Grades 3-5 Math Problem Solving in Action_ Getting Students to Love Word Problems

Score Make a plan

State the plan

Solve one way

Check another

correct answer

Write a set-up

equation and

a solution

equation

Detailed,

clear

explanation

4 Excellent,

clearly stated

plan

Solves one

way and

checks

another;

uses two

sophisticated

ways; has the

correct answer

Writes both a

correct set-up

equation

and a correct

solution

equation

Explains in

detail both the

strategies and

the models;

connects

back to the

original plan

and walks us

through the

solution

3 Good plan

made clear

Solves one

way and

checks

another; has

the correct

answer

Writes both a

correct set-up

equation

and a correct

solution

equation

Gives a

simple, clear,

thorough

explanation

2 States some of

the plan

Solves one

way; has

a partially

correct answer

Writes only

the correct

solution

equation

Brief

explanation;

might talk

about one

aspect of the

plan

1 No plan

evident

Attempts

to solve or

doesn’t solve

the problem;

does not

have a correct

answer

Does not write

an equation

or writes

an incorrect

equation

Does not

give an

explanation

(Newton Education Solutions, 2016)

Figure 4.20 Problem-Solving Rubric: Go for 3 Scoops