BUCKS - A Successful Problem-Solving Strategy

In Mrs. Curry's 5th grade Math class, the emphasis is on strategies.  Every solution starts with a strategy and every word problem is solved using a problem-solving strategy called BUCKS.

Mrs. Curry's Problem-solving bulletin board

Why BUCKS?

There are a lot of problem-solving strategies out there - so I asked Mrs. Curry, the 5th grade Math Teacher at our Elementary school:  

Why BUCKS?  

Mrs. Curry,  said, 

"I love BUCKS because for my 5th graders, it helps them understand exactly what the question is asking and how to find their answers. We have adapted it as we need, such as adding a strategy box under the “S” so that they know exactly what they’re planning to use to solve. This way, if they have to revisit the problem, they know what they did & why."

BUCKS in Action

 Here is a word problem, solved using the problem-solving graphic organizer, "BUCKS":

What Makes BUCKS Successful?

Having a strong Problem-Solving Strategy is key to problem-solving success IF students use it. 

Mrs. Curry introduced BUCKS early and students already know and understand the acronym and use it for their problem-solving.  Mrs. Curry explained to students early on that using BUCKS is her minimum expectation in their problem solving and she enforces it. She tells her students that she will provide to them the strategies that work and will help them to be successful.  The students' part in the success equation is to use them.   

 Mrs. Curry has students write the initials, BUCKS on their papers and cross off each initial as they do it.

Bottom line, with a strong problem-solving strategy, consistency will produce successful results.  

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Does your school use BUCKS or something else?  If you use a different problem-solving strategy, and it produces successful results, please share it and tell why it's successful so this blog's readership can learn more about problem-solving strategies.
  
Thank you for reading this blog.  I love to offer helpful ideas to teachers.  Do you have a question or concern you would like to have researched and addressed?  Comment on this blog with your question or concern and if chosen, it will be the subject of a future blogpost!