Solving problems in primary school

The volume proposes a mathematics programme for primary school focused on solving problems using the Reflexive Heuristic Method and training the problem-finding capacity, that is the set of skills that allow you to discover the implicit questions in a situation and to recognize useful information. The proposed problems are expressed in verbal form and encourage children to focus more on finding the missing data independently, and, consequently, to find an original way to solve the problem.

Each worksheet is composed of three parts.

1. Section A (Analyze), in which the main objective is the identification of relevant data for the purpose of understanding the situation.
2. Section Q (question) which requires students to identify the most relevant question in relation to the data obtained.
3. Section S (solution), which refers to the solution process and the identification of the necessary mathematical operations.

Finally, the problems are dedicated to each class of primary school and are cataloged according to the units of measurement in which the data are expressed (quantity, money, time, length, weight, capacity) and according to the arithmetic operations to be performed (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions).

The Reflexive Heuristic Method (RHM)
The qualification of the heuristic method refers to the focus on the discovery of what must be found, while the reflexive adjective recalls the idea that the whole search process does not take place mechanically but is accompanied by the constant invitation to think about what is pertinent to do to understand the meaning of situations rather than just applying procedures.