7 Tips for Math Problem Solving

Do your students need help problem solving?

Do you want to give your students additional support to solve math word problems?

Solving math word problems is a skill that needs to be practiced. Let's review tips to help your students overcome obstacles in order to solve the problems.

Tips for Math Problem Solving

The following tips for math problem solving are suggestions for aiding your students in answering grade level problems. Try one or all of these tips in your classroom. Watch your students grow into problem solvers and tackle any word problem.

1. Practice. 

It's as simple as that. For bell work or class word every day solve at least one word problem together as a class. Model for the students. Show them how to think through solving the problem. It's important to model this skill again and again. Students do not always have this skill. It needs to be practiced daily.

2. Vocabulary. 

Do you have a weekly or monthly math word list? This is one of the best vocabulary strategies to implement now. Start today and have your students try four new math terms this week with the vocabulary cards. Have them write the words in a journal or notebook. This is a great deposit of learning. Your students will talk, write and understand more math concepts when they are practicing vocabulary!

Download the Vocabulary Notebook here.

3. Review Errors. 

Teaching students to review their answers is important. Many students need to practice this self reflection. After students have answered a word problem review it with them. Model the questions they should be asking themselves. Tell students to ask,

• "Do my answers look right?" 
• "Does my answer make sense?" 
• "Did I answer the math question correctly?" 

4. Master Key Concepts. 

Do your students know the math concepts to solve a word problem independently? Teaching the concepts before the word problems are given is important. What keywords to look for, what operations to use, and the order of the numbers is imperative.

5. Understand. 

Reading a word problem is difficult for students. Do your students understand the basics? Here is a list to review with students.

• How to read a word problem.  
• What is the word problem asking you to answer.
• What operation(s) to use.   

6. Use Strategies. 

There are several problem solving math strategies that work. Pick one to start with. Teach your students what the strategy is and how to properly use it.

7. Applications to Real World

Make the word problems applicable to the students. Change the names to be students' names in your classroom. Make the problems about your students' everyday lives. Do they go to a favorite fast food restaurant or store. Use the names that they are familiar with and students will enjoy learning math when it applies more to their life.



Try one of these strategies today! Download the math vocabulary guide and help your students learn new math terms now.

Free Math Vocabulary Cards

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How to Solve Math Word Problems Step by Step

How do you teach solving math word problems?

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

Do your students struggle to understand and solve math word problems? Solving math word problems doesn't have to be difficult. Teaching students how to solve math word problems is important. There are some key skills that you can teach today!

How to Solve Math Word Problems

There are several key skills for math word problems that you can teach your students in one class period of thirty minutes or less. Introducing these skills 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?

6. Working Backwards

Working backwards is not always an easy concept for students. You need to have reasoning and logic to move from the end back to the beginning of a problem. When working backwards it helps to review what the facts are. What do we know and what is missing? Here's an example of working backwards with a math problem.

7. Using a Graphic Organizer

The word problem graphic organizer helps walk students through the problem solving process. Each step is broken down for the student to analyze. Through this analysis, the students have a better chance of comprehending the word problem, choosing the correct operation, and determining if their answer makes sense.

These are just seven ways to problem solve to find a solution to a math problem. The most important thing you can do is to teach your students how to become problem solvers. The first step is reading a word problem. Then find a strategy that can help you solve the problem. As students become more fluent problem solvers, they will be able to use any of the problem solving strategies.

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

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Solving Math Word Problems - 2020 Challenge

Do your students struggle to read math word problems? 

Do they know how to quickly solve a math word problem? 

Solving math word problems doesn't have to be a ten-step process. Learning the basics will help your students succeed in understanding math word problems. Once students understand the types of word problems they read, then they will become better problem solvers. It's simple. It starts with teaching. How are you training your students to think mathematically?

Solving Math Word Problems - 2020 Challenge

The 2020 Challenge for Solving Math Word Problems is intended to get your students reading and understanding how to answer math word problems. The challenge is for your students to solve math problems for at least 10 minutes on as many days as possible. They’ll win the challenge by solving word problem for 20 days in January. 

Why do the Math Word Problem 2020 Challenge? 

1. Students Gain a Better Understanding. 

Doing the challenge helps your students start a new year connecting to math. Students will make new connections with math and become familiar with understanding math word problems. 

2. Students Get a Set of Strategies. 

They will learn new plans and strategies to implement problem solving. Students will become proficient at reading math word problems and using these key problem-solving skills to find a solution. Teaching these strategies will improve your students’ reading skills too. 

3. Students Grow into Problem Solvers. 

They may just find themselves getting better at reading math word problems, solving, and sharing with others how to implement problem solving strategies. Training your students to practice daily will help them become better problem solvers.




It’s simple to get started. Download the Challenge today!

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