to introduce the most sophisticated subtraction strategy
  • Strategies for finding partners of 100 and why this relationship is so important to subtraction work
  • How context and decontextualizing contribute to sense making and flexibility
  • Steps to take action in your classroom

Why Is This Important?

Students need to own sophisticated strategies so they can solve subtraction problems within other work they are doing without getting bogged down. Students frequently subtract, especially from decade and century numbers, when reasoning about multiplication and division problems. Building sophisticated subtraction strategies helps students become more flexible and fluid in multiplicative reasoning.

___________________________________________________

Module 5: Top 3 Types of Tasks for Student Success

What Will I Learn?

  • What Rich Tasks are and how they can be used to develop big ideas
  • Problem Strings to introduce and solidify strategies, models, and big ideas
  • How Problem Strings and Problem Talks work together and how to sequence lessons to maximize learning
  • Steps to take action in your classroom

Why Is This Important?

This is the how-to-do-it module. We study different types of instructional tasks and routines, discerning their role in constructing mathematical ideas in learners’ brains. Our goal is to always be moving the math and the mathematician forward. Understanding how to use and leverage different instructional tasks allows you to ensure success for all your students all of the time.

___________________________________________________

Module 6: High-leverage Teacher Moves that Help You Help Your Students

What Will I Learn?

  • High leverage teacher moves to encourage student sense making 
  • Teacher moves that support equity and access 
  • Teacher moves to differentiate—to support and challenge all learners 
  • How to support meaningful discourse to facilitate learning
  • Steps to take action in your classroom

Why Is This Important?

Teaching in a way that allows all students to learn and grow is not a trivial task. There are purposeful moves teachers can make that promote class discussion and mathematical dialogue, position all students as sense makers, and build a culture of curiosity and empowerment.

In this module, you’ll learn the high level teacher moves that make the learning happen like a pro.

___________________________________________________

Module 7: Developing Subtraction in Younger Learners and Extending Subtraction in Higher Math

What Will I Learn?

  • How to help beginners reason about the relationship between addition and subtraction
  • Beginning subtraction strategies for young learners 
  • How to help students think and reason through integer subtraction
  • How to help students think and reason through algebra applications without using an algorithm/formula
  • Steps to take action in your classroom

Why Is This Important?

This workshop starts with the assumption that some subtraction work has already happened. If you work with students who do not own the  single-digit subtraction facts, this module gives you tools to help support their mathematical development.

Subtraction doesn’t stop in 5th grade, but older students often won’t engage in a review of subtraction, no matter how much they need it. Teachers in middle and high school need an entry point to build subtraction in the content they teach. Here we identify places subtraction naturally comes up in middle and high school content and how to build subtraction while addressing grade level content.

___________________________________________________

Live Q&A Sessions With Pam

During the workshop you will have the opportunity to submit questions to Pam for her to answer during two live Q&A sessions. The sessions will be recorded and you will have access to them.

 What is in the Workshop?

Module 1: What Does It Mean to Think Additively about Subtraction?

 

 What is in the Workshop?

Module 1: What Does It Mean to Think Additively about Subtraction?

 

What Will I Learn?

  • What "Math is Figure-Out-Able" means, what is real math, and what it means to mathematize
  • What it means to be a mentor to young mathematicians
  • Why it is important to develop reasoning, not just get answers
  • Why the traditional subtraction algorithms are not the goal
  • Steps to take action in your classroom

Why Is This Important?

This is the why, the background, the setting that sets the stage for the rest of the workshop, so that you can implement lessons and strategies knowing how it all fits together.

_____________________

Module 2: Building Strategies

 

What Will I Learn?

  • The two interpretations of subtraction and why students need to deeply understand both of them
  • A spatial model for representing student thinking
  • Problem Strings to build strategies with students
  • Steps to take action in your classroom

Why Is This Important?

Students need to deeply understand the two interpretations of subtraction so they can reason about subtraction across varying contexts. They also need both interpretations in order to decontextualize and develop intuition for efficient subtraction strategies. Owning numerical relationships leads to solving problems in efficient, clever, and creative ways.

_____________________

Module 3: The Connection Between Addition and Subtraction

What Will I Learn?

  • Instructional routines to build number sense and numerical relationships
  • A Problem String to cinch the strategies related to the two interpretations of subtraction
  • How the big mathematical idea of equivalence contributes to efficient problem solving
  • Steps to take action in your classroom

Why Is This Important?

It is not enough for students to solve problems if they are not also growing in mental sophistication. As students build numerical relationships, they draw on them to solve problems in clever and sophisticated ways. Students look at the problem and let the numbers dictate the strategy based on the inherent relationships.

_____________________

Module 4: Getting More Sophisticated

What Will I Learn?

  • A Problem String to introduce the most sophisticated subtraction strategy
  • Strategies for finding partners of 100 and why this relationship is so important to subtraction work
  • How context and decontextualizing contribute to sense making and flexibility
  • Steps to take action in your classroom

Why Is This Important?

