Do your students lack math word problem solving strategies? Teaching students to solve math words can be difficult, but it is essential. We need to help students understand the context of the problem, follow problem solving steps, and teach them to use different strategies and tools to solve the problem. In addition, we need to provide students with multiple opportunities to solve problems so they can develop effective methods and can solve more complex problems in school and their real lives.
Engaging students to learn in math class will help students to love math. Unfortunately, children develop a dislike of math early on and end up resenting it into adult life. So how can teachers make math more interesting to engage students? Students who feel successful in math class are happier and more engaged in learning. Check out The Bonus Guide for Creating a Growth Mindset Classroom and Students Who Love Math for ideas, lessons, and mindset surveys for students to use in your classroom to cultivate a positive classroom community. You can also sign up for other freebies from me Here at Easternshoremathteacher.com.
We need students to understand the importance of solving math word problems and how they relate to everyday life. I always laugh when kids ask, Why do I need to know how to do this?” For example, my daughter told me the other night how she didn’t like subtraction, and there was no reason to learn it. Well, of course, I then had to list all the times I had used subtraction that day! Students need to see that connection to be more motivated to learn.
What Are Word Problems?
A word problem is a few sentences describing a ‘real-life’ scenario where a problem needs to be solved through a mathematical calculation.
A one-step equation is an algebraic equation you can solve in only one step. The common core lists several problem situations that are taught beginning in Kindergarten.
Word Problem Example
Paula has 16 tickets for the raffle. She has 8 fewer than Mark. How many tickets does Paula have?
Math Word Problem Solving Strategies
Providing students with ways to help them think about the problems before they solve them leads to more successful math word problem solving.
Real-World Connections & Math Literature
Using real-world situations or situations from literature books will help students visualize what is happening in word problems. Then, students can act out the problem or use counters to model what is happening.
Another easy way to make connections with students is by using their names in the problem or activities they are interested in.
Numberless Word Problems
These are great to help students focus on what is happening in the problem. Otherwise, students see numbers and just start trying to solve the problem without thinking about the meaning of the numbers. By taking out the numbers, students can think about the following:
- What is going on in the problem? What can you picture in your mind?
- What do we know about the quantities and relationships in the problem even though there are no numbers?
- What is the question asking us to find out?
Try out Some Numberless Word Problems Here
Operation Sorts
Providing students with several word problems and asking them to sort by operation or problem structure helps students think about the content of the problem.
Then, I like to ask students only to solve a particular type of problem. For example, they have to solve the addition problems after they sort.
Problem Solving Steps in Math
Students are more successful when using these 4 problem solving steps in math. This helps them think about the problem and make a plan before even solving the problem. Then, after solving the problem, check if their answer makes sense.
Step 1: Understand
- Read and think about the problem.
- Circle the needed information in the problem.
- Underline the question in the problem.
- Write an answer stem sentence. There are ____ pages left to read.
Step 2: Plan
- Make a plan to solve the problem.
- What strategy will you use? (draw a picture, work backward, look for a pattern, create a table, bar model)
- What math tools do you need?
Step 3: Do
- Solve the problem.
- Show your work to solve the problem.
Step 4: Check
- Answer the question and check your work.
- Write the answer into the answer stem.
- Does your answer make sense?
- Check your work using a different strategy.
Providing students with a method for unpacking word problems is essential. Model using the 4 steps for solving word problems and support students in using the steps for solving word problems. Click here for Posters, Bookmarks, and Labels to use in your classroom to promote the use of the problem solving steps in math.
Read more…4 Best Steps To Problem Solving in Math That Lead to Results.
Problem Solving in Math with Strategies and Tools
Teaching Problem Solving Strategies
A problem solving strategy is a plan used to find a solution. Understanding how various problem-solving strategies work is essential because different problems require you to approach them differently to find the best solution. By mastering several problem-solving strategies, you can select the right plan for solving a problem. Here are a few methods to use with students:
- Draw a Picture
- Work Backwards
- Look for a Pattern
- Create a Table
- Acting it Out or Modeling
- Using Ten Frames and Part- Part-Whole Mats
Draw a Picture and Create a Table
The “draw a picture” strategy is a problem-solving technique in which students make a visual representation of the problem.
Make a table is a problem-solving strategy that students can use to solve mathematical word problems by writing the information in a more organized format.
Work Backwards and Look for a Pattern
Working backwards is another way to solve some math problems. For example, if the result is given at the end of a series, follow each step until the problem is complete.
Finding a Pattern is a strategy in which students look for patterns in the data in order to solve the problem. For example, students look for items or numbers that are repeated or a series of events that repeat.
Acting It Out Or Modeling
Using concrete materials to act out or model problems is essential. For example, give them materials to act out the problem after reading a book or giving students a situation. For instance, after reading The Doorbell Rang, you could provide students with plates and cookies to act out the situation.
Eventually, students can begin to draw pictures and write equations to represent the problems.
