Students will be getting these throughout the year.  You may have seen them already and wondered how to help them write their explanation.  Here are some suggestions:

–Ask them to explain the problem (You can reread the problem for them)

– Have them take you step by step through their thought process

-Help them write it down ( you can write it, if they tell you what to write)

Example of an answer for above problem:  I knew that Brady’s backpack was yellow and that Caleb’s backpack was Green, so Doug’s had to be purple.

**If they got the answer wrong, by explaining their answer- they may help themselves see their mistake.  Please have them record this as well.

We are just trying to help students talk about how they solve problems because it opens up higher level critical thinking skills and will help them in later grades with Think Aloud Problem Solving.