HELP ME!HELP ME!Help my child with Help my child with

math.math.

HELP ME!HELP ME!Help my child with Help my child with

math.math.A look at math today.A look at math today.

What’s the Problem???• “The best way to

teach mathematics and attend to the range of students is to use the problem-based approach… Students should be encouraged to use their own methods and personal strategies to solve problems” (Klassen, p.3).

William Brownell, in 1946, said “A problem is not truly solved unless the learner understands what he has done and knows why his actions were appropriate.”

What does THAT mean?

That means…Start with a good problem

• A good problem requires thinking.• A good problem has more than one way to solve it.

• A good problem takes time to figure out.

Then…Give them tools

• Number lines• Counters – blocks,

pennies, beans, etc.• Fingers• Hundreds chart• Crayons and paper

to draw pictures

Then…Give them time

• Don’t rush in to help them.

• Don’t immediately correct their mistakes.

• Don’t tell them how you would solve the problem.

Then…

Ask them questions • What are you doing?

• How do you know if your answer is right?• Could you find the answer a different

way?• Does your answer make sense?

Then…