- I try to explain concepts in more than one way.
- I investigate, make guesses and test my ideas.
- I try to put concepts into formats that I can relate to – visual, verbal, symbolic.
- I work with others to investigate problems and work out our ideas.
- I verbalize, or draw, or explain, or describe my ideas.
- I try to communicate ideas in more than one way.
- I look for the same idea inside different situations.
- I try to decide if a procedure is appropriate or if it is not.
- I invent new procedures or modify old ones if it seems necessary.
- I try to express my ideas in writing, speaking, or with pictures.
- I try to learn from errors rather than fear making them.
- I test out new ideas I have come up against situations I am familiar with.
- I listen to other’s mathematics ideas and try to connect them with my own ideas.
- I check the reasonableness of my results when trying to solve problems.
- I check to see if my strategy is unproductive for what I am trying to do.
- I make guesses based on information I have gathered.
- I use inductive reasoning to assist me in making conclusions or decisions.
- I look for connections between ideas in different contexts.
- I try to invent new ideas when none come to mind.
- I try to picture problems in some way to make them simpler.
- I record my thoughts so that I can pick up where I left off.
- I use notes I take to recall my ideas later on.
- I try to make decisions about what information is relevant.
- I test out ideas using mathematical strategies like “trying a smaller number,” or “using zero.”
- I test out ideas using mathematical strategies like “writing down what I know about the problem.”
- I test out ideas using mathematical strategies like “putting the numbers in order.”
- I test out ideas using mathematical strategies like “looking for a pattern.”
- I test out ideas using mathematical strategies like “breaking the problem into smaller parts.”
- I test out ideas using mathematical strategies like “trying extreme cases.”
- I try to see new ideas as extensions of familiar ideas, rather than unconnected facts.
- When I am unsure of what to do in a problem, I make assumptions that allow me to proceed.
- I try to use my imagination to invent new ways to approach problems.
- I re-think ideas that I have seen before when presented with new evidence.
- I reflect upon my previous ideas when I am presented with new ones.
- I connect ideas to things I am familiar with.
- I choose from different tools when presented with a problem-solving task.
- I look for different ways (graphical, numerical, verbal, symbolic) to express the same concept.
- I try to rely on reasoning rather than on someone else to tell me that I am correct.
- I try to organize my thoughts, whether in writing or in speaking.
- I continue to work on problems even when my first attempts are not successful.
- I try to see if a new idea I have learned in one situation works in other situations.
- I don’t fear to ask questions about a new situation.
- I talk things out with others.
- I try to make things fit into a pattern or a system.
- I repeat a process over and over if it makes sense to me.
- I listen to what others have to say about my ideas.
- I don’t give up – I look for resources.
- I try to put other’s explanations into terms that make sense to me.