--- title: 7 Ways to Cultivate Students’ Problem-Solving Skills | Search Institute description: Parents, teachers, and other adults have developed a lot of skills and knowledge that can make it easy for us to solve problems. We’ve seen the situation before, and the solution may seem obvious to us, but young people are likely encountering the challenge for the first time. How do we help them tackle the [...] --- Theme + Migration = $1489 (Pay for the Theme Only). 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[![hlogo](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hs-fs/hubfs/hlogo.webp?width=187&height=90&name=hlogo.webp "hlogo")](https://searchinstitute.org) [![hlogo](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hs-fs/hubfs/hlogo.webp?width=187&height=90&name=hlogo.webp "hlogo")](https://searchinstitute.org) - BLOG - SHOP - DONATE - CONTACT - [RESEARCH](https://searchinstitute.org/research) - [SOLUTIONS](https://searchinstitute.org/solutions) - [INSIGHTS](https://searchinstitute.org/insights) - [FUNDERS & PARTNERS](https://searchinstitute.org/funders-partners) - [ABOUT](https://searchinstitute.org/about) [![hlogo](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hs-fs/hubfs/hlogo.webp?width=187&height=90&name=hlogo.webp "hlogo")](https://searchinstitute.org) - [RESEARCH](https://searchinstitute.org/research) - [SOLUTIONS](https://searchinstitute.org/solutions) - [INSIGHTS](https://searchinstitute.org/insights) - [FUNDERS & PARTNERS](https://searchinstitute.org/funders-partners) - [ABOUT](https://searchinstitute.org/about) - [RESOURCE HUB](https://searchinstitute.org/resources-hub) # Blog February 02, 2016 2 Minutes Read By : [searchinstitute](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/author/searchinstitute) Topics Developmental Relationships Research Developmental Assets Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Youth Programs Provide Support Family Engagement Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) SI Spotlight Social Capital Share Power Solutions Youth Thriving Education / School Expand Possibilities Student Voice Challenge Growth Summer Scholars Thriving Youth Voice Express Care Sparks Data Insights Faith Field Partner Spotlight LGBTQ+ Workshops Relationship Ready Schools Conversation Starters Sports Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) # 7 Ways to Cultivate Students’ Problem-Solving Skills [![Share on twitter](https://7528302.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528302/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/x-twitter-color.png?width=24&name=x-twitter-color.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.searchinstitute.org%2F7-ways-cultivate-students-problem-solving-skills%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.searchinstitute.org%2F7-ways-cultivate-students-problem-solving-skills%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=) [![Share on linkedin](https://7528302.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528302/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/linkedin-color.png?width=24&name=linkedin-color.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.searchinstitute.org%2F7-ways-cultivate-students-problem-solving-skills%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin) [![Share on facebook](https://7528309.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528309/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-web-default-modules_hubspot/img/facebook-color.png?width=24&name=facebook-color.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.searchinstitute.org%2F7-ways-cultivate-students-problem-solving-skills%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) # 7 Ways to Cultivate Students’ Problem-Solving Skills By [searchinstitute](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/author/searchinstitute) February 01 2016 2 Minutes Read Parents, teachers, and other adults have developed a lot of skills and knowledge that can make it easy for us to solve problems. We’ve seen the situation before, and the solution may seem obvious to us, but young people are likely encountering the challenge for the first time. How do we help them tackle the problems themselves so that they develop the expertise they’ll need to solve other problems in the future? Use these tips to help you think about how you support young people in solving challenges they encounter. 1. **Encourage “playing with” the problem.** Encourage young people to throw out lots of ideas, make conjectures, and consider many different possibilities–even some that are outlandish. Look at the problem from many perspectives. This flexible thinking is an important skill for forming better solutions than the first that come to mind. 2. **Guide the young person to break a big problem into its parts.** Then focus on aspects of the problem that the young person doesn’t understand or that seem like they have more potential to be solved. 3. **Ask the young person to work through the problem out loud.** Not only does this help you coach the young person, but it also slows down the thinking process. 4. **Model and talk about the problem solving process,** rather than focusing on getting the right answer. Talk through the steps you take and ask the young person to do the same so that it’s easier to learn. 5. **Have the student work through the problem on her or his own.** Give only as much assistance as you need to when the young person is really stuck. And when you do so, limit your guidance to questions or suggestions that will help the young person move through a specific issue without solving the whole problem for her or him. 6. **Ask open-ended questions.** Instead of, “Do you think that will fit in there?” you might ask a more open-ended question, such as, “What do you think it will take to get everything to fit inside?” Ask follow-up questions that encourage the young person to articulate their problem-solving process. This not only helps you learn and guide, but it reinforces the skills. 7. **Give positive reinforcement** when young people overcome an obstacle or master a new problem-solving skill. Be specific in highlighting what they have done or learned. **![Positive Classroom Tools](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/positive-class-tools-250-3-4.png?width=150&height=150&name=positive-class-tools-250-3-4.png "Positive Classroom Tools")Looking for more ways to motivate and inspire youth?** Right now, all of the products included in the [Positive Classroom Tools](https://www.searchinstitutestore.org/Positive_Tools_for_Your_Classroom_s/202.htm) section of the Search Institute Store are 15% off.\* Save on posters, bookmarks, and handouts to share with youth, parents, coworkers, mentors, or other caring adults. **[Visit the store now >>](https://www.search-institute.org/shop/)** \*Discount automatically applied at checkout. #### searchinstitute Author ## Recommended For You 1 Min Read ### [Four Steps for Giving Motivating Feedback](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/four-steps-giving-motivating-feedback) [searchinstitute February 16 2016](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/author/searchinstitute) 4 Min Read ### [How Positive Teacher-Student Relationships Impact Student Motivation](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/positive-teacher-student-relationships-impact-student-motivation) [Eric Kalenze December 19 2016](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/author/eric-kalenze) 2 Min Read ### [Keys to Student Motivation](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/keys-student-motivation) [Eric Kalenze December 12 2016](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/author/eric-kalenze) ![search-footerlogo](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/hubfs/search-footerlogo.png "search-footerlogo") ## Search Institute 2550 University Avenue West Suite 200N St. Paul, MN 55114 800.888.7828 612.376.8955 i[nfo@searchinstitute.org](mailto:info@searchinstitute.org) - [Research](https://searchinstitute.org/research) - [Solutions](https://searchinstitute.org/solutions) - [Insights](https://searchinstitute.org/insights) - [Funders & Partners](https://searchinstitute.org/funders-partners) - [About](https://searchinstitute.org/about) - [Blog](https://blog.searchinstitute.org/) - [Donate](https://searchinstitute.org/donate) - [Contact](https://searchinstitute.org/contact) - [Subscribe to our Newsletter](https://searchinstitute.org/subscribe-to-our-enewsletter) - [Cancellations, Returns & Refunds](https://searchinstitute.org/cancellations-returns-refunds) - [Public Records](https://searchinstitute.org/nonprofit-status-public-records) - [Permissions Request Form](https://survey.search-institute.org/s3/Permissions-Request-Form) - [Keep Connected](http://keepconnected.searchinstitute.org/) ©2024 Search Institute | [Terms of Use](https://www.search-institute.org/terms-of-use/) Search Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable corporation. 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