Solving Problemsproblem Solving

Why Problem Solving Can Prevent Bullying

• Solving Problemsproblem Solving Problems
• Art Of Problem Solving
• Problem Solving Examples
• Problem Solving In Management
• Problem Solving Model
• Problem Solving Definition

May 14, 2019 - Explore Tricia Stohr-Hunt's board 'Word Problems/Problem Solving', followed by 7292 people on Pinterest. See more ideas about word problems, problem solving, math problem solving. Finally, a book that develops problem solving techniques in a structured way for the Putnam. However, the techniques can be generally applicable to solve problems in many different areas. The power of using 'first principles' to solve problems that at first sight seem almost impossible is brought out clearly. Problem-solving starts with identifying the issue, coming up with solutions, implementing those solutions, and evaluating their effectiveness. Since this is a skill that's important to most employers, put them front and center on your resume, cover letter, and in interviews. Math contest problem links Wild About Math! The 3x+1 problem and its generalizations by Jeff Lagarias; 21st Century Problem Solving Solutions to solving word problems across the curriculum. (SureMath - hawaii.edu) Abiator's Active Classroom: Maths Problem Solving Index. Problem solving, Process involved in finding a solution to a problem. Many animals routinely solve problems of locomotion, food finding, and shelter through trial and error.

“Let’s flip a coin to decide.”

“Everybody breathe a minute, then we can take turns figuring out a way to solve this.”

“Why don’t we just both think of another choice?”

Researchers have always recognized the benefits of kids learning to work together to solve their problems. After all, using problem-solving skills is one of the best ways to help kids and teens curb playground battles, deal with friendship tiffs, manage teammate squabbles and handle the social jungle, as well as boost resilience, empathy, academic performance, self-esteem, peacemaking skills, and character. New research by the American Psychological Association reveals another huge plus: Teaching problem solving may prevent bullying and reduce the odds of victimization.

Researchers from Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge and the University of California-Riverside began the study as a quest to see what individual or environmental characteristics might predict the likelihood of a child becoming a bully or victim. The team, lead by Clayton R.Cook, analyzed 153 studies on bullying that were published in the USA and Europe over the past 30 years and involved kids from ages three to eighteen. The results, published by the American Psychological Association and entitled, “Predictors of Bullying and Victimization in Childhood and Adolescence: A Meta-Analytic Investigation,” found crucial information to help prevent bullying and aggressive behaviors.

Kids, especially boys, who have trouble solving social problems are more at risk of becoming bullies, coming targets of bullying, or both.

“A typical bullyhas trouble resolving problems with others,” Cook states, “and also has trouble academically.” But so too does the typical victim who “is likely to be aggressive, lack social skills, think negative thoughts, experience difficulties in solving social problems.” That applies to the child who is bullied and who bullies.

This is why problem-solving strategies should be an integral part of every school’s bullying prevention program and school climate initiative.

Most bullyingprograms aim at merely changing student’s knowledge or perceptions or implementing a school-wide approach such as posting “anti-bullying rules” or a peer-reporting system. Such approaches alone do not change the bullying behavior, and so the bullying or victimization continues. Aggressive habits are learned and and they can become entrenched.

Cook’s findings are different because they provide insight into not only how to predict who will be more likely to be bullied or victimized, but also how to reduce—even prevent—the bullying cycle.

Of course, this is just part of the bullying solution, but finally we’re discovering not only greater predictors, but also concrete and teachable strategies for parents and teachers alike.

A critical key to success in reducing bullying is to ensure that all students learn crucial skills for solving social conflicts, and the sooner the better. Conflict Resolution and Problem Solving should be an integral part of every school’s bully-prevention program and safe and caring climate initiative as well in every parent’s tool chest. But there are caveats.

Warning: Though problem solving is a valuable social skill that all kids must learn, researchers warn that using Peer Mediation to reconcile bullying could increase bully victimization. Keep in mind that the target does not have a conflict with the bully. And the bully’s intention is to usurp power over his or her victim by intentionally causing pain. What’s more, kids who are targeted generally cannot hold their own, and there is no equality in Peer Mediation.

So decide carefully if Conflict Resolution or Peer Mediation is the right approach. Always ask permission of the targeted child. Do they want to be in the conflict resolution process and face their tormentors? Even if they do, be sensitive, tread lightly, preserve confidentiality.

Teaching Kids to Take a STAND

Use the following as a guide to help children learn to solve problems peacefully. Each letter in the acronym, “STAND” represents on one of the five steps in conflict resolution and helps kids recall the process. I developed the acronym for my special education students and have since taught hundreds of kids (and teachers) the STAND approach.

