You may ask "Why Do My Child Struggle With Word Problems?"

Question

Word problems are hard for some. Students are often stumped with figuring out how to correctly solve a word problem. Below are 3 main reasons I have found to be reasons a student struggles with word problems.

#1 The biggest reason that your child may struggle with word problems is a lack of reading

comprehension.

#2 Students often just pull out the numbers and use a random operation.

#3 The curriculum and exam writers use tricky language, designed to trip students up.

Word problems can be tricky, and if you and your child need support with effective strategies contact me. A tutor that will teach your child how to successfully solve word problems and basic math problems.

Answer 1

Word problems can be challenging for students for a few different reasons:

#1 A student may be struggling with word problems if he/she also struggles with reading comprehension.

#2 A student may not be well-versed in math vocabulary and phrases, which can interfere with the student understanding the type of operation(s) to use.

#3 Students rush! Students need to know that curriculum and exam writers include answers and tricky language in order to catch students who rush through and make simple mistakes.

Coming up with strategies to solve and CHECK word problems can help your student be more successful in solving word problems. Math and reading tutors can help students become fluent in math literacy.

Answer 2

All these answers are correct in my experience. Here's what I do to make it clearer for me:

1. Start with the question, usually at the end, and make sure I know what information is needed
2. Look for irrelevant information and ignore it or mark through it
3. Re write the problem in a different format that I can understand better
4. Do the math

Another thing I do on multiple choice is to look at the answers and decide if some are too extreme to be considered. Sometimes, this requires doing some rough math in your head to get you in the right ballpark. Often times, you can rule out up to two of the answers this way. Like anything, word problems take time and repetition to get efficient at.

I would suggest that word problems are the most important element of math because that is how they are presented in life.