A 5-minute Problem Solving Lesson

Pose a problem.

• Repeat the problem as needed.
• Encourage students to invent their own solutions to the problem.

Allow time for students to think.

• Expect every student to think about the problem for about 20-30 seconds.
• Encourage students to invent their own solutions to the problem.
• Provide support and encouragement to individuals.

Encourage students to share solutions.

• Ask two or three students to explain different ways to solve the problem or verify the answer.
• Expect students to listen carefully to the explanations.
• Ask students to clarify or repeat their explanations.
• Illustrate with a model as students repeat their explanations.
• Summarize/restate the thinking strategy and name the strategy.
• Ensure that different thinking strategies are explained.

Highlight an efficient thinking strategy.

• Repeat the thinking or have another student repeat the thinking.
• Sometimes model concretely to illustrate the thinking.
• Model appropriate language, especially parts and wholes.

Ask all students to try that same thinking with a second problem.

• Expect every student to try using the highlighted strategy for about 15 seconds.
• Provide support and encouragement.

Ecourage one student to share their solution with the highlighted strategy.

• Ask one student to use that thinking to explain the second problem.
• Ask another student if the explanation used the same thinking.
• Discuss when the strategy is efficient.

Encourage students to use this new thinking.

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