Grades 3-5 Math Problem Solving in Action_ Getting Students to Love Word Problems

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10

Schoolwide Efforts

The Great 100 Word Problem Challenge

Every year, thousands of schools do some version of the 100 Book Chal-
lenge®. This great program has students read 100 books throughout the
year, and they get all sorts of prizes and rewards along the way to cheer
them on. Students get excited about reading and everybody gets involved.
The Great 100 Word Problem Challenge is created in the same spirit. It is
a fun way to scaffold student engagement and success with word prob-
lems. It is exciting, challenging and rewarding.
The Great 100 Word Problem Challenge is an individual student chal-
lenge to solve 100 word problems by the end of the year. It is divided
into 10 levels, each level consisting of 10 problems (see Figures 10.1 through
10.11). Students can win prizes at each level. The levels grow progressively
more difficult, with the first two levels being a general review of the word
problems from prior grades. The third level focuses on number lines. The
fourth level focuses on students’ choices as they navigate through

Figure 10.1 The 100 Word Problem Challenge

Level 1

Solve problem

using

Template A.

Focus is on

mathematical

sketches

Level 2

Solve problem

using

Template B.

Focus is on

tape diagrams

Level 3

Solve problem

with Template

C.

Focus is on

number lines

Level 4

Graduated

level of

difficulty

A. choices

given

B. students

choose

numbers

Level 5

Two-Step

Word

Problems

Level 6

Multistep

word

problems

Level 7

Write and

solve word

problems.

Level 8

Sort word

Problems.

Level 9

Solve

two-argument

problems.

Level 10

Find and fix

the error.