Which Kind of Stuck?

Doing the Work · Page 1 of 2

Name Date
DIRECTIONS: There are five kinds of stuck, each with its own first move. Which kind is each one below?
1. “I do not know what it means.” There is a word, or a whole question, that does not turn into anything when you read it.
Read it out loud, and underline the exact bit that does not make sense. That is what to ask about — usually one word, not the whole sheet.
2. “I know what it wants and I cannot start.” You understand the question. The page is still blank.
Write down what you already know — the numbers, the facts it gave you, in a list. Not the answer. Starting is a thing your hand does, and this is the smallest true thing you can write.
3. “I did it and got something odd.” You have an answer and it looks wrong, or nothing like the others.
Check the last line you wrote, not the whole thing. It is nearly always in the last line, and starting again throws away the part that was fine.
4. “I have forgotten how.” You have met this before and the method is gone.
Find one you did before — earlier on this sheet, or the sheet it came from. You are looking for the method, not for the answer to copy.
5. “I know how and I do not want to.” You could do it. There are nineteen more after it.
This one is not stuck. It is tired, and it has a different fix: do one, then stop for a bit. Pretending it is a thinking problem is how a short break turns into an hour.
  1. “I got 340 and everybody else got about 20.”
    Kind first move:
  2. “I could do it. I just really do not want to do twenty of them.”
    Kind first move:
  3. “It says estimate and I do not know what that means.”
    Kind first move:
  4. “We did these last week and I cannot remember what you do.”
    Kind first move:
  5. “I have read it three times. I know it wants how many are left, and I do not know where to begin.”
    Kind first move:
  6. “My answer is bigger than the number I started with, and it was a take away.”
    Kind first move:

Which Kind of Stuck? — Yours

Doing the Work · Page 2 of 2

DIRECTIONS: The next four times you get stuck, fill in a row, then and there. An honest “no” is useful.
What I was doingWhich kindWhat I triedDid it work?
 
 
 
 		 
 
 
 		 
 
 
 		 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 		 
 
 
 		 
 
 
 		 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 		 
 
 
 		 
 
 
 		 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 		 
 
 
 		 
 
 
 		 
 
 
 
Cut out both cards: one for the pencil case, one for where homework happens.
WHICH KIND OF STUCK?1.do not know what it means→ read it out loud, underline the word2.cannot start→ write down what you already know3.got something odd→ check your last line, not the whole thing4.forgotten how→ find one you did before5.do not want to→ not stuck — tired. Do one, then stopWHICH KIND OF STUCK?1.do not know what it means→ read it out loud, underline the word2.cannot start→ write down what you already know3.got something odd→ check your last line, not the whole thing4.forgotten how→ find one you did before5.do not want to→ not stuck — tired. Do one, then stop