Can't get them to write explanations of their thinking?
I draw a thought bubble next to the problem and say, "Please write what happened in your brain bubble!" We discuss what things we used to bring us to the answer, write it in the brain bubble for the teacher to see or for students to look back at later, and move on! PAINLESS and gets a smile or two, too!
Afterwards, if students don't show their work I say, "I see the right answer, but what happened in your brain bubble?" Or I say, "The answer is not right and I can't see where you went wrong in your brain bubble." Usually, just drawing the bubble first reminds students to show what they are thinking.
