Dear Learners,

When I get a new gizmo, I shove the owner’s manual in a drawer full of them and figure out how to use my device. Soon, however, I’ll have to dig the manual back out. But I’ll only look at one section: troubleshooting.

While it might be nice to know how a thing works, what’s really useful to know is how it doesn’t work. What should I do then?

The same is true in school. When you’re reading or writing or solving a math problem, you’re going to come across problems. Something’s not going to work right. Learners know how to use strategies to “troubleshoot” these problems, even though there’s no owner’s manual.

Sincerely,

Mr. Heimbuck