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

Schoolwide Efforts ◆ 147

grade-level problem types. The fifth level emphasizes two-step problems
and the sixth level emphasizes multistep problems. At the seventh level,
students focus on writing their own word problems. At the eighth level,
students work on sorting all the different problem types as well as if the
problem is one-step, two-step or multistep. The last two levels focus on
looking at the thinking of others and deciding whether or not the argu-
ments make sense, and if not how to fix the errors.

Figure 10.2 Third Grade Example: Level 1—Template A

Read the problem below and make a picture in your head.

Mary had $25. She got some money for her birthday. Now she has $75. How much

money did she get?

What type of problem is

this?

Addition

Subtraction

Part-Part-Whole

Compare

What are we looking for? Write an equation with a

symbol for the part that we are looking for.

Model the problem with

a sketch.

Write the equation with the missing number in it.

Answer: _______________________units

Figure 10.3 Third Grade Example: Level 2—Template B

Read the problem below and make a picture in your head.

Mary had some money. She got $50 for her birthday. Now she has $175. How much

money did she have in the beginning?

What type of problem is

this?

Addition

Subtraction

Part-Part-Whole

Compare

What are we looking for? Write an equation with a

symbol for the part that we are looking for.

Model the problem with

a bar diagram.

Write the equation with the missing number in it.

Answer: _______________________units