Eight Step Problem-Solving Strategy for Math

Your client should be encouraged to self-question and self-monitor when attempting to problem solve. It would help him/her to apply metacognitive activities to each cognitive process by using “say, ask, and check” activities without memorizing. 

The Eight-step Problem-Solving Strategy

■ Read the problem aloud. Have a teacher help you identify any unknown words.

■ Paraphrase the problem aloud.  Reread the problem, identify the question that is asked, and summarize the information that will be important for solving the problem.

■ Visualize. Draw a picture of the problem or visualize the situation and tell what it is about.

■ State the problem. Underline the most important information in the problem and then complete the sentences: “What I know is…,” “What I want to find out is…”

■ Hypothesize. Complete the sentence: “If…, then…” For example, “If 7 people each want to buy 20 tickets, then I need to multiply to determine the number of tickets.”  For multi-step problems, think through the series of steps and write the operation signs in the order they will be used.

■ Estimate. Write an estimate of the answer.

■ Calculate. Calculate the answer and label it (i.e. 140 tickets).

■ Self-check.  Review the problem, check the computation, and ask if the answer makes sense.

For more information on math problem-solving and targeted interventions, see this handout: Math Problem Solving Handout