Problem-Solving and Productive Struggle

Written by Donna Boucher

Donna has been a teacher, math instructional coach, interventionist, and curriculum coordinator. A frequent speaker at state and national conferences, she shares her love for math with a worldwide audience through her website, Math Coach’s Corner. Donna is also the co-author of Guided Math Workshop.

They call it problem-solving for a reason. When students routinely engage in productive struggle, they become problem solvers!

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There is an amazing book called Adding It Up: Helping Children Learn Mathematics. It is not a new book (Copyright 2001), nor is it an easy book to read. I waded through it once a few years back. The book takes a hard look at the state of mathematics instruction in the United States through the lens of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) conducted in the mid-1990s. Throughout the book, comparisons are drawn between mathematics instruction in the United States, Japan, and Germany.

One finding of the TIMSS that I found particularly striking, and that has really stuck with me, is the use of problem-solving in United States classrooms. They studied the types of problems used in classrooms in the three countries and, actually, the problems were not significantly different. What was different was the way in which the teachers in each country allowed students to work the problems. Not surprisingly, Japanese teachers typically allow students to struggle the most with problems. Teachers in Germany stepped in to help a little quicker than the teachers in Japan. In the United States, however, teachers typically offered assistance at the first sign of struggle or frustration. In other words, we often deny students the opportunity to engage in productive struggle.

Wait, isn’t it called problem-solving?

So here’s what I want you to think about. How quick are you to jump in and help your students solve their problems? How much do you allow them to struggle? Do you often catch yourself saying, “But they can solve the problems when they work with me!”? I challenge you to let kids grapple with problems. I know that, as teachers, it’s our nature to nurture. But kids can’t learn to solve problems if we always give them the answers. You might be surprised at the solutions they come up with!

Take a look at this Sharing Cookies problem.

If you had to guess, what grade level would you say this problem was designed for? Second grade? Third?

I have actually used the Sharing Cookies problem in both Kinder and 1st-grade classrooms. Let’s take a peek at what it sounded and looked like.

You can grab a copy of the Sharing Cookies problem as well as a couple of others using the link at the end of this post.

Solving the Problem

We start with a choral reading, one sentence at a time. Next, we modeled it using students volunteers. Here’s how it sounds:

Teacher: It says Suzy gave her 3 friends 5 cookies each. Hmmm. I need a friend to come up and help me (chooses a student to come up). This is my first friend. Friend, use your fingers to show me how many cookies you have (student holds up 5 fingers). Right, you got 5 cookies. Leave that hand up! Now I need another friend (chooses a second student to come up). This is my second friend. Show me how many cookies you got (student holds up 5 fingers). Great. Let’s see, how many cookies has Suzy given out so far? (Teacher holds her hands over each of the two students while the class counts 5, 10) So I’m done, right??

Students: NO!!! You need another friend.

Teacher: Oh, right (chooses another student to come up). Show me how many cookies you have (student holds up 5 fingers–repeat counting by fives). Hmmm, let’s see. The problem asks how many cookies Suzy has left (the teacher stands beside the 3 friends). Okay, I am Suzy. Turn and talk to your partner and see if you can figure out how many cookies I have left. 

Lots of great math conversations! I see them looking at the fingers the friends are holding up (their arms are getting tired!) and looking back at the numbers in the problem. When I asked for their ideas, I got lots of different (wrong) answers, and that’s okay! A couple of students said 20, and I reminded them that Suzy only had 18 cookies to start with. And, yes, one pair of students came up with 3! They were so proud when they explained how they got their answer, and the other kids gave them their complete attention.

After we modeled with bodies, we modeled the same problem with two-color counters. Even though we had just done it with bodies, some of the kiddos still had a little bit of difficulty. But you know what, that’s why they call it problem-solving!!

Finally, we put our work on paper. I told them that mathematicians usually like to show their work at least two different ways. I suggested we draw a diagram first. You can see in the picture below how it turned out. I will tell you that they did most of the work on this poster. I asked how we could show the 18 cookies, and they suggested 18 circles. I had them turn and talk to a partner about how to show the cookies each friend got, and they suggested I circle 5 cookies. I circled the first group of 5, but I had helpers do the other two. Notice that we made a key to show that each circle represented one cookie. Finally, we did a tally mark chart.

Now I’m wondering, did you catch that Kinder and 1st-grade babies solved a division problem where they had to interpret the remainder? To me, that’s the amazing thing about great, rich problems and utilizing problem-solving strategies–kids can actually solve problems way beyond their actual skill set. A great diagram goes a long way!

Just a reminder here about CRA. Notice that we solved this problem using concrete and representational methods. No abstract here, because that wouldn’t be appropriate for these kiddos.  The abstract would mean writing a division number sentence, and that would be meaningless to them. Now, if it had been an addition or subtraction problem, we would have written a number sentence and taken it through all stages of CRA.

