Over the summer, when I was compiling all my resources to stay to organize them, I realized that I didn’t have any resources I loved for teaching the steps to problem solving. I found a few that sounded good to test out, but as I began to use them with my students, I realized that they were not really steps, or that there were way too many steps. The process was great, but thwere was no way I myself, mind you my kiddos, could remember (and easily use) 6-7 steps.

I ended up using a really simplified 4 step process, and I’ve been using it successfully for months now. My kids and their teachers are finding it really useful!

I really like using post-it notes so that the students can reuse the materials over and over. The process itself works like this:

1. How big is the problem? I ask them how big of a problem it is, or they are feeling it is at the time.
2. We brainstorm 3 solutions. I really like to stress the “brainstorm” part of this. Just throw ideas out there. Sometimes I start with one, or we use the way the student actually handled the situation if we are reflecting. We talk about nothing expect brainstorming at this point.
3. We consider the consequences. At this point, we go back to each solution and think about what would happen as a result of this decision. For all of these, I give my kids the option for them or me to write, or to write or draw.
4. Taking into consideration the consequences, we go back and pick the best solution!

This has been a really easy and simple way to look at student problems…from not having anyone to play with on the playground, to hitting someone, to refusing to do work.

You can find the visuals I use here in my TpT store!