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A significant number of young children face challenges when it comes to solving word problems in mathematics. Educators and researchers attribute this issue partly to the tendency of students to fixate on specific key words such as “and” or “total” as clues for finding solutions.
This over-reliance on keywords can hinder students, especially as the complexity of word problems increases through their educational journey.
Word problems demand a variety of skills beyond simple arithmetic, including reading comprehension and executive functioning. Consequently, proficiency in tackling these problems is often seen as a strong indicator of a student’s overall academic performance.
To better support students who struggle, educator Sarah Carr has explored innovative teaching approaches. Some instructors are varying the types of math word problems presented and are concentrating on the fundamental structure of the problems. According to one teacher’s insights, fostering a mindset that encourages students to fully comprehend the question being asked is crucial.
More on early education math
This spring, Holly Korbey reported on kindergarten mathematics, noting that much of the curriculum parallels what children have already encountered in preschool, as detailed in The Hechinger Report.
In an article from last fall, the anxiety many early childhood educators feel about teaching math was discussed, often stemming from their own negative experiences with the subject.
Quick Take
According to recent findings by the Center for Law and Social Policy, only 1 in 7 children eligible for state child care subsidies actually benefit from them. The availability of these subsidies varies significantly across states, with no state reporting that more than 50 percent of eligible children were receiving assistance.
This story about word problems was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization dedicated to tackling issues of inequality and innovation in education. Subscribe to the Hechinger newsletter for more insights.
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