From: Claire (for Teacher2Teacher Service)
Date: Nov 24, 2007 at 22:15:05
Subject: Re: Explaing word problems to a Grade 3 student

Hi, Lena --

Thanks for writing to T2T. Word problems are difficult for many children.
Here are some suggestions to try with your student:

Is the problem in written form? Does he have the same difficulty when is is
read aloud to him?
To check that he understands the problem, have him paraphrase the problem --
tell it in his own words.
Have him tell what the important information is in the problem. Make sure he
can articulate what questions he is supposed to be answering.
Get him to draw the pictures, not you.
Use a number line for problems such as your example.
Have him get actively involved in modeling the problem, acting it out,
modeling it with manipulatives.
Present the same story with smaller numbers.
After you model examples, have him make up some problems that require
combining groups (adding), taking away (subtraction), finding differences
(subtraction).

I hope some of these ideas are helpful. Please write again if you have more
questions. Good luck.

 -Claire, for the T2T service

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