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Math Problem Solving

Math problem solving in elementary school requires teaching problem solving strategies.

Problem solving exercises should require a variety of strategies for kids to use.

Problem solving activities are part of every day life. Teaching math problem solving strategies provides our students with:

choices of how to solve for an unknown answer
improved abilities to choose appropriate strategies
scaffolded support for improving self-concepts about abilities to problem solve.

$math problem solving, teaching problem solving$
The learning process in knowing how to choose a problem solving strategy is most important.

There are different methods to solving math problems, and students need to know how to make an appropriate choice.

Problem solving exercises are chosen with the goal of either teaching a strategy or practicing a technique to mastery.

Daily problem solving is a must. Children need continual practice with problem solving activities for their skills to become fluid.

One way to do this is to start with teaching problem solving steps.

4 Steps for Maths Problem Solving

1. Understand the Problem
Read and re-read. State the problem in your own words. Decide if there are multiple steps that will need to be taken to arrive at the final answer. Determine what the question is asking you to actually do.

2. Make a Plan
Choose your strategies. Think back to similar problem solving exercises and recall what was successfully used.

3. Try It Out
Go step-by-step with the problem solving strategies chosen. Draw pictures to show each step is correct. Self-talk your way through the problem.

4. Look Back
Always check your work. Did you actually answer the question? Did you use all relevant data? Does your answer make sense? Is there another way to solve the problem or show your answer differently?

^{Reference
George Polya, "How to Solve It," Princeton University Press, Princeton (1945)}

Maths Problem Solving Example

The following math problem solving requires a multitude of strategies to solve. I made it up on the spot with my class of second graders to demonstrate how to use Polya's Problem Solving Steps.

There were 20 dinosaurs. 1/2 of them were female. 1/2 of the females had 3 babies each. The rest of them had 2 babies each. How many dinosaurs are in the herd now?

In order to understand it, we have to realize that the herd is much larger than at the beginning of the problem. That would signal the possibility to use addition or multiplication. However, there is an implied understanding of fractions and division as well.

This is a great example to use with children to model thinking out-loud about the steps required to solve this and how to draw models to show their thinking.

Two bars could be drawn: 1 representing 20, and the other in half. Then, that half could be divided into two and numbers written on each bar to represent the whole.

Groups can be drawn to show 5 groups of 2 and 5 groups of 3 (representing the babies).

How will your students pull all of it together to answer the final question? How would you show it?

While you are teaching the 4 Basic Steps, you should be instructing on specific math problem solving strategies.

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