How to Teach Math With Story Problems
- 1). Mix up your problems. One mistake many teachers make is giving students a list of word problems that are all solved by the same function. This encourages students to ignore the words and simply pull the two numbers out, then apply the function. Using different functions in each problem will challenge your students and make them read more carefully.
- 2). Insert throwaway numbers. Students should not learn repetition from story problems, but critical thinking. Adding numbers to your problem that are not a part of the calculation will keep students on their toes. For instance, a man has two ducks, three cats and four apples. How many animals does the man have? This may sound simple, but can trip up students that aren't reading carefully.
- 3). Use problems that rely on multiple functions. One function per problem is good for lower grade levels, but if you want to increase the difficulty, you should try using problems that require more than one step to solve.
- 4). Write realistic and relatable word problems. One of the most common student complaints in advanced math classes is "When will we ever use this?" Write problems that force kids to use math in situations to which they can relate. The more realistic and relatable the problem, the more enthusiastic your students will be.
