Many students see a word problem and want to immediately snatch out those numbers and do something with them. In the process of struggling with a problem children can often obtain a fairly deep understanding of the mathematics surrounding the problem. Ideally students will develop a mental image of the problem at.
Teach a Problem-Solving Routine Kids and adults are notoriously impulsive problem solvers.
Dont Provide The Answer. This process can be carried out at every stage of problem solving when teaching elementary math. Creating conjecturing exploring testing and verifying Lester et al 1994 p154. When YOU encounter a challenge do a think-aloud for the benefit of your child.