There's a reason why they call them word problems...they can be hard, and therefore a problem for most students! In our 4th and 5th grade groups, we have been focusing on how to tackle these. We started talking about the Fantastic Five Step Process, using our hand (5 fingers) as a visual. The Fantastic Five Step Process to word problems includes 1. Identifying the facts 2. Knowing the question and what is being asked (this is key!) 3. Figuring out what information, if any, can be eliminated 4. Choosing a strategy and solving 5. Asking yourself at the end, does the answer make sense?
From what I am seeing, one of the biggest problems is going too fast and jumping to solve the problem without thinking through what the question is asking, and therefore, what operation should be used. For this reason, we have been doing a lot of work identifying the parts and whole in a problem (ask your child about part, part, whole). This is a concept taught in Singapore Math, where problem solving is at the heart of the curriculum and the foundation for the model drawing approach.
Our focus in 3rd grade has been on mastering our multiplication facts as well as understanding the concept of division. We will also start tackling word problems, especially as we start to prepare for the 3rd grade NYS math test.
In 2nd grade, we have worked on counting money, place value and subtraction (with and without regrouping). Here is a subtraction poem that we have used to help us understand when we need to regroup.
More on top? No need to stop!
More on the floor? Go next door.
Get one ten. That's ten ones more.
Numbers the same? Zero's the game!
In our 1st grade groups, we continue to focus on increasing our number sense. We watched a music video and counted by 5's. We also continue to practice adding and subtracting by 1. Ask your child about our song "I know a song called add one more... you add one number, just one more more...."
Progress reports will be coming home this month. As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call or email!!
