Teaching Word Problems in Fifth Grade
Word problems are one of my FAVORITE things to teach. Yes, really!
Why? Well, that’s easy! Word problems can be made relatable to the real world in so many ways.They make math have meaning and they encourage students to think about these connections as they solve.
I love when my students realize that this math thing isn’t just a grade on their report card, but rather something that they will actually use in real life. There are plenty of professions that rely on their math skills to get by – bakers, builders, architects…and so many more.
Engaging Students With Meaningful Word Problems
One of the easiest and best ways to get your students invested in the learning process is to provide them with a reason for learning. A context that is meaningful to them. Many students don’t respond all that well to the dry delivery of mathematics that we have seen in the movies – Teacher. Lecture. Practice. Pass. BUT – they will respond well when they are given a meaningful situation or problem to work through. When they are using all those math skills we encourage them to use, try out various strategies, and when a thinking classroom is in place and valued.
Take these word problems, for example:
A.) Betty measures a piece of wood and it is ¾ inches long. If she cuts ¼ of it off, how much wood does she have left?
B.) Matteo is building a doghouse for his dog, Belle. He needs 70 square feet of plywood to build the doghouse. He also needs 3 gallons of paint. Plywood costs $1.23 per sq. foot. How much money will he have to spend on plywood in order to build Belle’s doghouse?
A is..okayyy. A is fine. But B? It’s relatable (money and dogs, come on!), requires deeper thinking than A, and students will have some connection to these ideas. Still not sure they will be excited? Sub in your students names/their dogs or pets names and you will see the light spark in their eyes as they dive into solving.
That’s it – a super simple, meaningful way to bring word problems alive in your classroom!
Happy Teaching!
xo, Kristin @ The Pixie Dust Classroom