Small-Group Word Problem Lessons
Nicki Newton · Eye on Education eBooks · 2021
Word problems are an essential part of first grade. Students are exposed to several types of problems, strategies, and models. Teachers want students to build on their kindergarten foundation. The important part about teaching word problems is to get students to understand what is happening in the word problem. So they need to think about it, discuss it, explain it, and then work it out in a couple of ways. This chapter examines how to take a deep dive into these discussions with students in small groups. Part-part whole problems are rather easy for students. Take away problems are difficult. Students have trouble with subtraction, so they often struggle with subtraction problems. Students should do lots of things to act these stories out. They should solve the problems and tell the stories. Depth of Knowledge is a framework that encourages teachers to ask questions that require that students think, reason, explain, defend, and justify their thinking.