1. Guide to Solving Number Stories Math…no problem!

2. What do you know? Read the question carefully. Make sure you only use information you need. Look for key words (poster)

3. What do you want to find out? Notice facts. Find out what the question is. Decide if there are one or more parts to solve. Work in order to answer the WHOLE question.

4. What will you do? Draw a picture or a diagram? Example: There were four girls standing in a line. They each had two legs and two feet. How many legs and feet did they have altogher? LABEL YOUR DIAGRAM WITH NUMBERS TO HELP SOLVE!

5. Add? Subtract? Multiply? Divide?

6. Answer the question Can you write a number model to show what you did? Example: There were 8 bags of chips. Marcy bought 3 bags. How many bags were left? NUMBER MODEL: 8-3=5 –“box it”---draw a box around number model.

7. Check. Ask: “Does my answer make sense? How do I know ? Look at the answer you got. Does it look right? For instance, if you are adding the numbers, the final sum should be bigger than the two numbers added. When you are sure CIRCLE your answer(s).

8. We will practice using certain strategies Guess and check Draw a picture Make a list Choose the information you need Draw a graph or diagram Look for a pattern Work backwords –DEAN: the meat and potatoes of it all!