I love teaching problem solving to my middle schoolers! By this stage in their math journey, they’ve already laid a foundation. Now, I get to show them all the different ways they can approach a problem. It’s so rewarding to see how unique each student is, especially when one strategy works great for one and another for someone else. In the end, though, they all reach the right answer, which is what really matters. This process also sparks some amazing, authentic math conversations in the classroom. Today, I’m excited to share all the posts I’ve written to help with teaching problem solving!
Helping our students develop problem solving skills can be difficult. It takes time and lots of opportunities to practice those skills. Over the years I’ve used a variety of teaching strategies and activities when it comes to problem solving. Some worked well and some not so much. So I’ve pulled together the things that worked well to share with you here. I hope that as you read through the posts you will find some nuggets that will help you make teaching problem solving easier and more effective.
Roundup of Posts for Teaching Problem Solving
Teaching Math Problem Solving Strategies
This post is all about helping our students develop strong problem-solving skills through a variety of strategies. I highlight different approaches that can guide our students in breaking down math problems, making them more manageable and less intimidating. It also dives into why exposing our students to multiple strategies is important. It gives them the tools to find what works best for their individual learning styles.
My Problem Solving Doodle Notes resource is a fantastic tool for teaching problem solving in a way that’s interactive and visually engaging for students. In this blog post, I share how I’ve used this resource to teach a variety of problem solving strategies that make breaking down math problems easier. The doodle notes allow my students to keep track of various strategies like guessing and checking, working backward, drawing diagrams, and making organized lists. What I love most about this resource is how it encourages students to take ownership of their learning by keeping these notes as a reference all year long. It’s a fun and effective way to reinforce different methods for teaching problem solving!
To learn more about these problem solving strategies and the doodle notes read the full article here.
How to Teach Real Life Math Problem Solving Activities
My next post is all about building strong problem-solving skills in our students using real-life math activities. My experience in the classroom has led me to the conclusion that students love math when they see its relevance. There’s nothing more relevant than real-life examples of how problem solving skills are used in the day-to-day.
In this post, I explore different strategies that help students break down complex problems. This helps to make them feel less overwhelmed and more approachable. The post also explains why it’s important to introduce a variety of methods so that our students can discover what works best for them. By providing them with options, we empower them to choose strategies that fit their learning style.
5 Ways to Practice Problem Solving in Middle School
The next post emphasizes the importance of teaching students to break down complex problems into smaller, manageable steps. This one step helps them feel more confident and less overwhelmed. I also explore how teaching problem-solving approaches, such as drawing diagrams, working backward, and using logical reasoning, gives our students the flexibility to find the best method for their unique learning style.
The post also explains why building these skills is crucial for our students’ overall math success. It acknowledges that our students will face more challenging concepts. If you’re looking for ways to make teaching problem solving engaging and effective, this post offers a range of techniques that can be easily incorporated into your lessons!
Decimal Operations Math Problem Solving
Sometimes our problem solving skills change a little when it comes to specific skills and concepts. In this post, I share tips and ideas for teaching problem solving when it comes to decimals. I focus on helping students strengthen their problem solving skills through decimal operations.
This post dives into different strategies that guide our students in working through multi-step problems involving decimals. I share how I have taught problem solving skills that make the process feel less daunting. By including a variety of methods, our students can approach decimal problems from angles that make sense to them. Some of the problem solving skills I share in this post include teaching students how to use estimation, logical reasoning, or step-by-step calculations. This post highlights the importance of practicing these skills to build confidence and accuracy when tackling decimal operations. If your students are struggling with decimals and problem solving, this post is a must read!
Help Middle School Math Students Improve Problem Solving Skills
Ready to help your students expand their repertoire of problem solving strategies? This post will help! This post dives into effective ways to help middle schoolers improve their problem-solving skills in math. It covers different approaches that can simplify the process for our students. These approaches can break problems down step by step and make them more approachable.
By introducing a variety of strategies, our students gain the tools they need to navigate more complex math problems with confidence. The post also emphasizes the importance of consistency and practice in building these skills. If you’re looking for actionable ways to support your students’ growth in math while teaching problem solving, I share some great tips in this post!
Problem Solving Math Wheels
If you’ve been a follower, then you probably already know how much I loved using math wheels in the classroom. They are one of my absolute favorite tools for students. In this post, I dive into how you can use the Problem Solving Math Wheel to teach a variety of problem solving strategies.
These wheels allow our students to visually break down problems step by step. They also help them organize their strategies and make connections between different methods. By rotating through various approaches, such as guess and check, working backward, or drawing diagrams, our students can see how each technique plays a role in finding the solution. It’s a fantastic way to make abstract concepts more concrete. When we do, we are giving our students the tools to confidently approach math problems. Whether you’re working on basic operations or more complex equations, math wheels are a creative resource for teaching problem-solving skills.
Using Collaboration to Improve Math Problem Solving
If there is one thing our middle school students love it is collaboration. Any time we can add opportunities for our students to work together we have increased engagement. In this post, I explore the benefits of using collaborative problem-solving in middle school math. It emphasizes how working together allows our students to tackle challenging problems by sharing different strategies and perspectives.
Collaborative problem solving boosts critical thinking and fosters communication and teamwork skills. The post highlights how this approach encourages our students to explain their reasoning, ask questions, and build on each other’s ideas. This makes math more engaging and interactive. The post offers great strategies to use while teaching problem solving to your students!
How to Teach Problem of the Week in Middle School Math
We all know the saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” But what if we applied this concept to helping our students improve their problem solving skills? In this post, I highlight the effectiveness of using a Problem of the Week to build strong problem-solving skills in middle school math.
In this post, I dive into how implementing a Problem of the Week can boost problem-solving skills in middle school math. This approach gives our students the chance to focus on one challenging problem each week. It allows them to explore various strategies and think critically about their solutions. I outline how this method promotes deeper understanding, persistence, and encourages student discussions around their problem-solving processes. If you aim to introduce a consistent and engaging routine for teaching problem solving in your classroom, this post is a great place to start.
Metric Conversions Free Problem Solving and Matching Activity
Similar to the post above on teaching problem solving with decimals, this post shares the specific problem solving strategies I used when my students were learning about metric conversions. In this post, I explore an engaging approach to teaching metric conversions through a matching activity that helps solidify problem-solving skills.
In this post, I share an activity that challenges students to pair conversion problems with their correct answers. It encourages them to think critically and work through the process step by step. This method makes learning metric conversions more interactive. It also helps students build confidence in their problem-solving abilities. The post also includes a free problem-solving activity that offers extra practice for our students. This ensures they get hands-on experience with these essential math concepts.
Teaching Problem Solving Made Easier
Teaching problem solving is about giving our students the tools they need to tackle any math problem that comes their way. Whether it’s through collaborative activities, hands-on resources, or weekly challenges, there are many ways to make problem solving effective. By exposing our students to a variety of strategies, we empower them to find what works best for their unique learning styles. I hope these ideas help you to incorporate more creative problem solving techniques into your classroom!
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