Monday, March 14, 2011
Math
In 4th grade Gerri and I both use word problem notebooks. These notebooks have word problem strategies posted in the front of the notebook for students to use as a reference, along with the steps that they should take to solve the word problem. The students will use these notebooks all year to do their problem solving in. It allows students to see many different ways to solve word problems. It also reminds them of work they have done in the past and allows them to see the steps they took to solve it. As we know many students will revert to drawing a picture to solve a word problem but with this notebook students realize they have many options to help them solve a word problem. Students often look back in their notebooks and feel pride in their growth and hard work. In September students may only use a few words to describe their work, but by January and February they are writing many sentences to explain their thinking.
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2 comments:
The word problem notebooks sound like a great idea. A tool for all students to use as much or as little as they need to help solve word problems. I'm sure the growth the students see in their work throughout the year in the workbook is rewarding to you and also to them.
I like this idea because it is an easily accessed reference tool and meaningful to the students since they are creating it. Having the steps and/or reference sheets in the beginning of the notebook is helpful as well. Hopefully the more the students use the notebook to record their problem solving strategies, the more they will internalize those strategies and skills.
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