An important component of second grade math is having a strong understanding of addition and subtraction word problems. I taught both second and third grade and witnessed the huge jump students take from one grade level to the next.

Third graders are expected to solve many multi-step problems using all four operations, whereas second graders rarely see multi-step problems. The key to student success is giving them one problem solving strategy that they can apply to all problem types.

In this blog post, I’m sharing three types of word problems you can teach students that will provide them with a solid foundation for third grade. I’ll be covering:

Word problems that combine to teach addition & multiplication
Word problems that separate to teach subtraction & division
Word problems that compare to teach subtraction

So if you are feeling completely overwhelmed with planning and looking for a simpler approach to teaching elementary math word problems, you’ve come to the right place! Let’s get started!

Word problems that combine to teach addition & multiplication

Word problems are like stories, and each story has three possible actions: combining, separating, and comparing. Students have to be able to identify the action, eliminate any unnecessary information, and then solve for the solution.

When teaching word problems to your students, I suggest teaching one problem type each day for three days so it’s not too much information all at once. For example:

Day 1: Combining
Day 2: Separating
Day 3: Comparing

You’ll also want to keep the stories very simple so students can practice identifying each problem type before building in complex operations. Stories that combine two or more unequal groups require students to use addition. Here is an example:

Students figure out that Gael and Joshua are combining money. They realize that they can eliminate 30 dollars from the problem, because they don’t need it to answer the question. They know that 7 and 9 are unequal groups, so they add!

This approach to teaching word problems involving addition lays a solid foundation for third graders when they learn that combining two or more equal groups requires them to use multiplication to solve the problem.

Word problems that separate to teach subtraction & division

The second possible action in story problems is separating. Stories that separate two or more unequal groups require students to subtract. For example:

Students figure out that Lizett is separating cookies because she is giving some to her family and some to her class. They realize that to solve the problem they need to subtract!

When students are in third grade, they learn that they can use division in stories that separate equal groups. By teaching word problems in this way, you lay the groundwork for helping students make the connection between subtraction and division later on.

If you want a simple way to teach this problem solving strategy to your students, be sure to download my Word Problem Experts powerpoint lessons for your classroom: Word Problem Experts Addition & Subtraction and Word Problem Experts Multiplication & Division. Grab yours today and take the stress out of teaching word problems!

These lessons also teach students a problem solving protocol which looks like this:

Once students learn this problem solving strategy, you can incorporate the protocol into a problem of the day routine so students can practice word problems on a weekly basis and develop more complex skills over time. Remember, starting simple is key!

Word problems that compare to teach subtraction

The last possible action students will see in a story problem is comparing. These problems usually use phrases like, “How many more? How many fewer? How much more? How much less?” Here is an example:

Students learn that when we compare two or more numbers, we always use subtraction. Be aware that students sometimes have a hard time distinguishing problems that separate and problems that compare because both problem types use subtraction. Make sure students always identify the action first (combining, separating, or comparing), and then solve the problem. This will help you identify students who are getting confused, and you can work together to solve the problem using the correct operation.

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