Ideas & Innovations
DISD Curriculum & Instruction Dept Oct 2017
Problem Solvers
The C&I Department hopes this issue of Ideas & Innovations provides resources and suggestions that are easy for you to implement and embed in your classroom routine.
4 Tips on Teaching Problem Solving (from a Student)
Education is one of the most important things in the world, but at most schools, students are told to memorize facts, formulas, and functions without any applicability to the real challenges we will face later. Instead, give us challenges; give us problems that focus on real-world scenarios; give us a chance to understand the world we’re entering and to be prepared for it before we’re thrown in headfirst.
At Two Rivers Public Charter School, they taught us how to problem solve, and they made it relevant. Here are four tips that engaged me in my learning that you can adapt in your classroom:
- GIVE YOUR STUDENTS HARD PROBLEMS
- MAKE PROBLEM-SOLVING RELEVANT TO YOUR STUDENTS' LIVES
- TEACH YOUR STUDENTS HOW TO GRAPPLE (ITS MORE POWERFUL THAN PERSEVERANCE)
- PUT MORE IMPORTANCE ON STUDENT UNDERSTANDING THAN ON GETTING THE RIGHT ANSWER
Engaging Activities & Resources for Promoting Problem Solving
Train Your Students' Brain
T-Tess Connections
Planning Dimension 1:4 Activities
- Proficient - Questions that encourage all students to engage in complex, higher-order thinking.
- Accomplished - Questions that encourage all students to engage in complex, higher-order thinking and problem solving.
- Distinguished - Opportunities for all students to generate questions that lead to further inquiry and promote complex, higher-order thinking, problem solving and real world application.
Instruction Dimension 2.2 Content Knowledge and Expertise
- Proficient - Provides opportunities for students to use different types of thinking (e.g., analytical, practical, creative & research-based).
- Accomplished - Regularly provides opportunities for students to use different types of thinking (e.g., analytical, practical, creative & research-based).
- Distinguished - Consistently provides opportunities for students to use different types of thinking (e.g., analytical, practical, creative & research-based).
Instruction Dimension 2.3 Communication
- Proficient - Asks remember, understand and apply level questions that focus on the objective of the lesson and provoke discussion.
- Accomplished - Asks questions at the creative, evaluative and/or analysis levels that focus on the objective of the lesson and provoke thought and discussion.
- Distinguished - Asks questions at the creative, evaluative and/or analysis levels that require a deeper learning and broader understanding of the objective of the lesson.
WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Thanks for setting high academic expectations for your students. Let me know what the C&I Department and I can do to support you and your professional growth.
Email: shanna.mccracken@daytonisd.net
Website: daytonisd.net
Location: Hayman
Phone: 936-258-2667 1153