Struggling with word problems? CUBES/CUBED to the Rescue!

Here is the new cover for my CUBES/CUBED Strategy Posters for Word Problems:

Everyone does love word problems – right? Really? Some students (and teachers!?!?!) don’t love them? Hmmm.

Note: This worksheet from Go Math! is NOT included in my resource

Well – if you are one of those teachers, or if you have some of those students in class, you might find the CUBES or CUBED Word Problem Solving Strategy helpful.

I introduced the strategy earlier in the school year, but then it got pushed to the backburner for awhile as I struggled to learn the new Go Math! curriculum and transition to the Common Core “Throw it all at you” method. Well, the “Throw it all at you” method wasn’t working because my students were totally bogged down by the multi-step problems that required organized thinking that they hadn’t developed yet.

Note: This worksheet from GO Math! is NOT included in my set

My students just wanted to pull the numbers out of the word problem and add them together – I KNOW that YOU KNOW what I’m talking about! They weren’t sure if they should add, subtract, or multiply (division hadn’t been introduced yet . . .), so they picked one at random.

Instead of shouting, “STOP THE INSANITY!!” I decided that they needed a strategy and organized method of approaching these word problems that felt so overwhelming to them. I put up a new bulletin board using the posters I made from my CUBES or CUBED Strategy Posters for Solving Word Problems package on Teachers Pay Teachers.

I love this poster set because it has everything that you need to set your students up for success with word problems. The smallest cards shown are actually task cards that are included in my bundled set of CUBES/CUBED posters and Beginner Level Multiplication and Division Word Problems set.

The beauty of this poster set is that it allows you to choose the more traditional “CUBES” method, which stands for:
1. Circle the numbers
2. Underline the question
3. Box the key words
4. Eliminate what you don’t need
5. Solve and Label (I added the “Label” because we all require it – don’t we??)

Or you can choose the newer “CUBED” method, which stands for:
1. Circle the numbers
2. Underline the question
3. Box the key words
4. Eliminate what you don’t need
5. Draw a picture (which is a push in the Common Core State Standards)

Whichever method you prefer, you are covered because there are poster sets included for both versions. All of the posters in the picture above are included along with a Mini Posters for each student to have their own copy. The mini posters can be laminated and handed out to students to use within the classroom, or attached to their math folders or binders to use as a reference tool at home, as well.

There is also a medium sized poster set included as well, so take your pick!

Here are more pictures from my classroom of students using the mini-posters to help them solve their word problems.

There are two additional related products that I am also offering at Teachers Pay Teachers. There is a bundled set of CUBES/CUBED posters with beginner level multiplication and division task cards included. They are basic cards (both with and without extra information to eliminate), which makes it very easy to differentiate!