Get Wise to Word Problems (continued)
Topics: Middle School, Math
“Terri and Sara are selling Girl Scout cookies this weekend. Terri sells 12 boxes on Saturday and 20 boxes on Sunday. Terri sold 50 boxes last year. Sara sells 9 boxes on Saturday and 21 boxes on Sunday. How much money total did the girls make this weekend?”
Have your child identify what important detail is missing. She should come to the realization that she can’t say how much money they made, because she doesn’t know how much the cookies cost!
Extension Activity:
Although word problems can be confusing, they’re actually much more relatable to the real world than linear equations. That means that whenever you’re at the supermarket, watching a ballgame, cooking dinner, or making change, there’s a word problem waiting to happen! Make it a habit to quiz your child using real world word problems. Not only will it give her practice, it will also help to connect classroom math with real life.
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Kate Smith has been a teacher since 1997. She has taught in New York and California, with experience in all subjects and grades from 1 to 12, but the heart of her expertise lies in middle school, primarily English and Journalism. She has a B.A. in English and a Master of Science in Teaching from Fordham University.
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