Problem Solving

A story problem puts flesh on the abstract bones of arithmetic. Word problems encourage children to ponder what it means for one thing to be bigger than another, or smaller, or faster, or slower, or made up of several parts.

When problems grow more difficult, however, we find our children fidgeting with their paper or staring out the window. Too often, frustration leads to "I'm just not good at math."

But the truth is that nobody is good at math, if you define "good at math" to mean they can see the answer instantly. Here's a more useful definition: You're good at math if you have problem-solving tools and know how to use them.

And that is something everyone can learn.