Solve+It!+and+Teaching+Mathematical+Problem+Solving+Skills

"//**Solve It!** is a curriculum designed to improve the mathematical problem solving skills of students in the upper elementary, middle, and secondary school grades - including those students who are having difficulty in mathematics. **Solve It!** is designed for students who are developmentally ready to engage in complex, higher-order skills// //that require metacognitive processing."//

Good problem solvers:

 * Comprehend linguistic and numerical information in math problems.
 * Translate and transform that information into mathematical notations, algorithms, and equations.
 * Observe relationships among the elements in math problems.
 * Formulate the plans to solve problems.
 * Predict outcomes.
 * Regulate the solution paths as they are executed.
 * Detect and correct errors while solving math problems.

7 Steps in the //Solve It!// Process (RPV-HECC)

 * 1) **Read**
 * Read the problem. Do you understand it?
 * 1) **Paraphrase**
 * Underline (or highlight) the important information.
 * Put the problem into your own words.
 * 1) **Visualize**
 * Draw a picture, diagram, chart or list.
 * **Be sure to include the question!**
 * 1) **Hypothesize**
 * Make a plan to solve the problem. What operations will you need? How many steps?
 * **(8th graders) Write an equation using variables to outline your plan.**
 * 1) **Estimate**
 * Predict your answer (including units!).
 * 1) **Compute**
 * Solve the problem/equation. Do the calculations! What is your answer?
 * **Include your unit!**
 * 1) **Check**
 * Use the inverse to prove the value of your variable.

//More information about the [|Solve It!] program on the web.//