STAR Strategy

STAR is an example of an empirically validated (Maccini & Hughes, 2000; Maccini & Ruhl, 2000) first-letter mnemonic that can help students recall the sequential steps from familiar words used to help solve word problems involving integer numbers.

The steps for STAR include:

Search the word problem;

Translate the problem;

Answer the problem; and

Review the solution

Below is an example of a structured worksheet using STAR strategy in solving word problem:

Objective: Solve 2- to 3- step word problems involving whole numbers (BEC PELC II. A.1.2)

Problem: Mr. Cruz had P4,500. He spent P2,500 for food; P750 for transportation; and P275 for other expenses and divided the rest among his 5 brothers. How much was the share of each?

Strategy Questions:

S-earch the word problem

a.    Read the problem carefully

b.    Ask yourself questions: "What do I know? What do I need to find?"

c.    Write down the facts:

·         Mr. Cruz had P4,500.

·         He spent P2,500 for food

·         P750 for transportation

·         P275 for other expenses

·         He divided the rest among his 5 brothers

I need to find share of each brother.

T-ranslate the words into an equation in picture form.

P2,500-food

P750-transportation

P275- other expenses

n=divided among 5 brothers

A-nswer the problem

If I add all Mr. Cruz’s expenses and subtract the sum from his original money, I can get the amount that was shared by his five brothers and divide this by 5.

Mr. Cruz’s expenses: P2,500 + P750 + P275 = P3,525

P4,500 - P3,525=P975

P975 ÷ 5 = P195

Each brother receives P195.

R-eview the Solution

a.    Reread the problem

b.    Ask yourself questions: "Does the answer make sense? Why?"

c.    Check the answer

I checked my answer.

When I multiplied P195 by 5 and added the product to the total of Mr. Cruz’s expenses, I got P4500 which is Mr. Cruz’s total amount.

P.S. I also made posters about STAR Strategy that teachers could post in their walls. I hope you would find these useful.

World Teachers' Day Celebration 2015

         Teachers Day celebration is a day in our school when students get the chance to show their gratitude and appreciation to their teachers. We usually do these on October 1 to 5 since the World Teachers Month Celebration starts from September 5 to October 5. It is nice to have this occasion but I feel a bit silly sometimes because the ambiance in this celebration is quite sentimental..hehe.. Anyway, this celebration makes me and the rest of the teachers inspired to pursue our profession despite the stress and hardships we face everyday. It is nice to have the feeling that all our efforts are not forgotten and not taken for granted.
         What makes the occasion special for me is the idea that students make efforts to give you gifts and flowers to make you special on this day. I know that my students are poor and are not from well-off families and they could not afford to buy expensive gifts. However, I find it touching to receive flowers whom they have bought out of their meager allowance. It is not the price or what kind of gifts that I received. It is really the thought that counts.
         Some students said sorry because they weren't able to give me something for Teachers' Day. And I said to them that they do not owe me an apology. I am always thankful to be a teacher and everything that I do to them is not something to be repaid.  But I always tell that if there is any best gift that they could give to me is for them to be good students, to be diligent and to pursue their dreams so that all our efforts will not put into waste.
     Bottom line of my reflection this Teacher's Day, sometimes as teachers, we expect our students to be perfect. If given the chance, we want to have the ideal students, the ones how won in competitions, the ones who have cooperative parents who can give you gifts, the ones who don't smell bad, etc..hehehe. However, teaching in my school where students are very diverse, I realize that my students may not be the most intelligent (we don't win a lot..hehe), the most well-mannered or the most appealing, But who I am to complain about these imperfections? We ourselves are not perfect teaches in the first place but students accept us no matter what. If they accept our imperfections as teachers, we perhaps might as well accept theirs. And together, we learn form each other, and grow.

     Anyway, here are the snapshots of our Teachers' Day Celebration in our school...