Problem-solving with graphic organizers

1. Problem-solving with graphic organizers Presented by: Kendra Bookout, Math Facilitator

2. Key Words Pitfalls • Complete the Key Words sheet • Discussion: • What are the pitfalls of assigning absolute meanings to “key words” in story problems? • What should the focus be on? • Key words must represent the meaning of a mathematical idea in the problem

3. Challenges for Students in Solving Word Problems • Difficulty with vocabulary • Lack of confidence when solving problems • Confusion on the proper operation to use when solving a problem • Students’ lack of knowledge of various problem-solving strategies

4. Addressing These Challenges • “When students gain access to mathematical representations, and the ideas they represent, they have a set of tools that significantly expand their capacity to think mathematically.” (Wu, et. al.) • Students benefit from • Active, cooperative learning • Multiple representations • Sharing and reflecting with peers

5. Mathematician’s Chair • A place where students sit and share problems they have authored along with their individual solution strategies. • 4 initial steps: • Classroom instruction • Student group discussion • Student presentation • Student evaluation

6. Classroom Instruction • Model the entire process using the graphic organizer. • Guide the students on how to.. • Construct a problem • Circle the important numbers • Identify key words • Use pictures or representations • Choose a mathematical operation or number sentence to solve the problem NOW LET’S TRY IT!

7. Students’ Group Discussion • Have students work in groups to construct and solve their own problems. • Group Roles/Duties include: • FIND and list the numbers used in the problems. • LOCATE and list the clue words. • DRAW pictures or representations. • WRITE equations or number sentences used to solve the problem. NOW LET’S TRY IT!

8. Student Presentations • Groups share their problems with the class • Engage the other groups to solve their problems • Writes problem on the board for other groups • Have one child circle the important numbers, one find the key words, another draw the picture or representation, and one student choose the operation to solve the problem. • Students from the presenting group circulate around the room, helping the other students • NOW LET’S TRY IT!

9. Student Evaluation • The entire class scores each other using the Mathematician’s Chair Scoring Rubric • Scorers have to provide justification for the score they choose • NOW LET’S TRY IT!