My husband, David, is very handy and has a workbench in our garage that holds a rather large yellow toolbox. His toolbox is filled with numerous hammers, screwdrivers, bits, and materials of various sizes. At first, I thought it was crazy that he had so many different tools. Before I married him, I had a small toolbox with exactly two screwdrivers (Phillips and Flat), one hammer, and a small level. I don’t think I even had any nails, which shows you how much use the hammer would have been if I needed it.
I am continually amazed at how he always seems to have the right size drill bit or screwdriver for the various projects around the house. Since his toolbox is so well stocked with various tools, he is much more prepared for a project than I ever could be with the few tools I had in my toolbox.
As teachers, it is our job to equip our students to be problem solvers and to help fill up their “toolbox” with strategies to be successful both now and in the future. Teachers can help students by allowing students to become every day problem solvers. As well as, adding in some problem solving activities for kids.
Where Are Students Expected To Be Problem Solvers?
Did you know that teachers prepare students for jobs that probably haven’t even been created yet? When I was in high school, social media strategist wasn’t even a thing, but it is today. It’s truly hard to imagine life in the next 10, 20, 30+ years. The best thing we can do as teachers is to equip our students with a wide variety of tools and strategies in the following areas using real life problem solving and some problem solving activities for kids:
Problem-Solving In Relationships
Healthy relationships take work, and students need to be taught strategies for conflict and resolution skills. They need to understand the difference between big and small problems and ways to resolve them. I always taught my students that a small problem is something that kids can solve on their own, but a big problem is something that they need an adult to help them solve. I then taught and modeled strategies that they can use to solve small problems and identify when they need an adult’s help with a big problem. We empower kids when we help them fill up their “toolbox” with strategies to be problem solvers.
Being a Problem Solver In Academics
At the beginning of the year, I can’t tell you how many of my students approached me and said, “Mrs. Foxwell, I don’t know this word. What is it?” I could have just told them the word, but would I have set them up for success if I did that every time? Absolutely not! Instead, I filled up their reading “toolbox” by teaching, modeling, and practicing strategies that helped them and taught them how to decode unknown words.
So, when they come to a word they don’t know, they have the tools to sound out the word! Regardless of the grade or subject you teach, students need strategies for academics that will allow them to succeed both in and beyond our classroom walls.
Digital Problem Solvers
A couple of years ago, a student came into my classroom and proclaimed: “Mrs. Foxwell, I googled you last night, and I saw a video of you singing one of our math songs.” They came across my teaching website, where I share ideas and resources with other teachers, but I’ll never forget the day because it served as an important reminder that the world is constantly changing.
Our students have so much access to information at their fingertips, so we must teach them to be responsible digital citizens. In order for our kids to be successful both now and in the future, they need to be equipped with tools to be critical thinkers and innovative problem solvers. We need to teach them how to discern what is true and false, how to use technology responsibly, and model all of this by ensuring that we are leaving a good digital footprint.
Problem Solving Activities For Kids
Introducing problem-solving activities during transitions not only keeps students engaged but also fosters critical thinking and collaboration skills. Here are a few simple yet effective activities to try:
- Brain Teasers: Engage students with short brain teasers or riddles to challenge their thinking skills. These teasers can be put on the board or given on a worksheet.
- Group Puzzles: Foster teamwork and problem-solving abilities by dividing students into small groups and providing them with puzzles to solve together. You could use a jigsaw puzzle, a logic puzzle, or a math problem, collaborative tasks encourage communication and cooperation among students.
- Scavenger Hunts: Organize scavenger hunts where students search for clues or items placed strategically around the classroom or school.
- Story Starters: Beginning with a sentence or scenario, students take turns adding to the story, fostering communication skills and cooperative learning while exercising their storytelling abilities.
- Challenge Kits: Students can work through different challenges using challenge kits where they use different materials to build. This is one of my favorite problem solving activities for kids to use during indoor recess, morning work, etc.
Becoming a problem solver is pretty challenging for students. Students often want teachers, parents, adults, etc., to solve their problems for them. They think it makes their life “easier,” but we all know that by teaching students how to be effective problem-solvers we are actually making their lives easier. Using problem solving activities for kids is one way we can ensure this!
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