KWCL Problem Solving

I began using this method of problem solving this year for the first time after seeing it on Miss Campioni's website. It has been so successful with helping students explain their thinking that I wanted to share it. We do at least one per day. Also, I send home one per week for homework. I sent an explanation for the parents, as well as actual student samples. Note - As with anything new, it takes a LOT of modeling initially, and I started with very basic one step problems. Please check out the teachers' printables page for a student template and the parent explanation.

STEP	EXPLANATION (see example below)
K	The K stands for know. In this portion of the problem, the students state what they know from reading the problem. This information is gathered from reading the problem that is important to solving the problem.
W	The W stands for words and work. The student looks for key words in the problem that tell them what to do (add, subtract, multiply, or divide). They come up with a plan to solve the problem during this step. Then, they include those key words and tell how they will work the problem.
C	The C stands for carry out your plan. Whatever the student planned to do in the W portion will now be carried out (add, subtract, multiply, or divide). This is the portion of the problem where the student shows ALL work. Number sentences, pictures, tallies, tables, etc. should be shown if used to solve. NOTHING SHOULD BE ERASED!!!
L	The L stands for look back and explain. This is the portion of the problem where the student first answers the question the problem is asking in written form, clearly stating the answer. Then, the student should look back and explain what they did to solve the problem during each step of the process. This is a written explanation of the student’s thinking.

Example:

Sarah had 56 beads. She used 35 to make a necklace. How many beads does Sarah have now?


K	Sarah had 56 beads. She used 35.
W	had have now - subtract
C	56 – 35 = 21
L	Sarah has 21 beads. I knew she had 56 then used 35. The key words had and have now told me to subtract. I subtracted 35 from 56 and got 21.

Special thanks to Miss Campioni for sharing this AWESOME problem solving information!