Addition Word Problems

Hand out eight problems and about fifteen minutes. Have the child read each story twice, draw a quick picture or write the number sentence in the box, then put the answer on the line. The key shows the sentence and the answer with its unit, so check the sentence first: it shows whether the story was understood. Read stories aloud for a child who is still learning to read.

Addition stories ask a child to turn words into a number sentence. At the To 20 level, the picture often does the work. At To 100 and To 1,000, they must handle regrouping and still keep track of what the number stands for. The common error is to grab two numbers and add without reading, which fails once subtraction stories show up. After this page, mixed addition and subtraction stories ask for the choice of operation.

Pick To 20 for first graders, To 100 for second, To 1,000 for third and beyond. If a page takes under five minutes and no one draws anything, move up a setting. Eight per page leaves room for the work; ten is tighter and suits review. Six is ideal for a child who finds reading hard. New version gives a fresh set.

Which setting fits my child?

To 20 is for first grade, To 100 for second, To 1,000 for third and up. If a child finishes quickly without drawing or writing a sentence, move to the next setting.

What should I look at on the answer key?

The number sentence. A child who wrote 12 + 5 understood the story even if the arithmetic slipped, and one who wrote the wrong operation did not. Check the sentence before the sum.

My child freezes on word problems. What helps?

Have them read the story, say it in their own words, and draw it before any numbers. Circle the question. Start with To 20 and six problems so success comes early.