Decision Making & Problem Solving

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

2. 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

3. 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

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

5. Video

6. 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

7. 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?

8. 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

9. 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

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

11. 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?

12. 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.

13. References • Melendez, B. (1984). Goldilocks and the Three Bears. On Gossamer Productions. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS3nN6PH96Y • Microsoft Office Images. (2011). Retrieved from http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/ • 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 Community Integration.