A Math Forum Project

			Elementary Problem of the Week:
			Frequently Asked Questions

When are solutions due? When are solutions posted? When will problems be posted? Can my students submit graphics? How can these problems be used?	Where do you get these problems? Why do the problems vary? What if students in groups change? How do you write a good math solution? Comments or questions
Return to the Elementary Problem page

Submissions will be accepted through the Monday following the week of the problem; i.e. answers for the September 6-10 problem will be accepted through September 13. The posting of problems is automated and the submission form is removed at midnight Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Revisions will be accepted through the Thursday following the week of the problem, i.e. revisions for the September 6-10 problem will be accepted through September 16.

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When are solutions posted?

Sample solutions will be posted on the Friday following the week of the problem; i.e. sample solutions for the September 6-10 problem will be posted on September 17.

A complete list of student and correct solutions will be posted as soon as the mentors have completed their work. The timing of this posting may vary from week to week.

A graphic that is a GIF, a JPEG, or a Sketchpad sketch may be sent along with the submission form.

Another way to include graphics with a solution is to make a web page and submit the URL with your solution.

The Elementary Problem of the Week can be used in a variety of ways. Many teachers use these problems in weekly cooperative learning problem-solving sessions. Other teachers preview the problem and assign it to the students if it fits in with the current topics they're covering. Still others require their students to do a certain number of problems per marking period - that way the students can pick and choose. Some simply give out the address of the Problems of the Week and give students an opportunity to participate if they want, but do not require them to submit solutions. Some teachers will give extra credit if a student does choose to take part. Other teachers use problems regularly in their classrooms but never send in any solutions! That's fine too.

When it comes to submitting solutions, some teachers send in all the solutions themselves, in order to preview their students' work. Other teachers have procured "group accounts" for their students to use. Increasing numbers of students have their own access, either at school or at home.

The problems come from a variety of sources, including textbooks, math contests, NCTM books, and puzzle books, and some are suggested by real-life situations. Mentors, teachers, and students can also suggest problems to use.

The problems are designed to reflect different levels of difficulty. The goal is to challenge students with non-routine problems and encourage them to verbalize their solutions. Different types of problems are used to reach a diverse group of elementary school students.

There are two ways for groups of students to submit solutions to the Problems of the Week.

On the submission page choose 2, 3, or 4 people to submit a solution from a group of students. Each student is identified by name and given credit for correct solutions. Such a group may change from week to week. Use this method when working with cooperative learning groups in a classroom. Groups should change frequently to allow students to practice working with others.

If the group is not expected to change for the entire year, on the submission page choose a team or class. Use this method to submit weekly solutions from a class or club. The group will receive credit for any correct solutions even if individual members of the group change.

While the Problems of the Week cannot please everyone all the time, we are open to suggestions. If you have comments on anything written here, or questions that have not been addressed, please write to webmaster@mathforum.org.