Students in first grade begin to develop math literacy skills. When students solve problems such as "Michael has two books and Susan has three books: How many books do they have altogether?" Students make choices and reason that the required operation is addition. Students begin to use mathematical terminology such as "sum" and "plus." Students express thoughts when grappling with word problems.
Students learn math to solve real-world problems -- that is the ultimate goal. A first-grade teacher can distribute plastic pennies, nickels and dimes to students as part of a behavior reward program, and then set up a store where students can use the plastic money to purchase items. Boys and girls understand math's connection to the world when students experience real-life math at a young age.
Teachers want students to reach the higher stages of Bloom's intelligence levels. When first-graders solve algorithms such as 8 -- 3, the children perform on the lower end of the scale -- remembering. First-grade students should manipulate objects to represent numbers. If a student verbalizes why she placed eight blocks on the table and took three away leaving a difference of five, she is applying, analyzing and evaluating.
Problem solving involves reading and comprehension. Since first-graders are novices in these areas, the children need as much reinforcement as possible. Teachers can incorporate word problems that support other subject areas, such as science or music. If students solve word problems about community helpers, it strengthens what the students learn in social studies.
Problem solving can be complex and frustrating. Older children often feel hopeless at the prospect. First-grade boys and girls have little experience with these emotions in regard to math. Also, the students have minimal experience with the joy and sense of accomplishment that comes from figuring out a challenging problem. When students learn at this young age not to be afraid of problem solving, the first-graders view math word problems as exciting puzzles and will carry that attitude to higher grades.
Problem solving spills over into other facets of life, both at school and at home. If a first-grader learns that there is more than one way to solve a problem, he learns to transfer that approach. For example, if another student picks on him, he draws on his understanding of problem solving to figure out a solution to the situation that does not simply involve tattling.