In this course, you'll master model drawing, a revolutionary technique for teaching problem-solving to middle school math students. When you introduce model drawing into your classroom, your students will succeed with word problems, build math skills, and develop self-confidence. They will even look forward to math!
You will learn how to use model drawing with many different types of word problems, including part-whole problems, word problems involving comparisons, and before-and-after word problems. You'll also master advanced techniques to help you model more complex problems, and gain insights into how to guide students as they grapple with consecutive integers, remainders, percentages, and problems involving rate and distance. Finally, you'll put it all together as you create your own word problems based on models provided in the course. You'll even learn how to train parents in the basics of model drawing so they can help their kids continue to build their problem-solving skills. Model drawing works—and it's fun as well. Get ready to turn your math students into math lovers!
Anni Stipek holds bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Special Education from University of Puget Sound. She has more than 20 years of experience in the K-12 classroom and worked as a Staff Development for Educators math consultant for five years. She has written and facilitates numerous online courses, including "The Foundations of Singapore Math Model Drawing Grades 1-6" and "The Foundations of Singapore Math Number Sense/Computation Strategies Grades 1-6."
The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.
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A new section of each course starts monthly. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.
All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have to be present when lessons are released. You will have access to all lessons until the course ends. However, the interactive discussion area that accompanies each lesson will automatically close two weeks after the lesson is released. As such, we strongly recommend that you complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.
The final exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the final exam has been released, you will have two weeks to complete all of your course work, including the final exam.
Lesson 1
What Is Model Drawing?
Jason groans when you say it's time for math, Leona can't get the hang of equations, and Sunny struggles to make sense of word problems. What's the solution for all of them? Model drawing! In this lesson, you'll discover the basics of model drawing and find out why this technique is a core part of Singapore Math—an approach that turns middle-school math-haters into eager, proactive problem solvers.
Part-Whole Word Problems
In this lesson, you'll dive into modeling by exploring one the easiest types of word problems: a part-whole word problem. You'll begin with simple problems and work your way up to trickier ones, ending up by modeling partitive and quotitive word problems. As you go along, you'll get plenty of practice building your own models and using them to find solutions. In addition, the lesson will offer helpful tips for getting all of your students involved in your model-drawing sessions.
Word Problems Involving Comparisons
Tom has three times as many apples as Nguyen. Nguyen has six more apples than Beth. How can you figure out how many apples they each have? With modeling, of course! In this lesson, you'll explore comparison problems involving addition, multiplication, or both. By the time you're done, you'll be solving the trickiest problems with ease—and have a good grasp on how to combine functions in a single model.
Before-And-After Word Problems
Do "before-and-after" word problems leave you with a room full of blank stares? Well, don't worry, because modeling quickly cuts these problems down to size. In this lesson, you'll tackle three types of before-and-after questions: fraction, ratio, and age questions. You'll learn how to draw two models (a before model and an after model) for each problem and discover why it often makes sense to start at the end of your problem—not the beginning.
Shifting and Subdividing Units
In this lesson, you'll add to your toolbox of skills by exploring two new model-drawing techniques: unit-shifting and subdividing. These skills are invaluable when you're modeling complex problems, and you'll find out how to use them separately and in combination. In addition, the lesson will talk about the importance of teaching perseverance as your students work on increasingly challenging problems.
Comparison Problems Using Fractions, Decimals, and Ratios
You modeled comparison problems earlier, but now it's time to kick it up a notch! In this lesson, you'll solve comparison problems involving fractions, decimals, and ratios. You'll also get ideas for fun classroom activities that will help your kids understand math concepts.
Problems Involving Consecutive Integers
In this lesson, you'll focus your sights on problems involving consecutive integers—that is, numbers that follow each other in sequence. In addition, you'll learn how to model problems involving consecutive odd or even integers and then discover some secrets for making sure your learners have a strong math vocabulary.
Remainder Word Problems
Kids (and even teachers) often have trouble with remainder problems, but questions like these are a cinch when you put the power of modeling to work for you. In this lesson, you'll learn how to use remainder bars in your models and how to handle remainder problems involving fractions, decimals, and percents. You'll also discover how to differentiate your modeling lessons by creating "living models." It's a powerful learning technique—and it's fun!
Percents
Middle-school students need to be able to work easily with percents, and here's your chance to help them ace this skill. In this lesson, you'll move from simple percent problems to complex ones that also involve before-and-after concepts. By the time you're done, 100% of your kids will have a new tool for conquering percent problems!
Rate-And-Distance Problems
Does your class groan when they see a problem that starts out, "A train leaves the station at 9 a.m. going 50 miles an hour . . ."? Well, after this lesson, they'll actually look forward to brain teasers like this. (Really!) That's because with modeling, your students can ace even the toughest rate-and-distance problems in just a few minutes. You'll work your way from easy to complex problems and get some tips for helping kids grasp the concepts of speed, rate, time, and distance.
Putting It All Together: Practicing Your New Skills
You've worked a wide range of problems in this course, and now it's time to put it all together. In this lesson, you'll find two practice sessions that will help you hone your modeling skills. Then, you'll finish the lesson with a twist in your third practice session: You'll create your own word problems based on the models you receive. It's a great way to boost your modeling creativity!
Getting off to a Successful Start
This is the final lesson, but it's just the beginning of your modeling adventure! In the lesson, you'll get tips for starting that adventure off on the right foot as you introduce modeling to your students for the first time. In addition, you'll find out how to hone your own modeling skills so that you'll shine in the classroom. Finally, you'll look at how you can turn parents (even the skeptical ones) into allies by teaching them the basics of modeling.
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