{"id":3805,"date":"2021-10-13T15:13:33","date_gmt":"2021-10-13T15:13:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oxfordlearning.com\/solving-math-word-problems\/"},"modified":"2025-07-02T16:03:56","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T16:03:56","slug":"solving-math-word-problems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oxfordlearning.com\/solving-math-word-problems\/","title":{"rendered":"Solving Math Word Problems"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Contrary to many students\u2019 beliefs, using math doesn\u2019t stop once they\u2019ve graduated from school. In reality, math shows up in everyday life long after school; it\u2019s crucial to encourage math confidence<\/a> at an early age whenever possible for long-term success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A common aspect of math that hinders confidence is math word problems. Figuring out these problems can be challenging for many students because they aren\u2019t regular math problems; they involve reading and slowing down to interpret the question entirely\u2014which students can struggle with these problems in a world of devices and distractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

YOUR CHILD MIGHT STRUGGLE WITH WORD PROBLEMS BECAUSE…<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

They experience<\/strong> trouble with reading:<\/strong> Proficient reading skills go a long way in deciphering the problem. If the student isn\u2019t the best reader, they might have difficulties understanding and absorbing the information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They have difficulty picking up on clues and concepts: <\/strong>Clues in word problems are phrases that help kids figure out what they need to do to solve the problem. Even the strongest readers could struggle to find the clues and translating them into a number sentence<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019re not interested or unfocused: <\/strong>Let\u2019s face it, word problems aren\u2019t the most exciting thing to do in class. Students may get bored and lose their focus on the problem or rush through it, resulting in the wrong answer by missing essential details. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turn academic challenges into success stories\u2014find out how here.<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PUT AN END TO WORD PROBLEM ANXIETY<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can teach this strategy to your child so that they can tackle word problems with ease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. READ<\/strong> – Read the word problem a few times, at least one time out loud. The C.U.B.E.S* method is great to do while reading the problem because it makes the student slow down and focus on the details. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. PLAN<\/strong> – Once you\u2019ve found out what operations the problem asks you to use, make a plan to solve the most challenging step.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. SOLVE<\/strong> – Find the answer by going through the problem slowly and ensuring all work is shown.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. CHECK<\/strong> – Make sure that the answer makes sense for the question. Is it reasonable based on the information given?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. CONCLUDE<\/strong> – Write a complete sentence that describes your answer. Use words found in the problem to help further explain how the conclusion was met. It\u2019s important to note that you should ensure your child is editing their concluding sentence before submitting to avoid simple mistakes. Use these tips<\/a> to ensure the student is getting full marks on their work!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    * C.U.B.E.S. Method:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n