Maths and problem solving

My next pre-course task is to read 'Developing Excellence in Problem Solving with Young Learners' - https://nrich.maths.org/10865

It is a short easy read, and I actually went on to read a couple of the articles mentioned within this one. The main take-away from the piece echoed the videos from Youcubed about using trial and error.

The article asserts that there is a 4 step process to problem solving:

1. Getting started - giving the children ideas to engage with the problem and asking them questions which help them get going.

2. Working on the problem - using strategies which they are learning or already familiar with to work through the problem. There seems to be an emphasis here on working systematically and this was the topic of one of the subsequent articles I read.

3. Digging deeper - this is looking for proof. Showing why it couldn't be a different answer.

4. Reflection - Explain their solutions (no longer do we expect a page of correct sums, the children have to explain them too!!!) and to evaluate what strategy worked best / worst.

One of the best things about this article is finding out about NRICH - lots of great maths activities on here.

My actual task is to consider how we can support children to become confident and competent problem solvers.....

I think that it's great that children are encouraged to use different methods to get to the answer and the process above makes total sense. I can absolutely see how this would deepen understanding of mathematical processes.

HOWEVER....

Sometimes, I wonder if children just need to know the process of a calculation too and practice this process in order to strengthen those neural pathways, which were talked about in the Youcubed videos?

Maybe it is a combination of the 2?

The children need to know how to add 3 digit numbers (for example), and then once they are secure in that, then it is a great problem solving strategy.

I'm sure that some people far cleverer than me would be able to put me straight and it will be very interesting to see what I think this time next year!