RIDGES

**RIDGES**

**Content** The RIDGES strategy is mnemonic device used for math word problems to help a student develop an appropriate plan to solve word problems.

**Grade Level** This strategy can be used for upper elementary through secondary grade levels.

**Curriculum Standards** M.O.7.1.3 using simple computation and problem-solving situations, demonstrate fluency and justify solutions in performing operations with rational numbers including negative numbers for adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing.

M.O.7.1.5 analyze and solve grade-appropriate real-world problems with whole numbers, integers, decimals, fractions and percents including problems involving discounts, interest, taxes, tips, percent increase or decrease, and justify solutions including using estimation and reasonableness.

**Description of Practices** ** RIDGES ** stands for:

** R ** ead the problem- If the problem is not understood it should be reread.

 **I** know statement- List the information given in the problem. All information should be listed, relevant or not.

** D ** raw a picture- Draw a picture of the information in the problem. This may help a student pick out the relevant information.

** G ** oal statement- The student should express, in their own words, the question the problem is asking.

** E ** quation development- The student will write an equation to the problem.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">** S ** olve the equation- The given information is plugged into the equation.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">**Implementation Considerations** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I would use this strategy as whole group to make sure every student understood the strategy. I would let them choose if they would want to use this strategy when solving word problems.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">**Example** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Below are examples of three out of the six letters of RIDGES that actually can be shown in an example. For the drawing part the student could draw picture of the field and include the distances on the picture.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">** GOAL ** : I.e. I know the field is six feet wide and ten feet long)

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">** EQUATION ** : (i.e. length + width + length + width = distance around the field)

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">** SOLVE ** : (i.e. 10+6+10+6=distance around the field)

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">**Citation** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Website: []

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Snyder, K. (1988) Ridges: A problem-solving math strategy. Academic Therapy, 230), 261-263.