Equipping Students to Find Success with Word Problems

There’s something about word problems that can make even our strongest math students suddenly freeze. I’ve watched confident students breeze through computation, only to stare blankly at a story problem that asks them to apply those same skills. That disconnect is exactly why I started thinking more intentionally about how to help students notice, interpret, and truly make sense of the math hiding inside the context of a word problem. Along the way, I created one of my favorite little tools, my "Eye on the Target" sticks. I quickly discovered how powerful they are for guiding students through the twists and turns of word problem solving.

Why Word Problems Feel So Tricky for Students

If you’ve ever listened closely as students work through word problems, you already know many aren’t struggling with the math. They’re struggling with the story. So often, the biggest roadblock isn’t addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. It’s figuring out what the problem is actually asking. When our students feel unsure, they instinctively reach for shortcuts. They rely too heavily on a keyword. They look for the first two numbers they can pluck out. They try to match patterns rather than understand the problem. I used to see it happen all the time.

The problem is that shortcuts don’t always hold up. Keywords, especially, can mislead students so quickly. For example, the phrase “in all,” which appears in both an addition and a multiplication problem, is a perfect reminder of this. The situations require completely different operations. When students rely on those shortcuts, they miss the heart of what the problem is asking. That’s why you want students to pause and ask: "What do I notice? What is known? What is unknown? What makes sense here?" When you can slow them down long enough to actually grapple with the meaning, their entire approach changes.

And it's not just shortcuts. Readability and vocabulary can get in the way, too. Even the most carefully written problems include words like product, foot, area, or gross. All of these carry both mathematical meaning and everyday meaning. When students get stuck on vocabulary, they can lose sight of what the problem is asking. Students can end up solving a problem that the situation never asked for, without even realizing it. Once students understand the situation, the math becomes accessible.

Helping Students Make Sense of the Story Behind the Numbers

Supporting students through word problems doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. One of the simplest shifts you can make is inviting students to restate the gist of a problem in their own words. Ask students, "If you had to tell a friend what’s happening in this problem, what would you say?" Their retellings reveal whether they understand the scenario or if they’re grasping only parts without seeing the whole picture.

Another powerful move is having students label what each number represents. Students can easily lose track of what each number means if they rush in without a plan. Labeling numbers, such as "12 represents the number of trays" or "3 represents the number of cups per batch," clarifies the story. When students notice the role each number plays in a problem, they can make sense of the situation and choose an effective strategy.

There’s also modeling. Giving students manipulatives, mini whiteboards, or even scrap paper to sketch the situation helps them visualize the math in a way that words alone can’t accomplish. I’ve had kids act out problems, use counters, draw array models, or create bar diagrams. These methods focus student thinking on what’s happening in the word problem, not just on what numbers appear.

Why Numberless Word Problems Belong in Your Classroom

One of my favorite strategies for helping students make sense of math was removing the numbers altogether. Numberless word problems stop students from diving headfirst into procedure mode. Without digits to latch onto, they have to slow down and think: "What is actually happening in this scenario?" This forces students to build meaning before they ever compute. That’s exactly where deep understanding begins.

When students engage with numberless problems, they notice structure. They think about relationships. They determine what the story is really about. Once they’ve built meaning, adding numbers back in becomes seamless. I loved watching my students realize, often for the first time, that the operations aren’t chosen because of a keyword. They’re chosen because of the action happening in the story.

This is such a powerful way to interrupt the habit of number plucking. Suddenly, their reasoning shifts from wondering what to do with the two numbers to understanding what’s happening. Once students learn to read the situation rather than read for a shortcut, everything changes. Their problem-solving improves. Their confidence grows. The math starts clicking.

A Visual Path Through Solving Word Problems

I wanted a simple, concrete tool that would equip my students when they weren’t sure what to do next. The Eye on the Target sticks don’t tell students how to solve the math. They guide them through the steps of thinking about the math. Every icon on the stick represents a part of the journey: noticing, understanding, choosing a strategy, solving, and checking.

Since these sticks are familiar and friendly, students won't feel embarrassed using them. They become a quiet form of support, helping students build independence over time. The best part? They’re incredibly easy to make. All you need are jumbo colored sticks, wiggly eyes, and labels. 

