Do your students struggle with deciding which operation to use?
Do your students struggle how to solve operations?
There are tips and techniques for math word problems that work. This blog post is part 3 of a 4 part series on “How to Teach Problem Solving”. To help your students become better problem solvers they need help following their plan. Let’s look at the top three strategies for how to solve operations in word problems.
How to Solve Operations in Word Problems
Solving operations is the third step in the Problem Solving process. Students should have already completed steps one and two. Now students will implement their plan and solve using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and/or division.
Which Operation to Use?
Students struggle with deciding which operation to use. They can be overwhelmed by this task for a number of reasons. They will often ask, “What operation should I use?” Here are three tips you can use with them the next time they are stuck.
- Ask the student to review their plan. What did they decide they need to do to solve the word problem?
- Ask the student to look for actionable words in the word problem. What are key nouns and verbs telling you?
- Ask the student a self-reflection question. What do you think you should do? Walking them through the process with questioning can help them find a solution.
How do you carry out the plan?
Students struggle with carrying out the plan. How to solve operations questions can help them look back at their plan. Ask students what their plan was. Did they notice the question was adding or a pattern? The key math terms they circled when reading the word problem. These words will help to carry out the plan. Don’t be afraid to look back in order to go forward with a plan.
How do you solve operations and show work?
Students struggle with showing their work. They are not able to show how they solve a problem. By writing out each step of the problem solving process, students can justify their answers. Ask students, “How can you prove your work?” If they cannot prove their answer, ask “How did you get your answer?” As they explain what they did, tell them to write it down. Write every step down. It’s hard for students to show work if it hasn’t been an expectation. Set the expectation that in our class how we solve operations is showing our work. Watch your students rise to the standard of showing work is necessary and they will be able to explain why their answer is correct.
How to solve operations in word problems is one part of the problem solving process. When all of the pieces are put together, you can teach your students to become independent problem solvers. It’s a process that takes time and effort. Your students will thank you when they can answer math word problems on their own.
Do you want to teach your students how to solve operations? Access the free guide and help your students today!
