What BCPS Parents Need to Know About…
MATHEMATICS AS PROBLEM SOLVING,
COMMUNICATION, AND REASONING
Helping children learn to solve problems, communicate mathematically, and demonstrate
reasoning abilities is fundamental to learning mathematics. These skills support a child’s
understanding of and interest in math concepts and thinking.
To succeed in math a student must:

Be a problem solver.

Communicate mathematically.

Demonstrate reasoning ability.
A problem solver is someone who questions, investigates, and explores solutions to
problems. Problem solvers understand that there may be different ways to arrive at an
answer, consider many different answers to a problem, and apply math to everyday
situations. You can encourage children to be good problem solvers by involving them in
family decisions and using math to find the solutions.
To communicate mathematically students use words, numbers, or mathematical symbols
to explain situations. They talk, write, and use pictures to explain how they arrived at an
answer and why the answer is correct (justification). Help children learn to communicate
mathematically by asking them to explain a math problem or answer. Have children write
about or draw a picture of how they arrived at an answer to a problem.
Reasoning ability means thinking logically, seeing similarities and differences, making
choices based on those differences, and considering relationships. When encouraging
children to explain their answers to math problems, be sure to listen to understand their
reasoning.
Tips to Know
1. Problems Can Be Solved in Different Ways. While some problems in math may
have only one solution, there may be many ways to get the right answer. Learning math is
not only finding the correct answer; it is also a process of solving problems and
applying what you have learned to new problems.
2. Wrong Answers Can Help! While accuracy is always important, a wrong answer
could help discover what your child may not understand. The wrong answer tells you to
look further, to ask questions, and to see what the wrong answer is saying about the
child’s understanding.
Baltimore County Public Schools
BCPS Math as Problem Solving, Communication, Reasoning
Department of Professional Development
Outreach Docs\Content Areas\Math
Parent Support Services
VSC Math 7.0
Adapted from U.S. Dept. of Education, Helping Your Child Learn Mathematics, 2005
2/6/2016
3. Doing Math in Your Head Is Important. Have you ever noticed that today very few
people take their pencil and paper out to solve problems in the grocery store, restaurant,
department store, or office? Instead, most people estimate in their heads or use
calculators. Even when using calculators, people must put in the correct information and
know if the answer is reasonable. Mental math helps people determine if the answer
makes sense and is reasonable.
4. It’s Okay to Use a Calculator. It’s okay to use calculators and computers to solve
math problems. In fact, students are taught to use calculators at young ages and are often
required to use them to do homework and take tests.
How You Can Help Your Child at Home

Think out loud while you calculate to model your mathematical thinking.

Involve children in making a shopping list. Ask them to estimate how much milk
or juice will be needed for a week. Have them explain their reasoning and justify
their prediction. Have them compare their estimation with the actual amount
purchased. Ask them to explain the difference.

Involve children in real-life situations that require measurement. For example, ask
children to assist with measuring for a fence, rug, or paint. Have children
determine the unit of measure to use and explain the process they use to solve the
problem.

Look for opportunities to have children apply math to other curriculum content.
For example, when studying the westward movement in American History,
discuss weight and measurement as related to the provisions that the early settlers
took with them.
Baltimore County Public Schools
BCPS Math as Problem Solving, Communication, Reasoning
Department of Professional Development
Outreach Docs\Content Areas\Math
Parent Support Services
VSC Math 7.0
Adapted from U.S. Dept. of Education, Helping Your Child Learn Mathematics, 2005
2/6/2016