Improving mathematical problem solving in grades 4 through 8
 
This practice guide from the What Works Clearinghouse provides five recommendations for improving students' mathematical problem solving in grades 4 through 8. The guide is geared toward teachers, math coaches, other educators, and curriculum developers who want to improve the mathematical problem solving of students. Recommendations include:

• Assist students in monitoring and reflecting on the problem-solving process.
• Teach students how to use visual representations.
• Expose students to multiple problem-solving strategies.

The guide presents evidence-based suggestions for putting each recommendation into practice and describes roadblocks that may be encountered, as well as possible solutions. Each recommendation is rated based on the strength of the research evidence that has shown the effectiveness of the recommendation. The recommendations listed above have strong to moderate evidence of effectiveness.