TI-AIE: Mathematical stories: word problems

What this unit is about

Word problems are often seen as a way to bridge the divide between real life and the mathematics classroom. However, students across the world often perform poorly in tests involving word problems. Even when students have mastered the technical competencies of doing mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication or division, they can still find it hard to work out solutions to word problems that involve applying of those mastered techniques (Morales et al., 1985).

This unit will focus on helping students to make sense of this subject by:

• rephrasing word problems
• asking the students to construct word problems themselves by creating stories.