The complete steps to problem solving (and dozens of more research-based strategies) are from End Peer Cruelty, Build Empathy: The Proven 6Rs That Create Inclusive, Safe and Caring Schools.Each step takes time to teach and lots of practice to master. Use the “Baby step model” to help kids learn the STAND skill: Teach one step at a time adding the next part when previous was mastered and kids can use it in the real world without adult guidance.

S = Stop, look and listen to your feelings.

The first step to solving problems is teaching kids to calm down. The reason is simple: it’s impossible to think about how solve a problem if you’re upset. Once in control, you can begin to rationally figure out why you’re upset and then find an answer to your dilemma.

Teach kids to take slow deep breaths to calm down or walk away until calm. If emotions are high amongst kids, intervene: “I see two angry kids who need to calm down so they can figure out how to solve their problem.” You might need to separate the kids until their anger is under control.

T = Take turns telling the problem.

The trick here is to enforce these critical rules:No put downs or name-calling: you must listen to each other respectfully.No interrupting: each person gets a chance to talk.You might ask each kid to say what happened, summarize each view, and then end with, “What can you do now to solve this problem?” Make suggestions only when your kids really seem stuck.

Tell kids to start their explanations with the word “I” instead of “You” then describe the problem and how they want it resolved. Doing so helps the speaker focus on the conflict without putting the other kid down. For instance: “I’m ticked because you never give me a turn. I want to use the computer, too.”

If emotions are high, give kids the option of writing or drawing their view of the problem instead of saying it to each other. It’s particularly helpful for younger or less verbal kids.The goal should be to help each kid try and feel what it’s like to be in the other kid’s shoes. One way to do this is by having each kid put into their own words what the other kid has told them.

A = Ask alternatives.

Next, kids need think of alternatives so they have ways to finding a resolution. Whether preschooler or adolescent, the basic rules of thinking of solutions are the same: Say the first thing that comes into your mind. Don’t put down anyone else’s ideas. Change or add onto anyone’s idea. Try to come up with ideas that work mutually for both sides.

Don’t offer your help unless they really seem stuck! To keep kids focused, say they must come up with five different solutions before you return. Then leave for a few minutes. Setting an oven timer for just three minutes can be a goldmine for kids with short attention spans. Stretch the time depending on the children’s age and problem solving skills.

N = Narrow choices.

Narrow the options down to a few choice. To help kids get closer to resolve the problem teach two rules. Eliminate any solutions that are unacceptable to either kid because they don’t satisfy their needs. Eliminate any solutions that aren’t safe or wife.

D = Decide the best choice and do it!

The final step helps kids learn how to make the best decision by thinking through the consequences of their choices. You can teach kids to think about the consequence of their remaining choices by asking: “What might happen if you tried that?”

Another way to help kids decide on the best choice is by helping them weigh the pros and cons of each remaining possibility: “What are all the good and bad things that might happen if you chose that?”“What is the one last change that would make this work better for both of us.” Once students decide, the two shake on the agreement or take turns saying, “I agree.”

Key Take Aways from the APA Findings

1. DON’T rescue. If you want kids to be able to learn to work things out, then step back and give him the opportunity to solve their own problems. Do make gentle suggestions, but don’t offer solutions or rush too quickly to fix things or create remedies. Doing so robs kids of learning to solve problems.

2. DON’T wait. The sooner we teach children how to solve conflicts, the less we’ll have to intervene. Problem solving can be taught to preschoolers but do teach the skills at a developmentally appropriate level.

3. DON’T teach skills in isolation. Real life practice is the best way for kids to learn skills. So do look for day to day opportunities: a tiff during a play date, a sibling battle over who gets the remote or who gets first pick at a game.

4. DON’T overlook real examples. Kids learn skills best by seeing them. Bickering with your partner? DO show your kids that you can fight fair. Dispute with the boss? Explain to your kids how you’re trying to work things through. Family feud? Use Family Meetings (or Class Meetings) to teach problem solving.

5. DON’T assume kids know how to problem solve. A big mistake is assuming that kids acquire these skills on their own. Don’t make that assumption. Do deliberately and intentionally teach problem solving.

End Peer Cruelty, Build Empathy: The Proven 6Rs of Bullying Prevention That Create Inclusive, Safe, and Caring Schools offers the strong elements of best practices and bullying prevention programs to form the 6Rs of bullying prevention: rules, recognize, report, respond, refuse and replace. More than a program, the 6Rs are a comprehensive process for reducing bullying from the inside out, involving the entire school community. Used on its own or to supplement an existing anti-bulying program or positive school climate initiative, this guide will help you see real progress in your bullying prevention efforts…and a more peaceful future for your students and school.

