UNRA(A)VEL

Reading and Math

Reading
Common Core requires the progressive
development of reading comprehension

Reading UNRA(A)VEL
Helps learners
break down long
reading passages in
a manner that
makes them much
easier to
understand.

The steps of UNRA(A)VEL

Underline the title.

Now predict the passage.
Run through & number the paragraphs.
Are you reading the questions?
Are the important words circled?
Venture through the passage.
Eliminate incorrect answers.
Let the questions be answered.

Underline the Title

Most readers skip over the title.
Helps students prepare for what they
are about to read.
Allows students to begin making
connections.

Now Predict the Passage

Helps students to begin connecting the
passage with what you already know.
Helps guide students reading and keeps
them focused as they test their
prediction.

Run through & number

paragraphs
When students locate answers, they can
write the paragraph next to the
question quickly.
It helps students organize the text on
the paper and in their heads.

Are you reading the

questions?
Helps students focus on the important
information.
Saves students time so they dont have to
hunt for answers.
Use the numbered paragraphs to help
locate answers quickly.

Are the important words

circled?
Circling important words helps
students locate the important
information quickly.
Circling important words also helps
students stay focused on the reading.

Venture through the

passage
This is the fun part of reading. Enjoy
the passage.
It might help if students write
connections in the margins to keep
them focused on the text.

Eliminate incorrect
answers
Eliminating incorrect answers makes it
easier to locate the correct answer.
Eliminating incorrect answers allows
students to have less choices in case
they are unsure of the correct answer.

Let the questions be

answered
Using all of the previous steps,
answering the questions should be a
piece of cake.
Students should always double check
that they answered each question.

UNRAAVEL IT!
Although this seems like it will take valuable
test time away from students, it will do the
complete opposite.
The more students practice it, the quicker it
will become and the better their test results
will be.

UNRAAVEL a Math
Problem

Larry Bells
Math UNRA(A)VEL
For more than 13 years, this logical,
concrete and sequential method has
helped thousands of struggling
learners successfully solve math word
problems.
MP1Make sense of problems
and persevere in solving them

The aim is to get students to

KNOW math and not just DO
math. Marilyn Burns (2013)

We can not use UNRA(A)VEL as an

algorithm for success. UNRAAVEL
must be explicitly taught, practiced
and even assessed with a conceptual
understanding of each of the steps.
UNRA(A)VEL helps students
make their thinking visible.
-Dr. Cathy Cavanaugh

UNRAAVEL Math

U- underline the question

N- now predict what you need to solve it
R- read the word problem
A- are the important words circled
A- apply the steps you chose to solve it
V- verify your answer (does it make sense)
E- eliminate wrong answers
L- let the answer stay or rework it

U = Underline
question

Find the question and

Underline it! The question
is the PROBLEM.

the

Sid has $50.00. He

bought two video
games that cost
$14.00 each. He also
bought a poster for
$5.69. How much
money did he have
left after his
purchases?

N = Now Predict

What information do you think

you need to solve the question/problem
(numbers, pictures, bar modeling)?
What operations/methods do you
think you will you need to solve
the problem?

R = Read each line of the

Word Problem

Locate the important

information in the text.
(consider the predictions)

RA(A)VEL

UN

(These two steps generally work together)

A = Are the Important

Words/Numbers and their meanings

Circled? (especially the operational words?)
Sid has $50.00. He bought
two video games that cost
$14.00 each. He also bought a
poster for $5.69. How much
money did he have left after
his purchases?

A = Apply the Steps You

Chose to Solve the Problem

$14.00
+$14.00

Video Games

$28.00
$28.00
+ 5.69

Video Games Plus Poster

$33.69
To
tal

Am
oun
t

Sp
e nt

V = Verify

(Is it reasonable?

Your Answer.

Does it make sense? Revisit the

question. What information is being used to support the
response?)

$16.31 is reasonable
because it is smaller than
$50.00. It would make
sense to have this amount
left after buying games
and a poster.

E = Eliminate
Answers.

a. $66.31
b. $15.00
c. $55.76
d. $16.31

Wrong

Too big. Conceptual

Procedural
Too big. Conceptual
Caution students against
eliminating answer choices
hastily. Sometimes they
eliminate the right
answer. Remind them at
times they may have to
revise their thinking
based on the text.

L = Let the Answer Stay or

Rework the Problem

I got that one

correct, but I
may have to
rework the
next one!

1.

Check the
calculations
2. Reread the
question and
revise the steps