Numberless Word Problems

In our ever-increasing efforts to get our students to UNDERSTAND a story problem and what is happening, we want to stress to them the importance of that movie playing in their heads.

Numberless word problems help to encourage just that!  These problems ask students to THINK about the problem as a reader before getting caught up in getting an answer.  

These problems can be made "on the spot" by covering or eliminating the numbers in a problem that your class is contemplating, or you can be even more intentional by building the problem through a "slow reveal" to increase their wondering and thinking about the problem.

A slow reveal might look like this:

1) TERESA IS PREPARING DINNER AND WANTS TO HAVE ENOUGH MEAT FOR ALL OF HER GUESTS.

• What math do you see in this problem?
• Do you see any math relationships?
• What are you wondering?

2) TERESA IS PREPARING DINNER AND WANTS TO HAVE 1/4 LB. OF MEAT FOR EACH OF HER GUESTS.

• How does this change what you know or what you were thinking
• What do we know now?
• What do we still need to know in order to have the full picture?

3) TERESA IS PREPARING DINNER AND WANTS TO HAVE 1/4 LB. OF MEAT FOR EACH OF HER 12 GUESTS.

• What information has been added?
• Do we need any more information?
• What question could we ask about this story?
• How could we use the information that we are given?

Numberless word problems are a good first step for us to take towards better math instruction!  Throughout the lesson, offer many opportunities for students to think/pair/share. Model good math vocabulary as you discuss the math that is presented. Encourage your students to be THINKERS!  Good luck!