Tips for Solving Word Problems in Elementary Math

Word problems are among the most challenging elements of the elementary math curriculum. While operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division may appear simple on paper, applying those skills to solve real-life scenarios described by text can feel like an entirely different skill set. With practice and the appropriate strategies in place, your children can quickly become word problem masters – here are some helpful strategies for solving word problems in elementary math.

Best Tips for Solving Word Problems in Elementary Math

Slowly and Carefully Read the Problem

To start solving word problems correctly, your first and most critical task should be making sure your child fully understands what’s asked of them. Have them read it multiple times until they fully grasp its intent, underlining or highlighting critical information and numbers as needed. Mistakes often happen because students misinterpret or miss important details hidden within problem descriptions. So instruct your child to read over each detail carefully before beginning work on any solution attempts.

Make a Plan Before Doing Any Math

After understanding a problem, your child should take a moment to make a plan on how they will approach it. Suggest they look for clues as to which math operations may be required, draw simple diagrams or visualizes that might help, and plan out what steps will be followed to complete it successfully. Doing this will ensure they don’t become disoriented when solving it!

Determine the Key Numbers/Facts

Most word problems contain both relevant and irrelevant numbers/facts in their descriptions. So, it is necessary to discern which pieces of data are necessary for solving the problem versus mere red herrings. Have your child carefully read over each problem again to eliminate or cross out anything non-essential to answering the query.

Check for Difficult Vocabulary

Sometimes, the difficulty in solving word problems stems not from math but from the language and vocabulary used to explain them. Uncommon words, idioms, or reading levels can make understanding them even harder for elementary math students. If your child seems stuck, have them identify any unfamiliar terms and look them up before proceeding to solve the problem.

Break Down Word Problems

Word problems can quickly become complex and multi-layered, which can leave children feeling overwhelmed when faced with them all at once. Instead of becoming overwhelmed and trying to solve all parts of a multi-step problem at once, have your child break it into smaller steps for easier management and solutions. This reduces missed details in their solution process.

Write Out Math Equations/Expressions

Before asking your child to solve a word problem using mental math alone, get them to write all the necessary math equations or expressions that model its scenario. This step acts as an essential safeguard that ensures they have translated a problem scenario accurately into a mathematical representation.

Estimate Before Calculating

Prior to engaging in any formal mathematical calculations, please encourage your child to get into the habit of mentally estimating their range for answers based on given numbers. Estimating helps develop number sense and reasonableness checking, helping identify any inappropriate answers caused by careless mistakes.

Review Work

Once your child has arrived at their answer, the last step should be rechecking their work by reading back the original problem and verifying their math process and calculations align with it. Due to careless mistakes such as dropping steps or making minor computational errors on word problems, rechecking is essential to making sure all steps have been completed successfully.

Use Logical Reasoning

Not all word problems can be easily solved by identifying an arithmetic operation to use; sometimes, solving them requires conditional statements, understanding relationships between numbers and facts, and multi-step logical reasoning. Encourage your child to analyze each step using common sense instead of immediately reaching for the first option that comes to mind.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Practicing word problem skills is critical to mastery of them. Build a regular math practice or homework session featuring three to five-word problems of increasing complexity and difficulty level as part of the routine, like workbooks or online resources that provide structured, age-appropriate word problem resources to work through.

Using Props

Word problems can be particularly challenging for young students because they are abstract. One approach that may help make these more accessible for your child is encouraging him or her to use props or act out the key details from their problem scenario—this may give them more of a visual understanding of what’s being asked of them.

Create Visuals 

Helping your child draw simple diagrams, sketches, or models can be invaluable in helping them visualize and understand word problems. Shapes, bar models, number lines, or other visuals can represent key information from a problem in a more tangible form that children can grasp more quickly than text alone.

Establish Keyword Awareness

Teach your child to keep an eye out for words or phrases that indicate which operation needs to be completed, such as “in all,” “combined,” and “total.” Words like “remaining,” “difference,” and “less than” could provide crucial clues about which operation to apply next.

The CUBES Strategy

The CUBES method is one of the more popular strategies for approaching math word problems methodically: 

• C — Circle the numbers
• U — Underline the question
• B — Box any keywords
• E — Evaluate and decide which operation(s) to use
• S — Solve the problem and check the work

Final Thoughts

Word problems provide an essential bridge between abstract mathematical operations and their practical application in everyday life. By carefully reading, identifying key details, setting up logical equations, drawing diagrams, annotating information, and practicing regularly, elementary math students can develop the skills needed to become master word problem solvers. 

Learning how to analyze scenarios quickly, extract relevant information quickly, determine which operation(s) need performing, and calculate an accurate solution is an invaluable asset both academically and for real-world problem-solving scenarios.

If you’re looking for an exceptional math platform that incorporates these strategies and more, consider Mathema. 

FAQs

1. What are some tips for solving word problems in the elementary math curriculum?

Here are some simple tips to help with word problems in the elementary math curriculum:

• Read the problem carefully.
• Underline important information.
• Break the problem into smaller steps.
• Draw a picture to visualize the problem.
• Look for keywords like “total,” “difference,” “more,” and “less.”
• Write an equation from the words.
• Check your work after solving it.

2: How can math programs for elementary students help with word problems?

Math programs for elementary students often include interactive lessons and practice problems. These programs help students understand the steps needed to solve word problems by providing clear explanations, examples, and instant feedback.

3: What should I look for in an elementary math tutor to help with word problems?

When looking for an elementary math tutor, make sure they:

• Explain problems in a simple way.
• Use visual aids and drawings.
• Break problems into smaller steps.
• Encourage students to look for keywords.
• Provide plenty of practice problems.
• Offer positive feedback and support.

4: What are the best math programs for elementary students to improve word problem-solving skills?

The best math programs for elementary students that help with word problems include:

• Interactive lessons with visual aids.
• Step-by-step problem-solving guides.
• Fun practice activities and games.
• Instant feedback and progress tracking.
• Program like Mathema is a great options.