The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of using problem-solving strategies in middle school mathematics classes. Participants were seventh grade Pre-algebra students from a school located in Maryland. Sixty-nine students participated in the study. Using math attitudinal surveys, exit tickets, observations and interviews as measuring tools, this study was designed to determine if motivation in students would increase if the students were taught problem-solving strategies in order to help them become more resilient. Students successfully completed exit tickets and demonstrated resiliency in attempting and successfully completing problems that appeared unsolvable to them. Also, based on the attitudinal surveys, after only a one-week period, 16% of the students no longer hated the challenge of math.