02 Jan Anytime Problems

Anytime problems are hard.  They take a lot of time, dedication, and are rigorous.  Due to this, anytime problems CAN BE DONE ANYTIME. They do not have to have a specific time period for students to work on them and complete them.

ONLY NEGOTIABLE BLUE

While teaching anytime problems, mix up problems that take longer than 10 minutes to complete.  Put them in different areas where they can be collaborated on. Perhaps give one Anytime Problem on Monday then provide time throughout the week to work on the problem. On Friday, get the answers and work through how the problem was solved.  Remember that Anytime Problems do not have to roll into the regular lesson.

MIXED REVIEW

Just because your students are in a lesson dealing with multiplication or division unit, doesn’t mean that the Anytime Problem will deal with these two topics. Anytime Problems utilize anything and everything that the student has learned up until this time to solve the problem.  This can include fractions, addition, etc.

RIGOROUS

Anytime problems take a lot of time. They use a lot of skills that students have already learned, as well as skills they are currently learning. Be sure to use Anytime Problems where they fit in your schedule or lesson.  Remember that Anytime Problems can be done anytime! They can be done at the beginning of class, end of class, or as transition work to help students calm down and get ready to focus.

It is not necessary to do a new Anytime Problem every day. Take your time to build good problem-solving skills. Be sure to take each Anytime Problem in steps. Be sure to act it out, dissect it, identify what it is asking before even starting the problem.  Students can discuss possible models or drawings that may help, etc. Remember that dissecting doesn’t mean hand-holding. We are just ensuring students understand what the problem is about. Can they retell the situation in their own words? Do they understand the context? Don’t over help in ways that the only thing left is computing numbers. It is figuring out what to do that is tough!   Only work on Anytime Problems for 10 minutes! If you want, set a timer.  This is a job that student leaders love to do.

Try different structures. Anytime Problems need to be taken slowly.  Try doing a handful of Anytime Problems with the entire class.  Give them the opportunity to think the problem through. Ensure they understand the problem-solving strategies prior to trying a new structure. Consider a class rubric and a check sheet for what each answer should entail.  Examplars.com has some awesome rubrics already created.

Once the majority of your class understands how to complete Anytime Problems, try Anytime Problems in small groups.  After a number of times in small groups, try partners.  Eventually, you will be able to go down to working individually on Anytime Problems. Use Math Expressions problem-solving process to help you: Understand, Represent, Solve, Check for Reasonableness.

You can get a cheat sheet on Anytime Problem Tips here.  anytime problem tips