Definition: Problem-solving is the ability to take past experiences and learn from them. Many students intuitively have these skills, however, many others need to be shown ways to view and consider alternative solutions to problems. When we do not teach students how to problem solve they often rely on the skills they have which usually include “fight” or “flight” behaviors. Our role as educators is to help them build their “bag of tricks” to confront problems with a positive approach.  Student will not learn to problem-solve by being told what to do.  They will best learn problem solving by our modeling or experiencing and experimenting with solutions to situations. 

Example:  Joe, a sophomore, came to class day after asking permission to leave class and use the telephone.  I told him, “You may use the phone at the end of the period. If you stay and do your work, I will give you a pass the last five minutes to make your phone call.”  For three days, he insisted that he wanted to use the phone immediately, and stormed out of the room.  As a result of his behavior, he was caught in the hall, reprimanded, given detention time, and was sent back to my class. On the fourth day, Joe appeared in class again asking to use the telephone, only after leaving the room he immediately returned and said, ”If I stay and work will you really give me the pass.” Handing him a pass with the appropriate time (the last 5 minutes of class), I said, “Absolutely.”  It took Joe an entire week to struggle through and finally realize what it would take to get to make his phone call, and in essence, solve his own problem.

Suggestions and Resources: