Word problems prove tricky for many students because they combine the reading comprehension skills taught in English with the quantitative skills learned in math. That said, these problems can really help a student reinforce their mathematics skills if used in the right way. If your child is struggling with word problems on either their math tests or homework assignments, Varsity Tutors can find you a professional word problems tutor who meets your academic and scheduling needs.
Here are some of the skills that students may work on during math word problems tutoring sessions:
- The addition/subtraction/multiplication/division skills at the heart of the problems a student is struggling with
- The reading comprehension skills required to understand a problem, with special emphasis on phrases such as "in all" and "how many are left?"
- Words that indicate a student is expected to work with fractions (half, quarter, etc.)
- How to approach more complicated word problems that require multiple steps
Word problems tutoring sessions allow students to build a meaningful relationship with their tutor within a one-on-one learning environment, allowing the latter to incorporate the former's interests to create more engaging study sessions. For example, a video game fan might enjoy reading word problems set in their favorite game's universe, while a young athlete could practice with sports-themed problems. A solid personal relationship between student and tutor can also make students more willing to make a mistake if it ultimately helps them learn. Finally, working with a word problems tutor also allows students to receive a timely answer whenever they ask a question, allowing them to seek help before they start to feel discouraged.