Decision Making & Problem Solving 6 th Grade SMART Goals Microsoft Office, 2011

SMARTER Goals Revisit the goals that you made last class. – Evaluate your progress toward the goal. Are there any action steps/ to-dos you can check off on your to-do list in Family Connection? Have you achieved any of your short-term goals? Do you need to modify any of your goals or add any new action steps to help you reach your goals? – What persistence strategies did you use since the last class? How did they work? Microsoft, 2011

Objective Today’s objective is to: – To learn a process for solving problems. Another persistence strategy is using a problem solving strategy to overcome challenges you encounter. This problem solving process can be applied to any type of problem in high school, college, and beyond

Pre-Test 1.What is step 1 of the problem solving process? 2.What is step 2 of the problem solving process? 3.What is step 3 of the problem solving process? 4.What is step 4 of the problem solving process? 5.What is step 5 of the problem solving process?

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Problem Solving Process Step 1: Stop! Think about the problem. Step 2: What are some choices? Step 3: Choose one. Step 4: Do it. Step 5: How did it work? Christenson et al., 2008

Applying the Process Step 1: What were some of the problems that Goldilocks encountered? Step 2: What were some of the choices she had to solve the problem? Step 3: What did she choose first? Step 4: What did she do? Step 5: How did it work?

Scenarios Activity Form groups of 3-4 people Read your scenario aloud to the group Go through the problem solving process steps 1-3 for the scenario. – What is the problem? – What are some possible solutions? – Which solution would you choose and why? Choose a recorder to take notes Choose a reporter to share with the class

Your Turn On your own paper, use the problem solving process to think through a problem you are currently facing in school or one that is likely to arise. Record your thoughts. Microsoft, 2011

Pre-Test 1.What is step 1 of the problem solving process? 2.What is step 2 of the problem solving process? 3.What is step 3 of the problem solving process? 4.What is step 4 of the problem solving process? 5.What is step 5 of the problem solving process?

Review Step 1: Stop! Think about the problem. Step 2: What are some choices? Step 3: Choose one. Step 4: Do it. Step 5: How did it work?

Discuss – What are the potential benefits of using this problem solving process? – How can this process help you persist in meeting your goals? – What are some things that might get in the way of using a process like this? Use the process at least once before the next class and be ready to discuss how it went.

References Melendez, B. (1984). Goldilocks and the Three Bears. On Gossamer Productions. Retrieved from 6Y Microsoft Office Images. (2011). Retrieved from Christenson, S. L., Thurlow, M. L., Sinclair, M. F., Lehr, C. A., Kaibel, C. M., Reschly, A.L., Mavis, A., Pohl, A. (2008). Check & Connect: A comprehensive student engagement intervention manual. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, Institute on CommunityIntegration.