What is a Solution Strategy Worksheet?
“Check your work” is a standard phrase in teaching mathematical problem solving. However, learning how to check your own work is a major challenge. While it is important, it is just one of many aspects of the problem solving process. Other aspects include acquiring a variety of solution strategies as well as learning how to evaluate mathematical work to understand the underlying thinking used in solving the problem. The Solution Strategy Worksheets are designed to achieve these goals.
- For each problem in The Big Yellow Book, samples of correct and incorrect student work are presented alongside questions to guide students' mathematical understanding and growth.
- The Solution Strategy Worksheets are specifically designed to develop student problem-solving strategies and analytical skills via discussion of multiple approaches to the problem.
- Solution Strategy Worksheets promote a growth mindset attitude in students as they learn to learn from the mistakes of others.
Videos discussing benefits for students of the Solution Strategy Worksheets
- Learn how to check your own work.
- Learn to analyze both successful and unsuccessful strategies and explain why one is successful and the other not.
- Learn how to give explanations about the different strategies used in solving a math problem.
- Learn how to be comfortable with making mistakes.
- Learn how to use your mistakes as a learning tool.
Solution Strategy Worksheet Overview Video
These ideas are further developed in Chapters 5 and 11 in The Big Yellow Book.
What students say about the Solution Strategy Worksheets
In this video, students discuss their experiences with the Solution Strategy Worksheets and how the worksheets help them learn how to check their work and feel more comfortable with learning from their mistakes.
Student Experience with the Solution Strategy Worksheet Video
Videos demonstrating classroom use of the Solution Strategy Worksheets
Classroom Demonstration video coming Summer 2020
Solution Strategy Worksheets and Common Core State Standards
Common Core State Standards for Mathematical Practices express the skills and knowledge expected of every student. The Big Yellow Book supports all eight Mathematical Practices articulated in the Common Core State Standards and is particularly effective at achieving three. The KEY supports MP1 and the Solution Strategy Worksheets support MP3 and MP6.
The Solution Strategy Worksheets are a way to implement Common Core State Standards for Mathematical Practices 3 and 6:
- MP3: Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
- MP6: Attend to precision.
MP3 states "Mathematically proficient students understand and use stated assumptions, definitions, and previously established results in constructing arguments. … Mathematically proficient students are also able to compare the effectiveness of two plausible arguments, distinguish correct logic or reasoning from that which is flawed, and—if there is a flaw in an argument—explain what it is. Students at all grades can listen or read the arguments of others, decide whether they make sense, and ask useful questions to clarify or improve the arguments."
MP6 states "Mathematically proficient students try to communicate precisely to others. They try to use clear definitions in discussion with others and in their own reasoning…. In the elementary grades, students give carefully formulated explanations to each other. By the time they reach high school they have learned to examine claims and make explicit use of definitions."