Word Problems for 2nd graders

[Tinkerbells mom]

Help! My child can not do word problems! I have bought every 2nd grade math word problem book I can get my hands on, but they still don't get it! How can I help teach my child to complete word problems!

 

[tchrrx]

My class is directed to follow these steps in order to find the answer:

1. What is the problem telling us? (Have your child read the telling sentences.)

2. What is the problem asking us? (Read only the question.)

3. What are our clue words? (Maybe make a poster that has an addition side and a subtraction side. List the different clue words and allow your child to refer to the poster as necessary.)

4. What process should we follow? (Again, use the poster to determine what you're going to do.)

I don't know if this will help at all, but maybe breaking it down into steps will make it a little simpler.

Also, just to make it more fun, I tell my students that they are detectives that have to find the clue before they can solve the problem. I write the clue words onto magnifying glass shapes on my poster.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Can you make up your own?

Something simple like...

Jill has 2 dolls and got 1 more for her birthday--how many dolls does she have now?

Or is that too difficult?

I find that taking the word problem and making it real life with manipulatives is quite helpful.

Word problems can seem abstract and if you use objects to represent what is in the problem--that can help it click for your child.

 

[gottaluvPluto]

Help! My child can not do word problems! I have bought every 2nd grade math word problem book I can get my hands on, but they still don't get it! How can I help teach my child to complete word problems!

I use Singapore Math with my child and we love it. It did take a few times for my daughter to get use to the math, but she is now able to do advanced word problems because of their techniques on how to set the problem up. I LOVE THEIR PROGRAM!!!!!!

http://www.singaporemath.com/Mathematics_s/1.htm

 

[mickeyboat]

I wonder if the problems are just too intimidating to your DD and she needs help breaking down the solution into smaller parts.

Ask your daughter's teacher what kind of rubric she uses to help them solve word problems (like the one tchrrx uses).

Have copies of the rubric available while your DD is solving the problem. She can check off each step as she completes it.

How are her general reading comprehension skills?

 

[wdwgirl03]

I student taught in a second grade class and story problems were hard for all of them. It really took a lot of practice before they finally started to understand. We'd teach them different strategies such as drawing a picture, writing a number sentence, etc. to help them solve the problems.

I also agree with going through questions such as what does the problem tell us and what do we need to find out.

 

[Magic Mom]

Try and have her do it backwards. Meaning give her a simple math problem. 2+3=? Then have her come up with the word problem to go with it. You do the writing for her to keep it simple. As she gets better at writing the problems, have her start to solve them. Then have her write word problems for YOU to solve. Kids love stumping mom and dad.

 

[coinkc]

Here is the way my district teaches word problems. My second graders do really well with it.

MAPS

M = Mark All Information
(They circle the numbers that they need to work with in the problem and underline the question that is being asked.)

A = Action
(Thye decide whether they are going to have to: PT+ put together plus, TA- take away minus, C- compare minus...there are other actions once they get into higher grades but these are the ones we start with)

P = Problem
(they write the number problem)

S = Solution
(they write the solution to the problem including a label)


Our district started this about 2 years ago and I noticed a HUGE difference in my students being able to solve word problems. It's an easy process to remember and the kids will often refer back to using "MAPS" as they call it whenever they are stuck.

Good luck!

 

[Liberty Belle]

My class is directed to follow these steps in order to find the answer:

1. What is the problem telling us? (Have your child read the telling sentences.)

2. What is the problem asking us? (Read only the question.)

3. What are our clue words? (Maybe make a poster that has an addition side and a subtraction side. List the different clue words and allow your child to refer to the poster as necessary.)

4. What process should we follow? (Again, use the poster to determine what you're going to do.)

I don't know if this will help at all, but maybe breaking it down into steps will make it a little simpler.

Also, just to make it more fun, I tell my students that they are detectives that have to find the clue before they can solve the problem. I write the clue words onto magnifying glass shapes on my poster.

Plus, it usually helps students when they have a visual. If your student can not make the visual himself, you can help show him how. For example, in the problem Susie has 10 apples, Mary has five, Jane has 3 less than Mary. How many apples do the girls have altogether? You could draw three stick figures labeled Susie, Mary, and Jane, and draw a box under them with their apples and go from there.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I use Singapore Math with my child and we love it. It did take a few times for my daughter to get use to the math, but she is now able to do advanced word problems because of their techniques on how to set the problem up. I LOVE THEIR PROGRAM!!!!!!

http://www.singaporemath.com/Mathematics_s/1.htm

We teach Singapore Math in our school and I love it.