Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: Two Step Word Problems Mr. Math notices that a group of students are struggling with two step word problems. Students were given a practice problem after modeling and working with base ten blocks for over a week. The students were able to explain their thinking and solve the problem with base ten blocks. However, when Mr. Math gave the same problem on paper, the students could not solve it. What can Mr. Math do to ensure students are grasping the concept of solving two step problems and being able to show their work? Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) After using the base ten blocks and mastering the concept, some students require more than just going to the paper and answering a question with equations. Teach the "boxes, sticks, and dots" strategy for these students. They draw their problem with boxes for hundreds, sticks for tens, and dots for ones. They can label the boxes, sticks, and dots with the numbers underneath to bridge their learning to just using numbers.