Last week, you saw an example of how keywords can cause confusion when students are given a problem with a comparison situation. Today, you’ll see two word problem strategies side by side: CUBES and Structures of Equality (SoE).
Look for 3 key things while you work your way through the strategies:
First, let’s take a look at CUBES.
The Steps:
To find key words, there’s often a chart to reference:
We’ll try each approach with the same word problem. Let’s start with a problem that gives us two parts and is looking for the total.
Felix had 6 chocolates. His mom gave him 3 more. How many chocolates does Felix have now?
Cube
Parts Equal Total SoE
We arrive at the same solution with both approaches. However, using CUBES was a rote process. We didn’t have to engage in any thinking. We just had to follow a series of steps to arrive at an expression we could use to solve. With SoE, students had to comprehend that:
Let’s try a different type of problem, one in which we’re looking for the difference.
Kianna had 6 chocolates. Mia had 3 chocolates. How much more chocolate did Kianna have than Mia?
Cubes:
Compare SoE
In this case, the student who used CUBES followed the steps, but the steps didn’t lead to an expression that matches the situation in the story problem. They are supposed to evaluate, then solve and check. But with this method, there’s no way to tell if the solution makes sense or not.
With the Compare SoE, the student had to comprehend the problem in order to visually represent it correctly. They understood:
To solve, the student who used a SoE could use the equation 3 + ___ = 6, or the expression 6 – 3.
A comparsion of methods
CUBES is a step-by-step method. It works sometimes. When students attempt to solve word problems as a series of steps to complete, they focus on procedures rather than conceptual understanding. This is why so many teachers get frustrated when teaching word problems. And why so many students don’t understand what the problem is asking them to do.
SoE are not a series of rote steps or procedures. The structures use a systematic approach that helps students comprehend word problems so they can successfully choose strategies and operations to help them solve problems accurately.
SoE provide a systematic framework that encourages critical thinking which benefits both students and teachers. By grasping the understanding of how to translate story problems into visual representations, problem-solving becomes more accessible. Students comprehend what is happening within the problems and engage the critical thinking skills necessary for continued success with mathematics.
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