Investigating Word Problems

The past week and a half our class has been investigating word problems. Our goal was to visualize and make sense of word problems by using strategies and different mathematical models to help us solve them. Every group was given a word problem and the group manager would read the problem to the group. Every child would try solving the word problem in their journal. Once each group member had attempted the problem, then students would confer with each other. Students then created posters to show their thinking. 

Today we finally celebrated our hard work! Each child had to decide what word problem they were going to become an expert at. They then got the opportunity to teach a small group of friends. The student that was teaching would be guided by their group. 

Members in the group would lead the discussion by stating...

• Read the word problem.
• What do you know?
• What do you need to find out?
• How did you solve it?

Students engaged in rich mathematical conversations while being exposed to different ways word problems are written and the many ways that they can be solved!