This page is all about the problem solving strategies I am teaching my students this year.
Problem Solving One/Two: Draw a Picture or Diagram
Our first strategy will be Draw a Picture or Diagram, which we will start before our first unit in Everyday Mathematics. Problem Solving One will be the practice/teaching problems that I used to teach the strategy to the students. I also use this discovery method so that students can teach strategies to each other and so that they can find other strategies that might also work. Then I will assign problem Solving Two, the problems students will have a week to solve on their own. They also have a worksheet (see below) where they have to answer questions and prompts about their problem solving process.
Problem Solving/Mathematical Reasoning (Worksheet)
Directions: (1) Choose one of the problems you solved. (2) Answer the questions below to show your mathematical reasoning as you solved that one problem. (3) Be thorough and be specific. (4) Many questions have two parts. Be sure to answer both parts. (5) If a question does not apply to the problem you solved at all, then mark it as "n/a" for "not applicable." (6) Turn this page in with the problems you solved.
1. What is the important information? (relevant information)
2. Is there information given that you don't need? (irrelevant information) Yes No
If yes, what is it?
3. What did you work with first, second, etc. (prioritizing information)
4. Is there a pattern that you can use to solve this problem? Yes No
If yes, what is it?
5. Did you break this problem into simpler parts to solve? Yes No
If yes, how?
6. Did you estimate to verify your answer? Yes No
If yes, how?
7. Did you use another problem solving strategy to solve this problem? Yes No
If yes, what strategy?
8. Check all the methods you used to solve this problem and show your mathematical reasoning.
- words
- numbers
- symbols
- chart/graph
- table
- picture/diagram
- list
- object/model
- other: (specify)
9. Do you have evidence to support your solution? (Did you show your work?)
Yes No
10. Did you use rounding/estimating to solve this problem? Yes No
If yes, how did you use it?
11. Does your solution answer the question posed in the problem? (validity of the results)
Yes No
12. Do you have anything else to add to show your mathematical reasoning?
Yes No
If yes, explain:
