Get paper, pencils, colored pencils, and additional materials such as manipulatives (pattern blocks), ruler, and protractor
Read the directions
If needed, review the example problems from the teacher, my notes, or book
While I Solve:
Read the problem twice
If I'm given a picture, clearly mark it up with numbers and labels
If no picture is given, decide if I need one. If so, draw it neatly. Use graph paper or ruler if it helps
If I'm stuck, talk through or describe what I see in the problem out loud
Show my work so I can easily check for computation errors
Circle any problem I am unsure of so I can re-solve it at the end. Don't let myself get stuck on any one problem, move on, and try again later
After I Finish:
Go back to any problem where I was unsure and re-solve. Avoid looking at what I did the first time through. If I'm still unsure, ask for help or circle to discuss with my teacher
Check my answers to make sure they are complete and make sense
Test how well I understand the concept by trying to explain why my strategy makes sense