Problem Solving

Warning Power points have been known to cause Boredom Coma Even Death

Managing the Classroom for Problem Solving About Teaching Mathematic By Marilyn Burns

What is the teacher’s role? Provide time for students to: Grapple Search Evaluate Focus on students’ thinking processes.

Students’ Attitudes Confidence to try Willingness to risk Accept frustrations Persevere What can a teacher do to help students attitudes?

Teacher Modeling Students need to see their teacher as a problem solver Willing to plunge into new situations Not always knowing the answer No “Do as I say, not as I do.”

Teachers Need to Emphasize Working on problems vs. getting the right answer Errors are not mistakes but opportunities to learn Classroom is a safe place Persistence over speed

Students Need to Verify for Themselves Real-life problems Not always one correct answer Close enough may be good enough Giving the answer can stop thinking.

Students Need to Explain Whether they are right or wrong Describe methods and solutions with teacher and the class Students should listen, question and learn from each other

Teaching Problem Solving Takes Time Developing problem solving skills is not a lesson objective, but a long term goal. Where do you find the time?

Math Problem Solving for Upper Elementary Students With Disabilities Marjorie Montague University of Miami The Access Center: Improving Outcomes for All Students K-8

Making Problem Solvers Many students will have problems solving word problems. Most textbooks are not very helpful. Teaching problem solving is a challenge for many teachers who rely on textbooks.

Drawing a Picture Most textbooks merely instruct students to draw a picture or make a diagram. Students who have difficulty usually draw a picture without considering the relationship among the problem components Effective visual representations, show the relationship among the problem parts.

Math = Fun?! Some 5th grade students have a math phobia. What can we do about this?

Math Poems Algebra is cool, It likes to swim in the pool. It took a nap, Then ate a rat, Algebra is a great tool.

Anna adores algebra Algebra is great. We should celebrate Algebra is really fum, In addition there is a sum. We did 14 problems, I like to solve thems, Another thing I love is gum.