Top Ten Problem Solving Strategies

Problem solving can be so difficult for many students, and therefore, a headache for many teachers.  But, it doesn't have to be as scary as it sounds.  Here are some of my favorite strategies for helping calm the storm of anxiety word problems can cause!  

Top Ten Problem Solving Strategies

1.  If possible, use the same system school wide

• I realize that this is not necessarily up to you, but when possible, it helps students to use similar vocabulary, strategies, and visuals throughout their educational career.  If you can't convince your WHOLE school to use the same strategies, maybe you can at least talk to the grade level above and/or below yours to help make the process a little easier on everyone.  

2.  Visualize!  Act it out, draw pictures, etc.

• Acting it out isn't just for reading a book!  Take STORY problems to a different level by acting out what it is saying.  I have found that many kids are just going through the motions without really thinking about what the problem is asking.  By acting out the problem, they can then determine if their answer makes sense or not.
• Draw pictures to show how to solve the problem OR what it is showing.  Using visuals like whole, part, part boxes can also help students "see" the problem clearly.  

3.  Cooperative learning groups

• Working in groups (or just partners) can help in many different ways.  Not only do kids get the chance to talk out their ideas, they can strategize together and see that there isn't only one way to get the answer.  Just be careful--too many times, one or two kids are "leading" the whole group while others are not participating.  Be sure to take the time to teach cooperative learning rules and roles ahead of time.

4.  Deconstruct the problem

• Tear apart the question and put it back together as a class.  Just as we break apart sentences and parts of stories, we can do the same for story problems.  Let the kids see what the parts make up a good question and what test writers are doing when writing problems in certain ways.  

5.  Build on what they know (interests, school info, class names, etc.)

• By starting with what they know and are familiar with, students can grasp the tough concepts a little easier.  Make your own problems using student names, local locations, and events in which your kids are interested.  They will be more likely to read the problem carefully as well.  Of course, you can slowly add less and less "familiar" concepts as the year progresses when th students are stronger with their skills.

6.  Differentiate

• We do this with EVERYTHING, right!?  Word problems are no different.  You can use the exact same question with different numbers to make the math easier while still practicing the same type of questions.  For example, for your low kids, you might simply use 1 or 2 digit addends; for your middle group, you might use 3 digit addends; and for your advanced learners, you might add an extra number to add OR you might add unnecessary information for the students to sort through.  

7.  Let the student become the teacher

• Have the kids practice becoming the Problem Solving Authors themselves!  By writing the problems, students will think about the problems in a different way than they do while trying to solve the problems.  By having them include answer sheets, you can also assess their actual math skills too.  BONUS:  you will have an entire set of word problems for your next test, center, or task cards!

8.  Explain your thinking

• Not only does this mean to explain your thinking as you teach the lesson, but also have the kids explain THEIR thinking as they go through the process.  Rather than having them just give you the answer, ask them to explain step-by-step what they thought and did.  This will be GREAT practice for those dreaded state tests that ask for written work in order for the child to receive full credit!

9.  Estimate or think through to check work

• Teach the kids the valuable process of checking to see if an answer makes sense.  For example, if the question says, "Dog 1 weighs 81 pounds and dog 2 weighs 59 pounds.  How much more does dog 1 weigh than dog 2?" you can teach the kids to think first that 80 is 20 more than 60, so the answer should be close to the number 60.  That way, if they subtract incorrectly, forget to borrow, and get the answer of 32, they will know they need to go back and check again.   

10.  Confidence!

• I left this for last to leave you with an important idea.  If a student THINKS he/she isn't good at problem solving, he/she WON'T be good at it!  This can be said about anything, but I see it happen way too often with math, specifically word problems.  Remember to compliment ANY accomplishments your kids make while practicing their problem solving skills.  Maybe that means starting with the basics (yes, I mean adding 3 + 5 and the same).  That is okay for a start!  The important thing is that they UNDERSTAND the question and what it is asking.  You can build on the math skills throughout the year.  

There are many other ways to teach problem solving.  I would love to hear what YOU do in your class to make word problems a little easier on your kids.