“Don’t take the problem solving out of problem solving” (p. 34). Rather, teach through problem solving, and teach students to solve problems with effective processes and strategies. Find tasks that encourage students to practice a particular problem solving strategy. As students’ grapple with the math, and discuss their ideas about their solutions, they develop skills and learn to organize their thinking (Van de Walle, Karp & Bay-Williams, 2013).
Research
A “learning by doing” approach to problem solving improves students’ abilities to think about mathematics in a way that can be applied to many different types of problems. In the UPS Check process, students can learn to apply a four-step process to various problems involving simple tasks as well as more complex multi-step problems (Van de Walle, Karp & Bay-Williams, 2013).
Application
As suggested by Van de Walle, Karp & Bay-Williams (2013), “Don’t take the problem solving out of problem solving” (p. 34). Rather, teach through problem solving, and teach students to solve problems with effective processes and strategies. Pose tasks carefully. Find tasks that encourage students to practice a particular problem solving strategy. As students’ grapple with the math, and discuss their ideas about their solutions, they develop skills and learn to organize their thinking (Van de Walle, Karp & Bay-Williams, 2013).
The UPS Check Problem Solving Process
Implementing the strategy:
• Select an appropriate problem for the strategy being practiced.
• Students work in groups and use the strategy to discuss, solve problems, and represent ideas on poster paper.
• Students discuss, work and reason through, and solve the problem. Teacher observes and interacts with students as they work, being sure to label the strategies used by students.
• Students share their results.
• Point out and discuss the strategies used by the students; pose questions that lead students to see how the strategy assisted them in the process.
Resources
- Click here for a UPS Check Handout
- See examples of a UPS Check teaching procedure with VA Mathematics SOLs and the “Draw a Picture” strategy: Grade 4 (multi-step problem solving) and Grade 2(fractional value of members of a set);
- View a video, Understanding: UPS Check to see a 4th grade teacher using the strategy to solve a problem;
- Follow these links to find a UPS Check Poster and a UPS Check Problem Solving Mat;
- Mathematics vocabulary word wall cards published by the VDOE, provide a visual display of mathematics content words and can assist students in understanding the language of math problems;
- Practical Advice for Teaching Problem Solving (VDOE Math Institute 2013 handout) provides hints and “teacher talk” for working with students.
References
Van de Walle, J., Karp K., Bay-Williams, J. (2013). Elementary and middle school mathematic:, Teaching developmentally (8th ed). New York, NY: Pearson.
