Word Problem Practice for 6th Grader

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  • mycupoverflows
    Participant

    I have an 11yo son who is in the middle of Math U See Epsilon (studying fractions). He is really struggling with how to apply fractions to real life situations, i.e. word problems. He doesn’t understand how to tell if he needs to multiply, add, subtract or divide the fractions in the problems. I feel like he just needs extra practice on learning to distinguish how to use what, where. 

    I checked the Math U See website but they only offer extra worksheets with actual problems on them. His problem isn’t working the problems; he knows what to do if there is an addition sign there or a multiplication sign. He just can’t seem to figure out what he needs to do in a word problem. Today I caught my son just going through and multiplying the numbers in the problems. When I asked him how he knew to multiply, he pointed to the title of the webpage and said, “Well, this is multiplication practice.” Argh!!

    Does anyone have any suggestions or websites they know of that would offer lots of practice? I have found a few websites but they offer practice only in certain areas, i.e. word problems involving multiplication or word problems involving addition but not mixed up so that the student has to determine what operation needs to be done.

    Thanks!

     

    Angelina
    Participant

    Timely question for me. I have been digging into the options for this for a few weeks now and have just decided on a resource that you might want to think about:

    Focus on Problem Solving (Continental Press)

    – description as follows (I have looked at the samples and I can honestly say I think this book is the one that is going to make my kids “get it” on problem solving. Based on the description, it seems to tackle exactly the problem of a child seeing a word problem and not being able to break it down. My DS 10 is just like yours on not knowing which math application to take for which word problem….I feel for him, as I was the same at his age! Take a look below, I’ve copied the description…it’s a bit wordy…but if you google the series and then look at the sample you’ll see what the workbook is all about…)

    DESCRIPTION: Former NCTM President Dr. Francis Fennell shows students how to use the four-step procedure to evaluate, interpret, and solve problems. Focus on Problem Solving helps students develop critical thinking and organizational skills while gaining a better grasp of word problems.

    Compelling Real-life Applications Build Math and Critical Thinking Skills

    •Students learn a four-step procedure – reading, planning, solving, and checking – that helps them tackle nearly any problem.

    •Also emphasizes collecting, organizing, evaluating, and using information.

    •Students are taught a variety of non-routine strategies in order to approach different kinds of problems: guessing and checking, working backwards, making lists and diagrams, finding patterns, using scale drawings, and thinking logically.

    •Integrate math and writing! Written assignments help students think logically and communicate clearly.

    •Students learn to interpret graphs, tables, plots, maps, surveys, and experiments.

    •Teacher’s guides give background on problem-solving strategies and detailed suggestions for introducing, exploring, and expanding reasoning skills.

    Hope this helps. Blessings, Angie

    ruth
    Participant

    I use this website:  mathstories.com  It is $26 for a year, grades 1-6 word problems.  I have used their website daily for over a year for my 8yr old ds along with the Rays Arithmetic.  He enjoys it, but it is hard for him sometimes to think through what steps he needs to do to answer the questions.  I will keep using the website with the rest of my children.

    http://mathstories.com/
    there is a sample of the word problems when you scroll down.

    Wings2fly
    Participant

    I highly suggest jumping in to Life of Fred at the Fractions book. I have this book for when my son gets a bit older, but I pte-read some of it. I was impressed.

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