Students need to own sophisticated strategies so they can solve subtraction problems within other work they are doing without getting bogged down. Students frequently subtract, especially from decade and century numbers, when reasoning about multiplication and division problems. Building sophisticated subtraction strategies helps students become more flexible and fluid in multiplicative reasoning.

_____________________

Module 5: Top 3 Types of Tasks for Student Success

What Will I Learn?

  • What Rich Tasks are and how they can be used to develop big ideas
  • Problem Strings to introduce and solidify strategies, models, and big ideas
  • How Problem Strings and Problem Talks work together and how to sequence lessons to maximize learning
  • Steps to take action in your classroom

Why Is This Important?

This is the how-to-do-it module. We study different types of instructional tasks and routines, discerning their role in constructing mathematical ideas in learners’ brains. Our goal is to always be moving the math and the mathematician forward. Understanding how to use and leverage different instructional tasks allows you to ensure success for all your students all of the time.

_____________________

Module 6: High-leverage Teacher Moves that Help You Help Your Students

What Will I Learn?

  • High leverage teacher moves to encourage student sense making 
  • Teacher moves that support equity and access 
  • Teacher moves to differentiate—to support and challenge all learners 
  • How to support meaningful discourse to facilitate learning
  • Steps to take action in your classroom

Why Is This Important?

Teaching in a way that allows all students to learn and grow is not a trivial task. There are purposeful moves teachers can make that promote class discussion and mathematical dialogue, position all students as sense makers, and build a culture of curiosity and empowerment.

In this module, you’ll learn the high level teacher moves that make the learning happen like a pro.

_____________________

Module 7: Developing Subtraction in Younger Learners and Extending Subtraction in Higher Math

What Will I Learn?

  • How to help beginners reason about the relationship between addition and subtraction
  • Beginning subtraction strategies for young learners 
  • How to help students think and reason through integer subtraction
  • How to help students think and reason through algebra applications without using an algorithm/formula
  • Steps to take action in your classroom

Why Is This Important?

This workshop starts with the assumption that some subtraction work has already happened. If you work with students who do not own the  single-digit subtraction facts, this module gives you tools to help support their mathematical development.

Subtraction doesn’t stop in 5th grade, but older students often won’t engage in a review of subtraction, no matter how much they need it. Teachers in middle and high school need an entry point to build subtraction in the content they teach. Here we identify places subtraction naturally comes up in middle and high school content and how to build subtraction while addressing grade level content.

_____________________

Live Q&A Sessions With Pam

During the workshop you will have the opportunity to submit questions to Pam for her to answer during two live Q&A sessions. The sessions will be recorded and you will have access to them.

Registration closes February 14, 2025

 


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Workshop starts February 18, 2025

 

Register Now!

Registration opens
May 12, 2023

Put me on the Waitlist!

As a Participant

You will experience instructional tasks so that you can build intuition in your students.

You will follow a sequence of tasks designed to give all students access so that you can help students build reasoning about subtraction based on their experiences and what they are naturally thinking.

You will extend the learning to more complicated contexts so that you can strengthen students' reasoning.

You will engage in problem solving so that you can parse out the thinking needed to solve problems while reasoning about subtraction.

You will learn actionable strategies while engaging in the instructional routine called Problem Strings so that you can develop students' sense of subtraction and build specific mathematical strategies.

You will study three lesson types so that you can to learn to introduce, construct, and solidify reasoning about subtraction.

You will analyze expert teacher moves so that you can energize your classroom and keep students engaged in sense making.

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I’m Pam Harris and I empower teachers to be the teacher they want to be.

______________________________________________________

I have been working with educators for over 20 years as a classroom teacher, university instructor, and teacher trainer as well as writing books and creating resources for teachers.

As a beginner teacher, I worked hard to make lessons understandable and interesting but I didn’t realize how much I relied on rote memorization and repeating procedures until I immersed myself in math research. This fundamentally changed the way I do and teach mathematics so that teachers and students reason mathematically, not mimic like robots.

Are you ready?

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If you've heard enough and you're ready to dive in, then click below.

The workshop costs $347, which is less than the registration cost for many large conferences and also way more convenient.

 

Yes, I want to take this workshop!

How Does The Workshop Compare?

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Learn more about how to earn credits through University of Massachusetts Global.

Take the Workshop on Any Device

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My Guarantees

âś” If you complete my workshop and do not learn anything that you can use in your classroom, email me at [email protected] within 10 business days of the workshop ending and I will give you a full refund.

âś” You will feel very supported because there are live Q&A sessions to ask questions, bonus videos and materials, as well as optional activities.

âś” I estimate an average of 2-3 hours of work each week for this seven-week workshop. You will have access to the workshop content for 16 weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Registering for the workshop

The workshop experience

After the workshop ends

Share with other  educators so they can learn powerful subtraction too!

Share with other  educators so they can learn how to build powerful subtraction too!