| Some children have difficulty understanding and solving | | | | themselves in different situations to help make the |
| problems of daily living. They do not know what to do | | | | problem solving more real. Also try having them role |
| if they loose their lunch money, have made a bad | | | | play the other people in the problem so that they can |
| choice or have broken a plate. These are some of the | | | | "see" the effects of their actions. |
| ideas that I have found to help with school aged | | | | - When brainstorming solutions to the problem let the |
| children. They are the same ideas that have their | | | | student think of as many possible solutions as they |
| assistants and teachers work on. I hope you find them | | | | can. Then go back and work through each to find the |
| useful. | | | | best solution. Don't stop the student in the thinking |
| Ideas to try: | | | | process to point out bad solutions. |
| - Work on Self-Directed Speech (Verbal Mediation). | | | | - Watch for problems as they come up in daily life. |
| Teaching a student to "talk through" a problem is a | | | | Take the time to stop and discuss the problem and |
| powerful strategy. Try to model this for the student as | | | | possible solutions with your student. This is the best |
| you work through problems. See attached pages for | | | | possible help you can provide. |
| more information. | | | | - Work on having the student predict what would |
| - When possible try to relate back problems and their | | | | happen. For example "What would happen if this paper |
| solutions to the students own life. | | | | got wet, if a plant isn't watered, if a glass falls off the |
| - Try to make the problems as real life as possible, - | | | | table, etc." After the skill is established, move on to |
| Try changing names, places and circumstances to | | | | more personal predicting such as "What would happen |
| match your student. | | | | if you didn't listen to the teacher, hit Sara, tore the book, |
| - Try to relate problems to the student's past | | | | took that money etc." |
| experiences. | | | | - Use classroom stories to work on identifying |
| - Try having the student role play and imagine | | | | problems, solving problems and predicting information. |