Dear Problem Solvers,

Over the past few days, we’ve practiced our addition and subtraction algorithms. I hate to tell you, but that’s the easy part. Today, we’ll do the hard part: figuring out when to use those algorithms to solve real world problems.

The real world will never hand you a sheet of addition and subtraction problems and ask you to solve them without a calculator. Instead, the world will ask you to figure out how much money you’ve spent so far in the month and how much money you have left. The world will ask you to keep track of bowling scores and fantasy football points and batting averages. The world abounds with numbers, and our job is not just to crunch those numbers, but to really figure out what they mean.

Today we’ll practice that skill by solving number stories, and we’ll learn some great methods, tips, and tricks for solving those number stories. That’s really what math is all about: giving us the tools and mindsets for more efficiently and effectively solving everyday problems. 

Let’s have a great day,

Mr. Heimbuck