1. Read Two Ways

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How old is the shepherd?
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3. Approaching Word Problems
Marcus can choose between a monthly salary of $1500 plus 5.5% of sales or $2400 plus 3% of sales. He expects sales between $5000 and $10,000 a month. Which salary option should he choose? Explain.

4. What is Read Two Ways?
A strategic read of a complex word problem with a different goal each time.
First read is to understand the context
Second read is to understand the mathematics
Designed to engage students in sense-making of language-rich math problems

5. Read Two Ways
At “All You Can Bowl Night,” admission (shoe rental not included) is $2.75 with a membership card and $5.00 without a card. Shoe rentals are $3.00 once inside. John and 5 of his friends are going to “All You Can Bowl Night.” John does not have a membership card. Only some of his friends have membership cards. What is the total amount that John and his friends might pay for admission?

6. Read Two Ways
First read: Share what you know about this problem without using any numbers or operations.

7. Read Two Ways
At “All You Can Bowl Night,” admission (shoe rental not included) is $2.75 with a membership card and $5.00 without a card. Shoe rentals are $3.00 once inside. John and 5 of his friends are going to “All You Can Bowl Night.” John does not have a membership card. Only some of his friends have membership cards. What is the total amount that John and his friends might pay for admission?

8. Read Two Ways
Second read: Share what you know about this problem using numbers... but No operations.

9. Read Two Ways…variations
Introducing the problem
Choral, Silent, etc
Removing the problem
Removing the question
Read Three Ways

10. Read Two Ways
At “All You Can Bowl Night,” admission (shoe rental not included) is $2.75 with a membership card and $5.00 without a card. Shoe rentals are $3.00 once inside. John and 5 of his friends are going to “All You Can Bowl Night.” John does not have a membership card. Only some of his friends have membership cards.
What is the total amount that John and his friends might pay for admission?

11. Read Two Ways
A mathematics and language comprehension strategy designed to delay the rush to an answer, deepen student understanding of both the situation and the mathematics, and help students make sense of a problem before setting out to solve it
Too often, students disengage from the context of the math problem, and simply take the numbers and do something with them (add, subtract, multiply or divide). This strategy focuses attention on the context and the mathematical structures.

12. Characteristics of Problems Suited for Read Two Ways
The situation in the problem is imperative to the solution.
The problem cannot be solved by solely extracting the numbers.
There are multiple pieces of information.
There are multiple ways to start and solve the problem.
The problem allows for collaboration and discussion.
The problem has the potential to broaden learners’ skills or deepen their mathematical understanding.

13. Characteristics of Problems Not Suited for Read Two Ways
The context of the problem is irrelevant to the solution.
Diana calculated that she spent about 5.4 x seconds doing her math homework in October. Write this time in standard notation. 
The problem simply asks for identification.
A grocery store has a shelf with half-gallon containers of milk. What type of number best represents the total number of gallons?

14. Things to Remember Be intentional about the problem selected
First read is about the context of the problem: “the story”
Second read focuses on the quantities and the relationship to the context of the story
Quantity has a sign, a number, and a unit
Look for opportunities for students to discuss the context of the problem
Ask nudging questions (avoid leading questions)