Problem-solving strategies have to be taught
Does it ever surprise you when a student doesn’t know how to solve a problem? Sometimes students don’t have a wide enough array of strategies. We have videos, games and presentations to help you teach.
Problem-solving Videos
- Build a model – sometimes it’s easier to understand a problem if you make it solid, as in with actual objects. This video is also available IN SPANISH.
- Make it an easier problem (elementary) – Make a subtraction problem easier by regrouping
- Make it an easier problem (middle school) – Solve a problem by making it into two or three easier problems. Appropriate for grades 5 to 8. This video is also available IN SPANISH .
- Start at the end – Are you not sure what the problem is asking? Here’s a tip, most often what you need to do to solve a problem is at the end.
- Visualize – think of the problem as a sort of picture. Also available IN SPANISH
- Write out the numbers and what they represent
Slide Presentations
| POWERPOINT | PDF FORMAT |
| Build a Model IN SPANISH: Construye un modelo | Build a Model IN SPANISH: Construye un modelo |
| Start at the end IN SPANISH: Comienza desde el final | Start at the end IN SPANISH: Comienza desde el final |
| Throw Out What You Don’t Need IN SPANISH: Quita lo que no necesitas | Throw Out What You Don’t Need IN SPANISH: Quita lo que no necesitas |
| Visualize! IN SPANISH: ¡Visualiza! | Visualize! IN SPANISH: ¡Visualiza! |
| Write out the numbers and what they represent IN SPANISH: Escribe los números y lo que representan | Write out the numbers and what they represent IN SPANISH: Escribe los números y lo que representan |
Games that teach problem-solving strategies
All of our games teach problem-solving to some extent, such as this video on how to solve timeline problems for years before the year 1 (that is Before the Christian Era), which is found in our game AzTech: Meet the Maya. If what you are looking for, though, is general problem-solving strategies, I would suggest these four games:
Teaches problem-solving strategies, multiplication, division, Ojibwe history and English/ Language Arts. Runs on Windows, Mac, Chromebook, iOS and Android.
Making Camp Lakota
Teaches problem-solving strategies, division and Lakota history. Can be played in English or Lakota. This game is free. Runs on Windows, Mac, Chromebook, iOS and Android.
Spirit Lake: The Game
This game teaches problem-solving strategies, multiplication, division and Dakota history. It plays on Mac and Windows computers. It must be installed on your device. This game is fun for anyone but for schools that have slow or unreliable Internet it is a Godsend.