MY CLASSROOM
Problem-Solving 101
Helping students make sense of mathematical problem solving
We differentiate instruction, use manipulatives, provide interventions, and teach students why mathematical procedures work. Yet many children still struggle to make sense of a word problem, decide where to begin, and explain their thinking.
What else can we change?
Large-scale improvements take time, but teachers can make meaningful changes within their own classrooms.
We can examine how we present problems, how much information students must manage, and whether our instruction helps them understand the mathematics beneath the words.
This section explores those possibilities, with a focus on grades 3 to 5. It brings together approaches that help students recognize relationships, organize their thinking, and become more confident problem solvers.
PROBLEM-SOLVING 101
