How does using “The Big Q” affect the number of problems a student is expected to do?
A Using this approach should reduce the number of problems students are assigned. Completing a “Big Q” problem should take only a few minutes. As students become familiar with this graphic organizer, they will be able to increase the pace of their work. Students can save time by writing only the main idea in Step 1 (instead of copying the entire problem) and by using words or phrases in Step 4 (instead of complete sentences). For years, researchers of results on the National Assessment of Educational Progress ( NAEP ) and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study ( TIMSS ) have cited curricular and instructional differences between U.S. schools and schools in countries that outperform us in mathematics. For example, Japanese students study fewer concepts and work fewer problems than American students do. In Japan, students spend their time in exploring multiple approaches to solving a problem, thereby deepening their understanding of mathematics. Depth of understanding
