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After-Lunch Problems
Build Skills

Word problems are important parts of your state math tests. You can help students become master word-problem solvers by making word problems a daily activity. Collect as many word problems as you can. Find them in old math books. Find them in old math workbooks. Find them on math work sheets. Gather them wherever you can find them.

  • You might photocopy each word problem onto a transparency and project the daily problem on a screen for all to see.
  • You might write each problem on a large sheet of chart paper and display it for all to see.
  • Each afternoon, as soon as the bell rings signaling and end to lunch recess and the start of afternoon learning, present one of the word problems. Doing this as the bell rings will give students an immediate after-lunch focus. Give students a few minutes to solve the problem on their own. Then invite one student to share how s/he solved the problem. Correct the student as needed.

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  • You might collect the math word problems and mount each one to an index card. Place all the index cards into a large fishbowl or hat. When the lunch recess bell rings, invite a student to come up and draw a card from the bowl or hat. Read the word problem aloud -- slowly. Then read it aloud again so students can gather/write the information they need. Read it a third time for those who need the extra reading. Then give students a few minutes to solve the problem on their own. Invite one student to share how he or she solved the problem. Correct the student as needed.
  • Present students with four possible answers to the word problem of the day. In that way, they will practice selecting from choices, just the way word problems will be presented on state tests. You might even cut up small slips of paper that have on them four bubbles.
    O a     O b     O c     O d
    Have students color in the correct bubble once they have figured out the answer. They can show you their slips of paper as you walk around the room. If a student has colored in the incorrect bubble, encourage him or her to give the word problem another look.
  • Daily practice/reinforcement at solving word problems will help students score well on this all-important element of state math tests.

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    A Simple Idea for Improving Math Achievement by Larry Bell

    Education World®
    Copyright © 2010 Education World

    09/14/2010



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