Learning Strategy Project

By:

Rachel Merren

Graphic Organizers: Using a Matrix to Help Solve Word

Problems

Graphic

Organizers

Visual and

Graphic

Use Symbols and Arrow

s Organi

ze Information

Promote the “Big

Picture”

Infinite

Number of

Styles

What Are Graphic Organizers?

See Reference Page

Allow students to organize information to where they can visualize their own understanding

Help students separate the important information from the non-essential information

convert seemingly disjointed information into a structured, simple-to-read, graphic display

conceptual understanding by fitting isolated bits of information together to form a big picture

Graphic Organizers

Benefits of Graphic Organizers

(Gregory & Chapman, 2007).

(Zemelman, Daniels, & Hyde, 2005).

Help students

(Col, 1996).

Build

(Hyerle, 1996).

Give students a copy of the matrix with row and column labels filled in.Have students anticipate how the matrix can be

used.Read the application problem twice.Lead students through filling out the matrix.Write the equation based on the “Total” column.In the future, students will need to determine

their own labels for the rows and columns. Lead them through this process:Rows “What are you comparing?”Columns “What do you know in general?”

Steps of Implementation

Read the following problem twice. Write an equation that could be used to solve the problem.

Ruth makes $5 an hour working after school and $6 an hour working on Saturdays. Last week she made $64.50 by working a total of 12 hours. How many hours did she work on Saturday?

Applications of Linear Equations

6 5(12 ) 64.50x x Total Saturday

EarningsTotal Weekday

EarningsTotal Amount

Earned

Read the following problem twice. Write an equation that could be used to find the correct solution.

Tickets for the senior class play cost $6 for adults and $3 for students. A total of 846 tickets worth

$3846 were sold. How many student tickets were sold?

Pre -Test

Thirty students bought pennants for the football game. Plain pennants cost $4 each and fancy ones cost $8 each. If the total bill was $168, how many students bought the fancy pennants?

Use a Matrix (Chart):

Number x Price = Cost

Fancy

Plain8 4(30 ) 168f f

30 f 4(30 )ff 8

4

8 f

Adult tickets for the game cost $4 each and student tickets cost $2 each. A total of 920 tickets worth $2446 were sold. How many student tickets were sold?

Use a Matrix (Chart):

AdultStudent

Number x Price = Cost 4

2a

920 - a

4a2 (920 – a)

4a + 2(920 – a) = 2446

Are you ready for the Post-Test?

NoYes

Read the following problem twice. Write an equation that could be used to find the correct solution.

Tickets for the senior class play cost $6 for adults and $3 for students. A total of 846 tickets worth

$3846 were sold. How many student tickets were sold?

Katie’s garden, which is 6 meters wide, has the same area as Courtney’s garden, which is 8 meters wide. Find the lengths of the two rectangular gardens if Katie’s garden is 3

meters longer than Courtney’s garden. (Remember: length x width = area)

Post -Test

Col, J. (1996). Graphic Organizers. Retrieved June 7, 2008, from http://enchantedlearning.com

Gregory, G., & Chapman, C. (2007). Differentiated Instructional Strategies: One Size Doesn’t Fit All. (2nd ed). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Hall, T., & Strangman, N. (2002). Graphic Organizers. Wakefield, MA: National Center of Accessing the General Curriculum. Retrieved June 7, 2008, from http://www.cast.org/publications/ncac/ncac_go.html

Hyerle, D. (1996). Visual Tools for Constructing Knowledge. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Marzano, R., Pickering, D., & Pollock, J. (2001). Classroom Instruction that Works: Research-Based Strategies for Increasing Student Achievement. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Zemelman, S., Daniels, H., & Hyde, A. (2005). Best Practices: Today’s Standards for Teaching & Learning in America’s Schools (3rd ed.). Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.

References

Gabriel worked 16 hours last week. He earned $5 per hour at a local restaurant and $5.50 per hour at a grocery store. If he earned a total of $82, how many hours did he work at the grocery store?

Extra Example:

Restaurant

Grocery Store

# Hours x Wage = Income

5

5.5

r16 - r

5r5.5(16 – r)

5r + 5.5 (16 – r) = 82

Post-Test