Persevering in Problem Solving

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Over the next three weeks we are going to grow in our problem-solving skills and slowly gain a toolkit of strategies and entry points for the problems that we will solve over the course of the year.  [If you still need to complete the student information form, sign-up for Khan Academy, or register at Remind 101 go to the previous post for that information].  The strategies I would like for you to keep in mind are the following:

• Try some simple cases

• Find/Create a helpful diagram

• Organize systematically

• Make a table

• Spot patterns

• Use the patterns

• Find a general rule or equation

• Explain why it works

• Check regularly

Please find the homework that is due next Tuesday at the link below:
Pond Borders, Sorts, and Diagonals

Remember that as you are completing these that you are thinking about our aims around communication and reasoning:

Communication	Strategies and Reasoning
1. I understood what you did and why you did it. 2. Your solution was well organized and easy to follow. 3. Your solution flowed logically from one step to the next. 4. You used an effective format for communicating. 5. Your mathematical representations helped clarify your solution. 6. You used mathematical terminology correctly.	1. You chose appropriate, efficient strategies for solving the problem. 2. You justified each step of your work. 3. Your representation(s) fit the task. 4. The logic of your solution was apparent. 5. Your process would lead to a complete, correct solution of the problem. 6. The evidence you showed clearly supported your solution.

Back to School 2013-2014

Greetings Scholars.  Happy you have landed here to check-in and see what resources, notes, and info I may have for you (also to fill in the student information form, etc. all listed below).  These first few weeks we will be spending the majority of our time developing a deep understanding of what habits can allow any of us to be great thinkers and, specifically, mathematicians.  We will, together, reflect on what is working and why.  I hope to huddle our thoughts around these, but look forward to adding more as we solve problems together:

• Try some simple cases

• Find/Create a helpful diagram

• Organize systematically

• Make a table

• Spot patterns

• Use the patterns

• Find a general rule or equation

• Explain why it works

• Check regularly

I look forward to learning about and solving problems together these first few weeks. Below are a few things I have asked you to do to get started with A2 this year: (1) Complete Student Information Form (2) Sign-up for Khan Academy and add me as your coach (ID:darren.burris@gmail.com, my coaches code is 3ZK6YK) (3) Login in to TenMarks with your ID and (4) sign-up for Remind 101.  I know, it sounds like a great deal, but all of it will help us toward our ultimate goal of learning math together this year.

(1) Student Information Form:

(2) Khan Academy ... add me as your coach! (ID:darren.burris@gmail.com, my coaches code is 3ZK6YK)
Video to help you with adding me as your coach!



(3) TenMarks (registration will occur after September 1)

(4) Remind101 Registration.  Click here for directions!

Thank you for checking-in and registering for some of the tools we will be using this year as we learn and explore math together!