How do you teach strategies for solving math word problems?

Is there a step by step problem solving method that my students can use?

Do your students struggle to solve math word problems? Students often find it difficult to understand what to solve, how to start and find out the unknown. Solving math word problems doesn’t have to be hard. Teaching students how to solve math word problems is important. There are strategies for math problem solving that they can use today!

Strategies for Math Problem Solving

There are five strategies for math problem solving to word problems that you can teach your students in thirty minutes class. Before introducing these skills make sure you have reviewed how to read word problems first. The second step in the problem solving process is to teach strategies that will help your students become better problem solvers. Try one or all of them today!

1. Drawing a Picture or Diagram.

This is a great strategy to use with visual learners. Students who are visual learners process information that they can see better than information that they hear. Drawing a picture helps them see the problem.

Here’s an example of using the strategy of a picture. What’s the problem tell us? There are four apple juice boxes in the cooler and those apple juice boxes are 1/3 of the juice boxes in the cooler. (Also Step 1) Draw the Problem. Draw 4 apple juice boxes. Say these are 1/3 of the juice boxes. Draw one circle around the 4 apple juice boxes, and then draw 2 empty circles. Question what would go in the other circles and how to get to the correct answer. This is great for math chats about the possibilities.

2. Find a Pattern.

Students should list the information already given in the problem. This list should reveal some very critical information about the problem. Examine the list of information for a pattern. What looks alike in the numbers? Does it repeat? Does it double? After finding the pattern, students should be able to identify the answer to the word problem.

3. Guess and Check.

The strategy is exactly like the name. Students guess the answer and then check their guess to fit the conditions of the problem. It’s a simple strategy, but very powerful to get students thinking.

Why use this method? A mathematician’s guess is called a “conjecture”. By using this strategy students are learning to become better mathematicians. They are learning to look for the unknown. When students look back to check their answer and prove that it is correct, is called a “proof.” Students need to see that their proof is correct or incorrect in order to be successful in the future.

4. Make a List.

This strategy is one of the most powerful ones. Students decide what information goes on the list from the word problem given. Organize the list by categories and make sure all the pieces of the problem are on the list. Lastly have students review the information that they organized on a list. Does it make sense? Can you reach a conclusion to solve the problem?

5. Use Reasoning.

To use reasoning students first need to organize the information given into a chart. Examine the relationships between the numbers. Think about the data and form a logical conclusion. Students may have to eliminate information to find the answer. Reasoning is not always easy to teach. Here are some questions to help guide students through using reasoning.

Does the information make sense?
What do these numbers have in common?
Is there a pattern or relationship between the numbers?
What can you conclude about the information?
Does this word problem ask you to find something?

The most important thing you can do when teaching strategies for math problem solving is share as many as possible. You are teaching your students how to become problem solvers. The more strategies they know, the more independent and confident in problem solving they will become. As students become fluent problem solvers, they will be able to solve any word problem.

Try one or all the strategies and download the problem solving guide today!