Are Word Problems a Problem? Evidence-Based Strategies for Word-Problem Solving

Students must solve word problems to demonstrate math proficiency. However, word-problem solving may prove challenging for students. We provided a 13-week word-problem intervention to third graders experiencing math difficulty. At posttest, intervention students outperformed the control group. In this session, we share evidence-based strategies for word-problem instruction.Participants will be able to: 1. Understand why students experience word-problem difficulties, as well as why an attack strategy, schema equations, and schema graphic organizers are needed for students to be successful problem solvers. 2. Implement an attack strategy, four schema equations, four graphic organizers, and an accompanying questioning and gesturing routine for supporting students in organizing word-problem information and solving word problems. 3. Gain access to intervention materials to support their understanding and future implementation of the intervention strategies in their classrooms, such as the RUN attack strategy, four schema posters, four schema graphic organizers, additional graphic organizers (e.g., Counting Up Fluency Poster, What Do You Ask Yourself? questioning and gesturing prompt poster), lesson guides, student worksheets, and demonstration videos. Participants also will receive free access to our website and YouTube channel (which house all of our materials and videos), which were developed as part of an Institute of Education Sciences grant.