1st Edition
Math Problem Solving in Action Getting Students to Love Word Problems, Grades K-2
In this new book from popular math consultant and bestselling author Dr. Nicki Newton, you’ll learn how to help students in grades K–2 become more effective and confident problem solvers. Problem solving is a necessary skill for the 21st century but can be overwhelming for both teachers and students alike. Dr. Nicki shows how to make word problems more engaging and fun, starting in the early elementary grades so that students have a strong foundation to build upon.
Topics include:
- Using games, songs, and poems to make complex mathematical concepts more accessible;
- Showing students how to reason about, model, and discuss word problems;
- Implementing problem-solving workshops and workstations to maximize practice time and encourage collaboration;
- Teaching students to recognize and apply elementary mathematical concepts—including addition, subtraction, part-whole relationships, etc.—in real-life situations;
- Incorporating different types of assessment to measure student progress and help them get to the next level.
Each chapter offers examples, charts, and tools that you can use immediately. The book also features a set of action plans so you can move forward with confidence and implement the book’s ideas in your own classroom.
Contents
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Part I: Introduction
Chapter 1: Playdoh®, Puppets and Other Real Life Stuff
Chapter 2: Problem Solving in the Math Workshop
Chapter 3: The Basic Framework
Part II: A Deeper Dive
Chapter 4: Add to Problems
Chapter 5: Take From Problems
Chapter 6: Part-Part Whole Problems
Chapter 7: Compare Problems
Chapter 8: Two-Step and Multi-Step Problems
Chapter 9: Problems Across Math Topics
Part III: Other Word Problems
Chapter 10: Reasoning
Chapter 11: Springboards into Great Word Problems Premises: Math Mentor Texts, Poems, Songs, Believe It or Not Stories, Shared Experiences & Games
Chapter 12: Action Plan
Biography
Dr. Nicki Newton has been an educator for 28 years, working both nationally and internationally, with students of all ages. She has worked on developing Math Workshop and Guided Math Institutes around the country. She is also an avid blogger (www.guidedmath.wordpress.com), tweeter (@drnickimath), and Pinterest pinner (www.pinterest.com/drnicki7).
"In my experience, early primary teachers often short change problem solving because students are emergent readers and/or the focus is on computational fluency. Also, the problems often offered in textbooks tend to be mostly one type and lack relevant contexts. This resource will help teachers to fortify this area of their instruction. Dr. Nicki provides great guidance on problem types, strategies for problem solving, and specific ways to authentically integrate problem solving into these grade levels. This book offers the most comprehensive explanations and examples that I have seen and is user friendly for teachers. This resource will support teachers in meeting the expectations of the standards while better engaging students in problem solving and deepening number sense." – Alison Mello, K-8 Math and Science Director, Foxborough Public Schools, MA
"This book presents a practical way to improve problem solving with students. The clear explanations of problem types and the example problems, websites, and templates are excellent resources for teachers. There aren’t other books on this topic of this quality!" – Tracy Easterling, Instructional Technology Coach and K-6 Math/Science Specialist, Bristol Tennessee City Schools