Encouraging Multiple Representations

In order to be able to engage in productive struggle, students need tools. Otherwise, the struggle is not likely to be productive at all—just frustrating.

Prior to working on the Sharing Cookies problem, we discussed all the different ways mathematicians show their work, using the anchor chart shown below. The picture chart doesn’t really show it, but for the model, I actually glued counters on the poster. We talked about that when we use models, it’s things we can touch. Models also include acting out problems. You’ll notice on the anchor chart, all the different types of representations show the same thing—three friends with 2 cookies each. The students totally got that, and it was really cool.

Students should be able to use the representations that make sense to them. Of course, we teach lessons to introduce them to each of the representations, but then they become tools in their problem-solving toolboxes.

So there you have it. Go forth and let those students struggle!! Click here to grab your copy of the Sharing Cookies problem as well as a couple of others.

21 Comments

  1. Across the Hall

    That is really interesting! I know I jump in too early. It is hard for me to see my kiddos struggle, but beyond that I start to doubt my instruction…”Maybe I didn’t teach this thoroughly enough”. “Maybe they’re not ready for this problem”. I also have a few criers in my room that tear up just thinking about thinking, which makes holding back even more difficult!

    I’m going to keep in mind what you posted, and try it out for the remainder of the year!

    Thanks again!

    Halle
    Across the Hall in 2nd

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      I totally get your concerns, Halle! One way to approach it if they seem to hit the wall is through questioning. Instead of telling them exactly what to do try asking, “Could you use your counters to act out the story? What would this part of the story look like?”. It’s helping, but helping them to help themselves.

      Reply
  2. Amy B

    Great post Donna!!! I think my kids would benefit from doing it all three ways…that’s my note to self!!!!
    Have a good Wednesday!
    Amy Burton

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      Thanks, Amy! And you’re absolutely right–it’s good to work the same problem several different ways.

      Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      You’re welcome! You can actually read it online using that link, if you want to preview it before you buy it.

      Reply
  3. Barbara

    I try to let my kids grapple with problems. But what I find is they just shut down. I’m never sure if the problem is too hard or if I should just wait them out.
    Thanks for a great post.
    Barbara
    Grade ONEderful
    Ruby Slippers

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      Try guiding questions if a kiddo seems stuck. And make sure they have the tools they need to work the problem. Maybe they need manipulative or you could put it on their level by having them act it out. It may take time to see progress!

      Reply
    • Barbara

      Acting them out is a good idea. I don’t do enough of that 🙂
      Barbara
      Grade ONEderful
      Ruby Slippers

      Reply
  4. g-girl

    I couldn’t agree with you more! In fact, I extend it to problem solving with their peers. Thank you for the link to that book. Are there anymore from that same site you can suggest?

    Reply
  5. Demetria Franklin

    Love the problem solving chart. Will be part of math center.

    Reply
  6. The Queen Bee

    Guilty! I am switching to the Guided Math model this year, instead of whole group work time and centers…I like the problem solving chart that shows different strategies, I will be more aware of my tolerance level towards struggling this year!
    Thanks
    Natalie

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      We’ve ALL been guilty! I think it’s just in our nature. I think you’ll love guided math.

      Reply
  7. Coach outlet

    I appreciate your blogs,Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  8. galereed

    Thank you Donna, for writing this entry and emphasizing the need for struggle-time. I realized that I was not allowing my kids much struggle-time during guided math after a CCSS seminar. I was too ready to get in there, and ‘help’.

    Changing my outlook on struggle-time allowed my kids to savor sweet victory after they persevered; and it took some of the pressure off me as a teacher–I didn’t feel I needed to rush to the aid of the four different students who were struggling. I appreciate your blog so much.

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      The concept of struggle is so, so important!! It’s in our nature to jump in, so it takes a lot of self-discipline to give students that wait time.

      Reply
  9. mlf

    Jumping in to the discussion 3 years later, but I just read a really good book called Number Sense Routines by Jessica Shumway in which the first suggested comment to a struggling child is, “What part do you understand so far?” I like that question a lot.

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      Never too late to enter the discussion! I love Jessica Shumway’s book, and I had forgotten about that question. Love it!!

      Reply
  10. AR

    So simple of an idea, yet I have seemed to make it harder! Learning here, learning!

    Reply
  11. Lisa

    I am also jumping into this discussion a few years late. I teach kindergarten and sometimes I find I move too quickly in teaching word problems. I don’t spend enough time with students acting out the problems and instead present other strategies for solving too soon after introducing word problems. What are your thoughts on introducing the concept and the pacing of introducing new strategies?

    Reply
    • Donna Boucher

      It’s a year-long thing! I think you are absolutely correct that we often move too fast. The value of acting out and teaching visualization strategies can’t be overemphasized.

      Reply

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