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How to Help Students Conquer 2-step Word Problems with Confidence

October 9, 2024 No Comments

Have you ever wanted to pull your hair out when teaching 2-step word problems to your upper elementary students? That’s probably because two-step word problems can be challenging for students to master. 

2-step word problems require students to use a variety of thinking and mathematical skills and strategies, which can lead to students feeling overwhelmed and lost in the process. However, you can confidently teach your students to solve two-step word problems with the right tools and methods. 

In this post, we’ll explore why 2-step word problems can be challenging, how to support students in the learning process, and discuss some helpful practice activities.

Learn how to help your students conquer 2-step word problems confidently.

Why are 2-step word problems so challenging?

Understanding this question is the key to supporting our students. There are many reasons that students can struggle with 2-step word problems, and each student’s challenges are unique. So, let’s take a look at some obstacles…

  1. Reading: We often ensure students read books at their reading level but rarely lexile-level our math problems. Vocabulary or reading difficulties could limit a student’s ability to comprehend what the word problem is asking them to do. 
  2. Multiple steps: Asking students to do various things simultaneously can be difficult. If they can recognize that a word problem requires numerous steps, they may get overwhelmed and need help knowing where to start. This is a common problem. 

3. Difficulty understanding what the word problem is asking them to do: Teaching students keywords is no longer recommended because students may jump to an operation before they try to make sense of the problem. This can hinder the development of their problem-solving skills. But this also means they need to make sense of the problem and understand what operations it requires.

4. Organizing the information: 2-step word problems are often filled with much information. It can be difficult for students to manage the information, especially when they are in the solving process. This can be extremely difficult for students who may have any sort of processing deficit. 

5. Basic operations: Students struggle with the basic operations used to solve word problems. They may be able to comprehend the word problem, but they need extra skills and practice.

How can we help students solve 2-step word problems?

We’ve identified some common areas where students struggle with 2-step word problems. How can we help our students with these challenges?

First, you need to identify where you think your students are struggling. This will help you figure out how to move forward. For example, if you have a student in your class and English is their second language, you may want to ensure they aren’t getting hung up on the reading and vocabulary aspect of the word problem. 

Students may also struggle with various parts of a 2-step word problem, so it’s essential to teach 2-step word problems explicitly. Here are some ideas…

Start small with 1 step word problems:

Start with 1 step word problems: Before you jump into 2-step word problems start with 1 step word problems. Consider these the warm-up. Lebron James never runs out on the court for a game without spending much time warming up. Take the same approach with your students.

Spend time practicing one-step word problems. This can help students become familiar with the processes in a less involved way. It also is a great way to build confidence in your students before you move on to more complex word problems.

Get interactive:

Have your students act out the word problems or solve them using manipulatives. Don’t go straight to solving everything on paper. Let them explore as much as possible through interactive and hands-on experiences.

If your word problems are more complex and not easy to solve by acting out. I recommend starting with smaller numbers (following the same warm-up idea) so students can act them out or use manipulatives to solve them. This will help students build problem-solving skills more concretely. Once they’ve had some practice, they can move on to more complex problems.

Break the steps down: 

Teach your students to…

  1. Carefully read and analyze the problem. Read and reread the word problem multiple times. Highlight, color code, or underline any key information.
  2. Identify what the problem is asking. Find the specific question, then determine what they will know once they have solved the problem. 
  3. Once students know what they need to know, they must look for missing information. What do they need to know to answer the question fully? This is the first step in the word problem.
  4. Decide on operations. Show students how to look for operation clues in the word problem to help them decide which operation to use for each step. 
  5. Solve each problem step by step. Answer the first question or find the missing piece of information. Then, use that answer to solve the word problem.

Use graphic organizers:

Students can use organizers to help them solve 2-step word problems. A little organization can go a long way.

This free place value and computation toolkit includes two multi-step word problem graphic organizers that can support students while they work to solve multi-step word problems. All you need to do is print off the tools you want your students to use and glue them onto the toolkit page. Then, students can put their toolkits in a plastic page protector to use and reuse. 

Another visual way to support students with solving two-step word problems is to use color coding techniques. These can include circling, underlining, highlighting, and more. This is a visual way for students to break a problem down and work to solve it systematically.

Use the graphic organizers in this free place value and computation toolkit to help students solve 2-step word problems.

Grab these free tools here. And learn more about use this toolkit here.

Provide Guided Practice:

Ultimately, students need a lot of practice when it comes to mastering 2-step word problems. 

Modeling: Spend a lot of time modeling your thinking when it comes to solving 2-step word problems. Show students the steps you use to solve these word problems. Talk them through your thinking when you are solving these problems. How do you decide what information is missing? How do you decide which operations to use? 

Allow students to model how they solved and thought through solving the problem themselves. You can even have different students model their thinking for the same word problem so students can see various thinking strategies for the same problem.

The more your students observe the thinking and problem-solving of others, the more strategies they will have to help them when they do it themselves.

Color by Numbers:

These self-checking color-by-number activities are differentiated and allow students to practice two-step word problems at an appropriate level.

The first level starts with one-step word problems, which help students build confidence before they move on to more complex problems. The problems are also included with some tools to help students solve them.

The second level addresses the grade level standards and gives students practice with 2-step word problems.

The third level is for students who need a little extra challenge.

Use these differentiated color by numbers to help students practice solving 2-step word problems.

These color-by-number activities are engaging and fun for students to practice 2-step word problems.

4th Grade 2 Step Word Problems

3rd Grade 2 Step Word Problems

Two-step word problems can be challenging to teach and for students to learn. But if you explicitly teach them and provide multiple practice opportunities, your students will start to get the hang of them. 

One of the best strategies you can use is to focus on building your students’ confidence in solving 2-step word problems. Students who feel confident when solving these problems won’t be afraid to try new things and work through any challenges. So, what strategy will you try out with your students today?

Amanda Stitt

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I’m a mom, military spouse, and teacher trying to find the elusive balance of everything going on in life. I am passionate about helping teachers feel supported and equipped to meet the needs of their unique learners. Thanks for stopping by and let’s start teaching together! Read More

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