Word problems require students to read a language-based problem, identify necessary information to answer a prompt, and perform calculation(s) to develop a problem solution. Solving word problems proves particularly challenging for students because skill in reading, interpretation of language, and mathematics are required for word-problem proficiency. This class will provide a word-problem intervention to increase students’ understanding of three word-problem language features: naming a superordinate category, identifying irrelevant information, and providing a word-problem label.  Students who take this class  will demonstrate improvement on identifying irrelevant information and providing word-problem labels.  The importance of explicit teaching of language comprehension features within word-problems has been proven.  The goal of this class is to improve student ability to solve word problems and to give them practice with word problems.

A curriculum for elementary students to solve word problems involves a gradual progression of skills, ensuring students build a strong foundation in understanding and solving various types of word problems. This is the curriculum for this class:

Week 1 -
Practice 
•	Understand simple addition and subtraction word problem
•	Keywords to help student identify  addition (e.g., total, in all, all together, increased by, combined, both) and for subtraction (e.g., left, fewer, diminished by, smaller, difference, less than) problems. 
•	Understand and solve simple word problems using visual aids like pictures and objects.

Week 2 -
•	Use objects (e.g., blocks, counters) to represent word problems. 
•	Practice multi-step word problems for addition, subtraction.
•	Keywords to help student identify  multiplication (e.g., total, times, doubled, product) and division (e.g., divided by, quotient, split evenly, shared, into groups) problems. 

•	Read and interpret simple sentences.

Week 3 -
•	Practice multiplication word problems and problem-solving skills.
•	Distinguish basic multiplication and division word problems. 
•	Solve one and two-step problems.

Week 4 -
•	Solve word problems with larger numbers and two steps.
•	Use drawings and diagrams to visualize problems.
•	Continue practice with multiplication and division multi-step word problems and fraction problems. 

Week 5 - 
•	Practice all types of word problems, including measurements.  
•      Final class review and word-problem key word assessment.