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Nov 13, 2023 · While keywords can help with some problems, they don’t actually work for the variety of word problems students will encounter. In fact, according to the University of Arizona, students will solve 15 different addition and subtraction problem types by the end of Grade 2 and 9 different multiplication and division problem types by the end of Grade 4.
- How to REALLY Help Kids Solve Math Word Problems - Math Geek Mama
As we spend intentional time helping kids make sense of word...
- How to REALLY Help Kids Solve Math Word Problems - Math Geek Mama
- Solve Word Problems Regularly
- Teach Problem-Solving Routines
- Visualize Or Model The Problem
- Make Sure They Identify The Actual Question
- Remove The Numbers
- Try The Cubes Method
- Show Word Problems The Love
- Consider Teaching Word Problem Key Words
- Determine The Operation For The Situation
- Differentiate Word Problems to Build Skills
This might be the most important tip of all. Word problems should be part of everyday math practice, especially for older kids. Whenever possible, use word problems every time you teach a new math skill. Even better: give students a daily word problem to solve so they’ll get comfortable with the process. Learn more: Teaching With Jennifer Findlay
There are a LOT of strategies out there for teaching kids how to solve word problems (keep reading to see some terrific examples). The important thing to remember is that what works for one student may not work for another. So introduce a basic routine like Plan-Solve-Check that every kid can use every time. You can expand on the Plan and Solve ste...
Encourage students to think of word problems as an actual story or scenario. Try acting the problem out if possible, and draw pictures, diagrams, or models. Learn more about this method and get free printable templates at the link. Learn more: Math Geek Mama
Educator Robert Kaplinsky asked 32 eighth grade students to answer this nonsensical word problem. Only 25% of them realized they didn’t have the right information to answer the actual question; the other 75% gave a variety of numerical answers that involved adding, subtracting, or dividing the two numbers. That tells us kids really need to be train...
It seems counterintuitive … math without numbers? But this word problem strategy really forces kids to slow down and examine the problem itself, without focusing on numbers at first. If the numbers were removed from the sheep/shepherd problem above, students would have no choice but to slow down and read more carefully, rather than plowing ahead wi...
This is a tried-and-true method for teaching word problems, and it’s really effective for kids who are prone to working too fast and missing details. By taking the time to circle, box, and underline important information, students are more likely to find the correct answer to the question actually being asked. Learn more: Teaching With a Mountain V...
Here’s another fun acronym for tackling word problems: LOVE. Using this method, kids Label numbers and other key info, then explain Our thinking by writing the equation as a sentence. They use Visuals or models to help plan and list any and all Equations they’ll use. Learn more: Teaching With Jennifer Findlay
This is one of those methods that some teachers love and others hate. Those who like it feel it offers kids a simple tool for making sense of words and how they relate to math. Others feel it’s outdated, and prefer to teach word problems using context and situations instead(see below). You might just consider this one more trick to keep in your too...
Instead of (or in addition to) key words, have kids really analyze the situation presented to determine the right operation(s) to use. Some key words, like “total,” can be pretty vague. It’s worth taking the time to dig deeper into what the problem is really asking. Get a free printable chart and learn how to use this method at the link. Learn more...
Sometimes students get so distracted by numbers that look big or scary that they give up right off the bat. For those cases, try working your way up to the skill at hand. For instance, instead of jumping right to subtracting 4 digit numbers, make the numbers smaller to start. Each successive problem can be a little more difficult, but kids will see...
Mar 29, 2018 · As we spend intentional time helping kids make sense of word problems, we have to help them make sense of the situation. That means we have to move away from relying on keywords. Why? 1. Relying on keywords can lead kids astray: Even though we, as teachers, give kids lists of keywords with the very best of intentions, this is actually not ...
Sep 18, 2024 · The Three Reads routine is a protocol that asks students to make sense of a mathematics scenario presented in a word problem by reading the problem three times with a different focus for each read. You can include problems without numbers when using the Three Reads routine to help the students make sense of the word problem and its context before any numbers are introduced.
The word problems in a particular lesson, of course, have to do with that lesson. If I'm teaching a lesson on subtraction, students can assume that the word problems that follow are going to involve subtraction. This has unintentionally trained our students that they don't need to actually read the problem - they just need to know the numbers.
Nov 20, 2023 · How can we help kids learn keywords for solving numberless word problems? Teach kids steps for solving word problems until it becomes a habit or they get comfortable with the steps. First, they can look for the important information and write those down. (Read the problem carefully). Next, kids need to define or find the variables in the math ...
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Sep 30, 2021 · Numberless Word Problems. A strategy that can help students make sense of word problems is numberless word problems. Sometimes, students see the numbers and make judgements about the operations based on what what they see. Sometimes, the numbers themselves can overwhelm students.