Problem of the Week
Every Friday the students will receive a new Problem of the Week which will be due on Thursday. The students will follow a step by step procedure in order to solve the problem. They will be marked not only on the answer but also on the process they used in order to solve the problem. Our school goal for mathematics is To improve student achievement in communicating learning and thinking in mathematics. It is no longer about students only having the correct answer, it is also important that they are able to communicate their understanding of a problem and to explain their thinking. For this reason I am requiring students to complete their problem of the week using the Three Read Strategy.
Three Read Strategy
1. 1st Read: Visualize
After reading the problem, draw a picture or diagram to represent the images you "see" in the problem.
2. 2nd Read: Gather the Facts
After reading the problem for a second time, identify the facts or details that you need in order to solve the problem. Record the facts.
3. 3rd Read: Check the Facts
During the third read, check the facts. Make sure you understand the question. Record the question in your own words.
4. Solve the Problem
Once you have chosen a method to try, you are to show all of your work. I would like to see all of the attempts on paper, so please do not erase or throw out work that did not come to the correct answer. If you do not solve the problem after 3-4 attempts it is okay to say that you do not know the answer. All of this will allow me to see what type of strategies were used and to ensure that understanding is evident. (Here are some strategies to help you when problem solving: draw pictures/diagrams, guess and check, logical reasoning, process of elimination, working backwards, and estimating).
Explain in words how you know your answer is correct. Remember to use proper math language and strategies where appropriate. If you were unable to solve the problem, you should write what you think would help you see the problem more clearly.
5. Clearly State your answer in sentence form.
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 |
| Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 |
| Week 11 | Week 12 | Week 13 | Week 14 | Week 15 |
| Week 16 | Week 17 | Week 18 | Week 19 | Week 20 |
| Week 21 | Week 22 | Week 23 | Week 24 | Week 25 |
| Week 26 | Week 27 | Week 28 | Week 29 | Week 30 |