You CAN do Math!
Tips for Solving Problems
4. Talk through the problem out loud if this helps you.
TEACHERS: Model your thinking skills out loud to students. Let them hear and experience your thinking process.
Core Principle for Contextualized Instruction #1: Relate: Link concepts taught to students’ prior knowledge.
How to Make an Analogy to something students already know.
You will help your students gain confidence by helping them realize what they already know. DON'T JUST WORK THE PROBLEM; ASK THEM QUESTIONS AND GET FEEDBACK. IF THEY DON'T GET THE ANSWER RIGHT, BE POSITIVE, GUIDE THEM.
Example: 7x=14
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Give them a real world application of the problem.
Core Principle for Contextualized Instruction #3: Use real-life situations and meaningful authentic materials to create lessons around skills students need to acquire to accomplish their goals.
MAKE THE PROBLEMS PERSONAL IF POSSIBLE - CONTRAST THESE 2 PROBLEMS:
Example 1: Let x be the cost of a meal in a particular restaurant. Bob pays for two of these meals and the cost is $30. How much is each meal?
Example 2: Steve goes to Panera Bread – his favorite meal is the house special – soup and salad. He goes there on Monday and again on Friday and orders the same special, soup and salad. He spent $30 total. How much did each meal cost?
5. After solving the problem, ask yourself the question: “Does my answer make sense?”
Example 3: Steve goes to a different restaurant and orders two meals, but with drinks this time. The drinks cost $4.00 total. The total bill comes to $28. If y represents the cost of the meal, form an equation for y and solve it for y.
