Math Word Problem Strategies

Helping a student be prepared to solve a math word problem is an area that a lot of teachers worry about while they teach. Solving a word problem requires the coordination of a number of math skills. The student needs to be able to analyze the problem, choose the correct strategy to implement, and follow through with the correct procedure. I would like to share some tips that teachers can teach students for solving word problems.

1. Read the problem: The student will read the problem and reread it if they don't understand the problem.
   
2. Paraphrase the problem: They can highlight the key words/phrases.
   
3. Draw the problem: The student will create a drawing of the problem or use a graphic organizer.
4. Create a plan to solve the problem. The student will make a plan outlining the steps to solving the problem.
5. Predict: the student will use estimation to predict the answer.
6. Compute the answer: The student will compute the answer to the problem. They then check the answer against their estimate of the answer for comparison.
   
7. Check the answer: The student checks the steps of the answer. They check to see that they went through the steps in the plan were followed and that the operations were done in the correct orders.

Hopefully this framework will help the student go through a word problem with success!

Focus Frames

A focus frame is a great tool for keeping a student on task.  A student has the focus frame at their seat and can frame a word or answer to a question individually.  Making focus frames is an easy task.  Just use an old manila folder, scissors, and a pattern.  To create the pattern you just cut out two L-shaped pieces, then cut slits in one of them so the other piece can slide into it.  

Many students with motor coordination or visual/spatial organization problems benefit from the use of these frames.  When they view numbers, the numbers often appear out of alignment.  The focus frame allows them to learn to frame and focus on units, then tens, then hundreds.  They uncover what they need to solve the problem, one step at a time.  This is especially helpful in long division.