Persevering Through Word Problems

Word Problems got you down? Feeling Stuck? Overwhelmed?  

The key to unlocking the mystery of word problems is to slow down and work on it step by step!  Often times we panic and throw our hands up and give up too quickly.  I find it helpful to go through mental checklists, similar to this one we pasted into our notebook the other day. 

Step-by-Step Videos

I have included some videos below that go through a few word problems like the ones we will do in class, step by step with explanation.   The videos I found follow the strategies we do in class, very closely. 

The video below follows two examples I showed in class today on the Smart Board.

One example was Mandy and Nacha's age comparison using a table.  The other example is figuring out the price of a washer when knowing the total of refrigerator, washer, and dryer.

Organized Chart and Bar Model Comparison example

                              (click link above)

The two videos below break apart lesson 7 into the two parts, also like we will in class.

Part 1 goes over different types of word problems such as, using remainders in quotient, increasing quotient, and multi-step problems. They too show the importance of finding meaning in each step and labeling.

Part 2 goes over comparing models and finding the unit amount, as well as using organized charts to solve problems.

Part 1 of Lesson 2.7 (Practice 7)                                      Part 2 of Lesson 2.7 (Practice 8)

             (click link above)                                                                                            (click link above)

Lastly, this last video is more for parents.  Hi Parents! Hopefully you're reading this post.  Comment below and let me know if this video helps.  It compares the basic standard way you and I probably would have solved a problem when we were in school.  It then compares the same problem to how our Math In Focus (Singapore Math) program will approach it.  I know sometimes it feels as though as this math program is a foreign language.  Sometimes it is!  However, I found it helpful to see the connection between the two methods.

Comparing "Old Math" to "New Math"

                    (click link above)

Common Core Standards:

5.NBT.5 Fluently multiply multi-digit whole numbers using the standard algorithm.

5.NBT.6 Find whole-number quotients of whole numbers with up to four-digit dividends and two-digit divisors, using strategies based on place value, the properties of operations, and/or the relationship between multiplication and division. Illustrate and explain the calculation by using equations, rectangular arrays, and/or area models

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I look forward to hearing from you :)