This is a detailed scripted program using Schema-Based Instruction (SBI). It is primarily for school practitioners (e.g., special and general education teachers, school psychologists) teaching critical word-problem-solving skills to students with disabilities, Grades 1–8.
Solving Math Word Problems is organized into two categories:
- Solving addition and subtraction problems
- Solving multiplication and division problems
Each category is then divided into units and lessons. Each unit introduces one of four problem types (i.e., Change, Group, Compare or Multiplicative Compare, and Vary), and subsequent lessons within each unit focus on solutions for that particular problem type. Lessons are 30 to 60 minutes in length, and can be administered to individuals, small groups, or large groups, in various settings.
Students are taught to problem solve in a four-step strategy, “FOPS” (Find the problem type; Organize the information in the problem using the diagram; Plan to solve the problem; Solve the problem).
Components: Teacher-scripted procedures, Visual Diagrams, Checklists of Materials, Overhead Modeling, Reference Guides, Answer Sheets, Student Pages
Features:
- Tasks are based on word problems formatted as text, graphs, tables, and pictographs.
- Program instructions address both conceptual and procedural knowledge.
- Provides adequate practice and mixed reviews of problem types.
- Includes progress-assessment measures to monitor students’ performance.
Aligns with national standards of problem solving, communicating, connecting, reasoning, and representing word problems.
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