1. Make Sense of Problems and
Persevere in Solving Them
 Don’t give up!
 If you don’t know how to
start a problem,
try a simpler form of the
same type of problem.
 Always ask yourself,
“Does my answer make
sense?”
2. Reason Abstractly &
Quantitatively
 Decontextualize: get
rid of the “story” part
of the problem long
enough to solve it.
 Connect back to the
story: once you have
solved, ask yourself,
“How does my
answer connect back
to the story
problem?”
3. Construct Viable Arguments
and Critique the Reasoning of
Others
 Explain & Justify what you
did and How you got to your
answer.
 Ask Questions of Others
when you don’t see how they
got their answer.
 Analyze using conjectures
and counter examples.
4. Model with Mathematics
 Using any or all of the
following tools to describe a
math problem:
o Pictures
o Tables
o Graphs
o Charts
o Expressions
o Equations
o Functions
5. Use Appropriate Tools
Strategically
 Consider using mathematical
tools to help you solve
problems.
o Pencil & Paper
o Models (tables, graphs
& equations)
o Rulers
o Graph paper
o Calculators
o Protractors
6. Attend to Precision
 Use and label units
of measure
(ft, cm, in…)
 Round numbers to
an appropriate digit
 Label axes both
with numbering and
context.
7. Look For and Make use
of Structure
 Organize the information
from the problem into
some kind of model (table,
graph, equation).
 Show your work. Having
work on a calculator is not
enough to justify or
explain why you arrived at
the answer.
8. Look For & Express
Regularity in Repeated
Reasoning
 Look for patterns in the
situation, it’s probably
trying to tell you
something.
 Try to write an Equation
based on the pattern.