Your student is falling behind in math.

It sometimes seems obvious how to help a student who is struggling with a subject. Other times, it is less clear or you have already tried the obvious without success. At that point, it makes sense to take a step back and explore what other options you might have to address your current dilemma.

Complex problems are often vague, and that means they have many possible solutions. Following the Meta-Problem Method may lead you to a distant dilemma from the one that started your quest. A key part of the method's value is that it forces you to clarify what you really want and what you are willing to give up. It also enables you to compare objectively the possible pathways and their trade-offs. It prevents you locking into solutions mode too early, and then doubling down on solving a low-yield problem that does not serve your goals as well as the alternatives. At the end of this process, you will have a better understanding of your priorities and how to achieve them.

Step in the Meta-Problem Method	Illustrative Example
Dilemma The high-level issue you are trying to address	Your student is falling behind in math.
Goal The changes you would like to make to address the dilemma. There are usually many options. Selecting the best set comes after you learn what is possible.	Supporting Goals Improve their test scores. Improve their math fluency. Reduce their math anxiety. Improve their homework completion.
Problem Space While goals tell us what we want, our next step is to understand what is holding us back from making progress on them. This approach is borrowed from calculus as we explore the neighborhood of the current dilemma.	For each goal that you are considering, ask yourself: How much progress is possible? How much effort would it take to make progress? What methods might help to make progress? What might the positive or negative effects be on the other goals as you make progress towards the current one? Example Problems: How could we help the student improve their test scores a little? Is the problem about their knowledge, how they are using what they know, or something else?  For example, maybe the student performs well on analysis problems but struggles with word problems. If so, there may be specific lessons that could help them improve their test taking skills. How could we help the student improve their math fluency a little? Do they just need more practice, or to be taught some new things?  For example, if the student does not have support at home and is not completing their homework, they may need extra support in school. How could we help the student reduce their math anxiety a little? Is this part of a larger challenge for the student, or is it math-specific?  For example, if the student seems to have anxiety around school in general, they may need mental health support to perform their best in math. How could we help the student improve their homework completion a little? Do they need more support at school, or at home?  For example, we could ask the student what it preventing them from completing their homework. If they don’t understand why homework matters, perhaps they need help to see how mastery is key to success in math. Since math builds, is there a specific earlier topic the student missed that is causing the dilemma?  For example, if the student performed well in math all the way until algebra, maybe they need extra help to connect with the new material.
High-Yield Problems Sometimes solving one problem helps make progress towards several goals. In this step, we identify these “two-for-the-price-of-one” problems.	Which Options Will Advance More Than One Goal? Teach the student so they understand what the math problem is testing for. If this is what the student needs, it will improve their test scores and may also reduce their anxiety. Teach the student so they understand the method you have taught them. If this is what the student needs, it will improve their test scores, math fluency, and may also reduce their anxiety. Teach the student to see the real-life utility of the math skill you are teaching them. If this is what the student needs, the student may be more committed to learning and improve their test scores, fluency, and homework completion. Try other learning styles such as experiential, instead of conceptual. If this is what the student needs, the student could improve on everything once they’re being taught in a way that works for them. Help the student improve their test-taking skills. If this is what the student needs, it will improve their test scores and may also reduce their anxiety. Support the student to complete their homework. If this is what the student needs, it will improve their homework completion which may also improve their test scores. Have the student tested for a math learning disability. If this is what the student needs, it is the best way to have them reach their full potential in math. Remove the distraction of technology when they should be focused on their work. If this is what the student needs, it is the best way to have them reach their full potential in math.  Et cetera.
Problem Selection Which of the many possible options in the high-yield problem step is the best set to address the dilemma?	Selection Criteria Which solutions will best address the dilemma? Which solutions will deliver the best outcome for the least amount of time, effort and money? Which solutions is the student most excited to take on? By this point in the Meta-Problem process, you have clarified your goals, identified some options you could take, weighed the trade-offs that come with each of those options, rejected some options because they will take more time, effort or money than the results are worth, and you have identified a set of high-yield problems that will advance several of your goals at once. Now you are ready to start solving a problem knowing what you expect to achieve.
Implement, Learn and Adapt	Observe and learn as you go. New information may reveal itself as you implement your chosen solution, so check continuously that you’re still solving the right problem.