Read It, Draw It, Solve It

Hi All,

It's good to start the year off with some problem solving, since that's what math is all about. We learn addition, subtraction, measurement, fractions, and the whole ball of wax, to help us solve problems in our everyday lives.

Read It, Draw It, Solve It is a series of books written by Elizabeth D. Miller which provides nicely formatted problems with very controlled vocabulary, arranged by grade level.

The first step is Read It. There are a few simple sentences which state the facts. For example,

"The robin has 4 babies in the nest. She brings 8 worms back to the nest."

Then comes a question, "If each baby gets an equal number of worms, how many worms does each baby get? _______"

Next is Draw It. At the top of the page is a large area where learners can draw the problem data and use it to solve the problem. Here a student might draw the 4 baby birds and the 8 worms and match them up to give an equal share to each. By doing this students will Solve It.

The last part is an area that can be used to write an answer sentence such as, "Each baby gets 2 worms."

Teachers can learn a great deal about how a student approaches a problem by looking at these drawings and for young children it is easier sometimes for them to "show" you how they solve a problem rather than use words to try to explain.

Students like this format and by using the blank template at this link, you can make up your own problems to match students levels, concepts, and vocabulary. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1usbU-msoiabGzM13UDcoNJGTgjroF4cw/view?usp=sharing

You may have to occasionally caution some young Picassos not to go into too much detail. Assure them that they can always add more color and detail later to their heart's content, but to keep it simple first, just to show how they got their answers. This also serves as pictorial "proof" that they are correct and by talking through the drawing they can "defend" their answers.

So, a simple format that pays big dividends in developing a problem solving process for children while providing valuable assessment information for the teacher.

All the best,

Bob

Read It, Draw It, Solve It by Elizabeth D. Miller (Dale Seymour Publications, 1998) Available in books for Grades 1, 2, and 3.

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