Steps in Verbal Math Problem Solving

1.      Read the problem aloud

2.      Paraphrase

•  Give important information

•  Repeat question alond

•  What is being asked? What am I looking for?

3.      Visualize

•  Draw a diagram

4.      State the problem

•  I have… I want to find…

5.      Hypothesize

•  If I…then…

•  How many steps? What units of measurement? What terms?

6.      Estimate

•  Round the numbers

7.      Calculate

8.      Label

9.      Self-check

•  Check every step

•  Check the calculation

•  Ask “Does the answer make sense?”

  Adapted from Ackerman, Anhalt and Dykman, 1986