Here's how to make these come to life for your classroom:

1. Print out the FREE document 
2. Cut along the grey outer edge
3. Wrap the paper around a jumbo colored popsicle stick
4. Glue on a wiggly eye

Students will love the wiggly eyes on top. You'll smile when you see them instinctively grab their stick the moment they feel stuck. Instead of saying, “I don’t get it,” they pause and look at the visual cues. It prompts them to slow down long enough to figure out where the breakdown is happening. Did they understand the story? Did they identify what’s known and unknown? Did they choose an operation based on the action, not a keyword? That reflection is where real progress happens.

Helping Build Independence with Visual Tools

These sticks work best after students have been introduced to the problem-solving icons and have used them during guided practice. They are: 

1. Underline the question
2. Identify key information 
3. Crossout our additional information 
4. Choose a strategy
5. Solve the problem
6. Check work 

Modeling what each of these steps means and what to do during each step is important. Once students recognize each step and what it represents, the problem solving stick becomes a roadmap they can follow on their own. 

I recommend keeping a small bin of them accessible so students can grab one during independent work without interrupting instruction.

These sticks worked for a variety of learners. Some students will benefit from the visual steps. Others will need the stick to be streamlined. You can add, remove, or customize icons in your room based on specific student needs. They’re flexible and can serve as a helpful scaffold for different stages of the problem-solving process. 

Pairing the problem solving sticks with a classroom poster is another way to visually reinforce the steps. After introducing each icon, hang the poster where students can reference it throughout the year. That consistency helps students internalize the mindset and process of successful problem-solving.

Using Word Problem Mysteries to Build Problem Solvers

Once students understand that meaning is more important than shortcuts, they’re ready for richer word-problem experiences. Ones that stretch their thinking and make problem-solving feel purposeful. My math mysteries are designed to support that kind of work.

In the Taco Truck Math Mystery, students solve multi-step problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. As they solve the problems, they eliminate suspects one clue at a time. Several clues require students to track quantities across days, compare totals, and make sense of changing amounts. These can be the types of problems where students lose track of what numbers represent. Instead of plucking numbers and hoping they choose the correct operation, students can walk through the steps on their Eye on the Target stick to help them eliminate suspects.

The Donut Truck Math Mystery pushes students further into multiplication and division scenarios. Some problems use similar language but involve different operations. Students will see firsthand why “in all” can’t be relied on as a shortcut and why thinking about the action in the story determines the math, not a single phrase. These clues give students concrete opportunities to retell the scenario, sketch a plan, label the meaning of each number, and check their reasoning before solving.

Both resources give you ready-made, high-interest problems that naturally encourage good problem-solving habits. When students work through them using the Eye on the Target stick, they have a visual guide that slows them down just enough to build thoughtful, precise reasoning. You can use the math mysteries in small groups, math centers, partner activities, or whole class problem-solving days. They work best after modeling the steps on the problem solving stick. This way, students are given opportunities to apply the strategies in a meaningful context.

Try Out This Free Word Problem Resource

If you're ready to help students slow down, think deeply, and truly make sense of the math in front of them, I’ve got a free resource you’re going to love. I put together a Making Sense of Word Problems sampler that gives students structured opportunities to notice what’s happening in a problem, identify what’s known and what's unknown, and build the kind of understanding that leads to confident, independent problem solvers.

You can use this resource while modeling to the class, working with small groups, or even as a warm-up to get students thinking beyond shortcuts and into genuine sensemaking. It’s simple to use, easy to implement, and a great way to help students look closely at the story behind the numbers.

Time to Rethink Our Approach to Word Problems

So often, our instinct is to simplify word problems to make them more accessible. What if you approached them from the opposite direction? Instead of breaking problems down, build problems up. Encourage students to dig deeper, think critically, and stretch their reasoning. When students engage with richer problems, act out scenarios, generate their own questions, or visualize the situation, they become stronger thinkers.

This shift helps students build higher-order thinking skills and recognize that math isn’t just about finding an answer. It’s about understanding a situation. It’s about curiosity, flexibility, creativity, and perseverance. When students experience that kind of problem-solving, their confidence grows. They feel capable. They begin approaching problems with a sense of purpose.

Word problems don’t have to be intimidating. With the right tools, strategies, and mindset, students can become thoughtful, successful problem solvers who genuinely understand the math they’re doing. That, as teachers, is the kind of growth we love to see.

Save for Later

If you’re anything like me, you love having ideas you can come back to when you’re planning future units or refreshing your math block. Save this post to your favorite teaching board so you can revisit all of these strategies. These tools will be here waiting for you whenever you’re ready to grow students’ confidence with word problems.