Proportional reasoning problems can be solved using algebraic reasoning. Therefore, making connections between proportional reasoning and algebraic thinking is important for solving problems. This study examined K-8 teachers' problem-solving strategies as they worked out a real world multi-step problem that involved proportional reasoning and algebraic thinking. The findings revealed that many teachers found this problem challenging. Particularly, some teachers had difficulty figuring out how to translate the variables into an algebraic equation. Some teachers who used variables as labels tended to engage in additive reasoning. They had difficulty representing the proportional problem context algebraically and solving the problem for the unknown quantity. Implications for further research are discussed.