We often hear students gripe about "words getting involved in their math". They complain about word problems and drag their feet when it comes to solving these problems. However, there IS a reason behind these lengthy, word-infused math problems. In fact, there are MANY benefits, including strengthening critical thinking skills, engaging creativity, and improving true comprehension of a topic.
"Word problems will often require a student to use two or more math skills together to find the correct solution."
When solving word problems, students are often forced to blend current and past topics to find the solution, which is enhancing their ability to think critically and creatively. In addition, word problems demonstrate the real-world uses for math, answering the often echoed question of "When am I ever going to use this?
To learn more on the many benefits of word problems, read here:
https://blog.mathnasium.com/why-do-i-need-to-learn-this-the-benefits-of-word-problems
Do you see your student dragging their feet on word problems? Do you often have trouble helping your student with these problems or find them difficult to understand? What's the biggest hurdle that you encounter with word problems?
At Mathnasium of Littleton, we embrace the diversity that word problems bring to our sessions and love to see the approaches that students use to solve these. We hope to make everyone see the benefits of these types of problems as well!
