11 TIPS TO TURN WORD PROBLEMS INTO ARTISTIC LEARNING EXPERIENCES Do your children decorate the margins of math papers with squiggle marks, creative designs and stick figures? Would they rather doodle-and-draw than solve one more word problem? Fret not! You may be able to transform your young artists’ time-wasters into useful tools that will turn word problems into challenging and satisfying learning experiences. Although many math problems include diagrams, maps, geometric figures or pictures to make the problems easier to understand, other problems look like formidable clumps of words and numbers to most children. By learning to draw and label their own diagrams as they read word problems, youngsters can learn to visualize the story situations described in math word problems and solve them with confidence. Because kids are often sensitive about their perceived lack of artistic ability, you may need to explain that pictures and diagrams do not need to be drawn perfectly. Children and teens need to understand that these hastily drawn sketches, diagrams, graphs and maps are tools that will help them “see” the shapes, places and relationships described in the word problems. The suggestions below will help your children use diagrams and hand-drawn pictures to make solving word problems as easy as pi. If a diagram, map or graph is a part of the original problem, use the information in the problem to label distances between points, lengths of sides, sizes of angles, order and other important information. Label everything possible on the diagram or graph. If you do not know a dimension, percentage, measurement or distance, write in a question mark (?) or a variable (x) wherever a number is missing. If a diagram is not drawn for you and the problem is confusing, re-read it. Try to imagine the places, things and events in the word problem and sketch as you read. If necessary, use concrete items as models before you sketch. Use graph paper to sketch area problems and simple map problems. First underline or circle words that help you “see” the problem in your head, then sketch it out. Analyze the problem step-by-step, working with little “chunks” at a time. Look for patterns as you sketch. Use your diagrams as tools to help you understand the problem. Make your drawings neat enough to help you solve the problem, but do not feel that they need to be works of art. Check each solution to be sure you have answered the question and that your answer makes sense. By Anne C. Patterson