Word Problems

A teacher inquired how her students could practice math word problems using the available technology. My first thought was the program Pondering Problems. However, with the impending computer upgrade at our school, this program will no longer work. I am not looking for a drill and kill option, but for options to practice and refresh the students’ skills in a way that can be easily differentiated and used for short spurts of time (10 min, not 30 minutes at a time). Here is a collection of ways to practice solving math word problems:

Software

Pondering Problems: A program created by Micrograms that was purchased as a site license that will not run on OS 10.6 and above. This program provides four customizable levels of word problems for which the students need to decide which operation to use and the necessary numbers before solving the problem. Various combinations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems are selectable.

Paint or Word Processing Program: Possibly start out by reading The Math Curse by Jon Scieszka to the class. It is a story about a student encountering and thinking up various math problems that could occur in her everyday life. After hearing the story, students create their own problems with accompanying solutions. Each word problem needs to include the common elements and language found in word problems. Students can then attempt to solve each other’s problems.

Websites

Grand Slam Math: Two levels are offered that correspond to the types of operations covered. Addition and subtraction or multiplication and division problems prompt students to type in the correct answer. If the answer is incorrect, it asks the student to try again until he or she types in the correct answer.

Word Problems with Katie: This is almost a spitting image of Grand Slam Math.

Thinking Blocks: This site requires the use of part to whole models to solve word problems. Problems can be addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, fractions, or ratios. The addition and subtraction problems have the option for answers to be between 1-50 or 1-300. For a more detailed description, see iLearn Technology’s post on it.

Math Cats Story Problems: Printable and web based word problems are found here. The black columns on the page include practice problems with the solutions off to the side of the page that appear when the mouse pointer is placed over the area.

Math Playground’s Word Problem Database: There are various categories of word problems such as addition and subtraction to 20, single step (with or without regrouping), two steps (with or without regrouping), and problems that include extra information. Each link sends the student to a simply made page with a word problem waiting for the answer to be keyed in. Students have the ability to check their answer or have the answer shown to them.

NumberNut – Single-Digit Word Problems: Practice addition or subtraction word problems with answers that are not greater than nine. Each round includes ten random questions. 

NumberNut – One &Two-Digit Addition Word Problems: These are all addition word problems adding up to no more than fifty. If an incorrect answer is clicked, the correct answer will be displayed immediately.

 

 

iPad Apps

Astro Math: Solve word problems in order to get money to buy gear to get your ship safely through the star systems. If an incorrect answer is entered, the correct answer is displayed and the user is asked to enter that number. There is a mix of problems that utilize addition, subtraction, division, decimals, and money. The game is configurable, but even the option for addition requires knowledge of decimals and either repeated addition or multiplication, thus it is not appropriate for second graders. There is a free version of this app that only includes a few of the levels. ($0.99)

 

Word Problems: A word problem is given with an answer that is not greater than 10. There is room on the screen for the students to use built-in counters to solve it. This app allows the questions to be phrased to ask for the end result, the beginning number, or the amount that was changed. ($0.99)