The Problem Solving Model
"The four-step model is generally not taught directly before Grade 3, because young students tend to become too focused on the model and pay less attention to the mathematical concepts involved and to making sense of the problem. However, a teacher who is aware of the model and who uses it to guide his or her questioning and prompting during the problem-solving process will help students internalize a valuable approach that can be generalized to other problem-solving situations, not only in mathematics but in other subjects as well.The four-step model provides a framework for helping students to think about a question before, during, and after the problem-solving experience. By Grade 3, the teacher can present the problem-solving model more explicitly, building on students’ experiences in the earlier grades. The four-step model can then be displayed in the classroom and referred to often during the mathematics lesson.The stages of the four-step model are described in the image below. Students should be made aware that, although the four steps are presented sequentially, it may sometimes be necessary in the course of solving problems to go back and revisit earlier steps." - Ministry of Education pg. 13
Other Problem Solving Strategies
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The APE Strategy
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Ontario Math Curriculum
Number Sense and Numeration
Measurement
Geometry and Spatial Sense
Patterning and Algebra
Data Management and Probability
