Lately I have been interested in learning how to teach word problems by using schema-based instruction. Using the key word approach and/or the pick a strategy approach are not successful if you want to produce real understanding grounded in relationships among numbers. The schema-based approach teaches that word problems have identifiable structures or ways in which information is arranged. These structures can be explicitly taught to students and later generalized to other problems. Those who support the schema-based approach name specific types of structures and identify graphic organizers that can be used to help students understand the relationships between the information in the word problem and later solve the problem.
Information I have found useful in understanding this way of teaching how to solve word problems:
- Book: Teaching Student-Centered Mathematics K-3 by John A. Van de Walle & LouAnn H. Lovin (Chapter 3: Developing Meaning For The Operations and Solving Word Problems)
- Article: Teaching Students Math Problem Solving Through Graphic Representations by Asha K. Jitendra http://www.asdk12.org/depts/step/disability/documents/Article5.pdf
- Book: Solving Math Word Problems: Teaching Students with Learning Disabilities Using Schema-Based Instruction by Asha K. Jitendra
The schema-based approach is new to me. I teach high school math and have long known that the majority of students "hate" word problems. Of course, this is because they have not been successful in solving them. I'll be certain to check out your suggested resources.
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