Question: How can I help my daughter in the fourth grade learn how to solve story problems? - Confused
Answer: Work closely with your young daughter to help her learn some strategies for solving story problems. Start by teaching her to rework examples of similar problems in her textbook before beginning an assignment.
Believe it or not, one of the best ways for students to become more expert at solving story problems is simply to solve more story problems. If the teacher only assigns the even numbered problems in the math textbook, encourage your daughter also to solve the odd ones.
You need to make sure your daughter knows how to read story problems. Have her get in the habit of reading a problem until she has a clear picture of what must be found out in order to solve it. The last sentence of the problem frequently gives this information.
Because story problems have so many facts and figures jammed into a few words, many students find it very helpful to draw pictures or diagrams that describe all the facts and relationships stated in the problems. Substituting smaller numbers for larger ones can also make problems simpler to solve.
Another useful strategy is to have your daughter describe the problem to you in her own words before she begins to solve it. Plus, she should explain what she is going to do to solve a problem. Talking about problems increases understanding.
When working with your daughter, do not solve the difficult problems for her. Instead, ask questions to guide her. Also, encourage her to get in the habit of evaluating whether or not an answer is reasonable.