Thinking Approach to Problem Solving (TAPS) is a decision-making model that will assist students, kindergarten through grade eight, to decide on the choice of operation in routine mathematical word problems. The TAPS algorithm, or plan, suggests that students read a word problem, determine the question to be answered in the problem, use concrete manipulatives to model the groups, and analyze action(s) that must be taken with groups to answer the question(s) asked in the problem. After modeling the groups students can decide on the solution strategy. The thinking strategy begins with application of addition and subtraction operations. The multiplication and division operations apply to the middle grades. Included in the document are: chapter 1 (containing an introduction and sections on the thinking process, the communication process, and mathematical processes); chapter 2 (explaining the three basic actions and the TAPS Model); chapter 3 (providing a scope and sequence of TAPS applications and sample lessons); and a bibliography. (RH)