Using Ten Frames and Double Ten Frames
A ten frame is a rectangle with ten equal spaces. It has five spaces on top and five on the bottom. The ten frames are often positioned horizontally and filled with counters from left to right. In addition, a double ten frame is 2 ten frames put together to show up to 20.
Ten frames are a fantastic tool used in kindergarten and first grade to help build an understanding of counting, place value, adding, subtracting, and more. You use counters or math manipulatives to represent word problems on the frame. Check out this link to find a free Ten Frames Template. Ten Frames Free Printable.
Read more about using ten frames here…Why Using Ten Frames for Math to Develop Understanding is Effective?
Using Part-Part-Whole Mats
The part-part-whole model is a pictorial representation of a problem that helps students see the relationship between a “whole” and its components.
The part-part-whole diagram shows that you know some information but still need to find additional information. The bar can be split into as many parts as you need, depending on the information you’ve been given. In addition, the whole or any of the parts can be missing.
Children using this model will see the relationship between the whole number and its parts, helping learners to make the connections between addition and subtraction.
This is another valuable tool in modeling word problems. Check out this link to find a free Part-Part-Whole Template. Part- Part-Whole Mat
Then, read more about using the part-part-whole strategy here…How to Use the Powerful Part-Part-Whole Strategy to Improve Number Sense.
Teaching the Different Problem Structures
There are several problem structures for addition and subtraction, multiplication, and division. They are broken down to when to introduce the different problem structures.
Kindergarten Word Problem Structures
- Add To- Result Unknown (7 add 3 equals a result: 7 + 3=?)
- Two frogs sat on the grass. Three more frogs hopped there. How many frogs are on the grass now? 2 + 3 =?
- Put Together/Take Apart– total known (put together 7 and 3 and get a total: 7 + 3=?)
- Three red apples and two green apples are on the table. How many apples are on the table? 3 + 2 = ?
- Put Together/Take Apart- Both Addends Unknown (take 7 apart to make 2 groups: 7= ? + ?)
- Peter has 7 flowers. How many can she put in her red vase, and how many in her blue vase?
1st Grade Word Problem Structures
- Add To- Change Unknown (7 add some more equals 9: 7 + ? = 9)
- Two frogs were sitting on the grass. Some more frogs hopped there. Then there were five frogs. How many frogs hopped over to the first two? 2 + ? = 5
Addition Word Problems with Missing Addends
- Add To- Start Unknown (have some add 4 more equals 9: ? + 4= 9)
- Some bunnies were sitting on the grass. Three more bunnies hopped there. Then there were five bunnies. How many bunnies were on the grass before? ? + 3 =5
- Put Together/ Take Apart- Addend Unknown (take 7 apart: 7= 3 + ?)
- Five pears are on the table. Three are red, and the rest are green. How many pears are green? 3 + ? = 5, 5-3 = ?
- Comparison- Difference Unknown, Smaller Unknown, Bigger Unknown
- Difference unknown: Larry has 5 apples. James has 8 apples. How many more apples does Larry have than James? 5 + ? = 8 8 – 5 = ?
- Bigger unknown: Larry has 4 fewer oranges than James. Larry has 6 oranges. How many oranges does James have?
- Smaller unknown: Larry has 6 fewer apples than James. James has 9 apples. How many apples does Larry have?
2nd Grade Word Problem Structures
- Continue to provide students with experiences using all the problem situations.
Addition and Subtraction Problem Structure Table
Word Problems of Addition and Subtraction
3rd Grade Word Problem Structures
As students learn about multiplication and division, they can be introduced to word problems to act out.
3. OA. A. 3 Use multiplication and division within 100 to solve word problems in situations involving equal groups, arrays, and measurement quantities, e.g., by using drawings and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.
Multiplication Arrays Worksheets and Slides
Word Problems Division and Multiplication
Students must have many opportunities to use concrete materials to model the situations and identify the number of groups and the number of items in a group. Then, once students understand, they can begin to draw pictures.
In 4th grade, students continue to solve multiplication and division word problems. In addition, they are introduced to comparison word problems.
Multiplication and Divison Problem Structure Table
Resources For Math Word Problem Solving Strategies
- Problem Solving Posters, Bookmarks, and Labels
- Why Using Ten Frames for Math to Develop Understanding is Effective?
- 4 Best Steps To Problem Solving in Math That Lead to Results
- Math Problem Solving Strategies That Make Students Say “I Get It!”
- How to Easily Teach Addition with Word Problems For All Types
- How to Successfully and Easily Teach Word Problems in Multiplication and Division
Math Problem Solving
Taking some time to help students unpack and put the problem in context, make a plan to solve the problem, and uncover the different ways to solve a problem will make students more successful with solving math word problems.
Download The Free Ultimate Guide for Creating a Growth Mindset Classroom and Students Who Love Math for ideas, lessons, and mindset surveys to use in your classroom. You can also sign up to receive other freebies from me Here at Easternshoremathteacher.com.
If students struggle, go back to modeling or acting out the problem. I also think it is important to use smaller numbers and work up to solving more complex problems with larger numbers.
Try out some of these ideas and resources for teaching math word problem solving strategies, and let me know what you think!