Dr. Michele Borba, Parenting Expert

I am an educational psychologist, parenting expert, TODAY show contributor and author of 22 books including End Peer Cruelty, Build Empathy and UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World.

My new book, Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shineis in print March 2, 2021! I’ve spent the last five years researching and writing this book as well as literally flying around the world to find the best ways we can raise resilient children. My goal is to create a conversation that makes us rethink or view of success as exclusively grades, rank and score and includes character strengths that can-and must-be taught.! It’s filled with common-sense solutions based on the latest science to help us raise kids with strong hearts, minds and will. It’s time to include “resilience” in our parenting and teaching! The chapters on Curiosity, Perseverance and Empathy have more skills on how to raise kids to be mentally strong and self-advocators.

Follow me on twitter @MicheleBorba

Resources for this Post:

“Predictors of Bullying and Victimization in Childhood and Adolescence: A Meta-analytic Investigation,” Clayton R. Cook, PhD, Louisiana State University; Kirk R. William, PhD, Nance G. Guerra, EdD, Tia E. Kim, PhD, and Shelly Sadek, MA, University of California, Riverside; School Psychology Quarterly, Vol. 25, No.

NBC Nightly News: “Bullying increasing” Reported live by Tom Costello, September 5, 2010.

Who is likely to become a bully, victim, or both? e! Science News, July 8, 2010, http://esciencenews.com/articles/2010/07/08/who.likely.become.a.bully.victim.or.both

When confronted with a problem, in which the solution is not clear, you need to be a skilled problem-solver to know how to proceed. When you look at STEP problems for the first time, it may seem like this problem-solving skill is out of your reach, but like any skill, you can improve your problem-solving with practice.
How do I become a better problem-solver?
First and foremost, the best way to become better at problem-solving is to try solving lots of problems! If you are preparing for STEP, it makes sense that some of these problems should be STEP questions, but to start off with it's worth spending time looking at problems from other sources. This collection of NRICH problems is designed for youngerstudents, but it's very worthwhile having a go at a few to practise the problem-solving technique in a context where the mathematics should be straightforward to you. Then as you become a more confident problem-solver you can try more past STEP questions.
One student who worked with NRICH said:
'From personal experience, I was disastrous at STEP to start with. Yet as I persisted with it for a long time it eventually started to click - ‘it’ referring to being able to solve problems much more easily. This happens because your brain starts to recognise that problems fall into various categories and you subconsciously remember successes and pitfalls of previous ‘similar’ problems.'

Solving Problemsproblem Solving Problems

A Problem-solving Heuristic for STEP
Below you will find some questions you can ask yourself while you are solving a problem. The questions are divided into four phases, based loosely on those found in George Pólya's 1945 book 'How to Solve It'.
Understanding the problem

• What area of mathematics is this?
• What exactly am I being asked to do?
• What do I know?
• What do I need to find out?
• What am I uncertain about?
• Can I put the problem into my own words?

Devising a plan

• Work out the first few steps before leaping in!
• Have I seen something like it before?
• Is there a diagram I could draw to help?
• Is there another way of representing?
• Would it be useful to try some suitable numbers first?
• Is there some notation that will help?

Carrying out the plan
STUCK!

• Try special cases or a simpler problem
• Work backwards
• Guess and check
• Be systematic
• Work towards subgoals
• Imagine your way through the problem
• Has the plan failed? Know when it’s time to abandon the plan and move on.

Looking back

Art Of Problem Solving

Problem Solving Examples

• Have I answered the question?
• Sanity check for sense and consistency
• Check the problem has been fully solved
• Read through the solution and check the flow of the logic.

Problem Solving In Management

Throughout the problem solving process it's important to keep an eye on how you're feeling and making sure you're in control:

Problem Solving Model

• Am I getting stressed?
• Is my plan working?
• Am I spending too long on this?
• Could I move on to something else and come back to this later?
• Am I focussing on the problem?
• Is my work becoming chaotic, do I need to slow down, go back and tidy up?
• Do I need to STOP, PEN DOWN, THINK?

Finally, don't forget that STEP questions are designed to take at least 30-45 minutes to solve, and to start with they will take you longer than that. As a last resort, read the solution, but not until you have spent a long time just thinking about the problem, making notes, trying things out and looking at resources that can help you. If you do end up reading the solution, then come back to thesame problem a few days or weeks later to have another go at it.

Problem Solving Definition