Student Written Word Problems

As we know students often have difficulty solving word problems because problems can have irrelevant information, use mathematical terminology, have higher vocabulary, and the syntax can be complex.

When students write word problems, they are able to base it on their frame of reference and interests.  For students who live in the bush of Alaska, trying to answer train problems for two trains, one leaving from New York City and one from Charleston, South Carolina make absolutely no sense.  Partly because there is only one railroad line in the whole state of Alaska that runs between Anchorage and Fairbanks.  There is a train running from Anchorage to Fairbanks during the day that stops at Denali National Park, and it returns at night, making the same stop.  The other possibility is the coal train heading to Healy to supply the electric plant.

Up here, students will write their problems using snow machines, four wheelers (ATVs) or boats because that is what they are used to.l. They do not have high rises so they'll use things like the main store, the airport, or possibly a hotel if there is one in town. They can use the problems in the book as a guide but adjust it to their particular circumstance.

Another advantage to having students write their own word problems is they see a connection between their lives and the real world.  In addition, they have to use their mathematical vocabulary outside of standard equations, use their creativity to plan the problem and they have to know how to solve it so they can provide a solution.

Furthermore, they have to translate the mathematical equation into words rather than words into equations.  Most word problems in textbooks do not ask students to create a problem, they ask them to solve it so they learn to create equations without necessarily understanding the concept.  The other thing is that most of the steps they've learned to use for solving word problems do not help them when writing the problems so it gives them an opportunity to see how people who work applied math problems go through.

If you stop to think about it, most of the worlds math questions tend to be based on observations which are expressed in words before it can be turned into equations.  By having students writing their own word problems, they are learning to express certain situations in written language which is part of learning to communicate mathematical ideas.  In addition, it helps students gain an understanding of the key steps needed to solve word problems.

According to several studies I read, having students write their own word problems, helps increase student ability to answer word problems.  In addition, it is a good way to incorporate reading and writing into the math curriculum and it helps students improve their ability to communicate.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.