"He Can Do Sums, But
Not Stories"
Your child aces the "20 + 5" worksheet but stares blankly at "Sam has 20 apples..." This isn't a math problem—it's a translation problem. We decode the secret language of word problems.
The "Number Grab" Trap
When a child sees a paragraph with numbers (e.g., 50 and 10), they often panic and just add them together because "adding is easy." They do the math before they read the story. This "Number Grabbing" is the #1 reason for lost marks in GL Assessments, especially for EAL students.
The Vocabulary Translator
Here are the trigger words your child needs to highlight (Underline) to know which operation to choose:
| The Word | The Operation | The Trap |
|---|---|---|
| Altogether, Total, Sum | Addition (+) | Usually safe, but can appear in multi-step problems. |
| Difference, Fewer than, Left | Subtraction (-) | "How many more does Sam have?" is actually subtraction (comparison), but kids see "more" and add. |
| Product, Groups of, Times | Multiplication (x) | "Times as many" means multiply. |
| Share, Split, Each | Division (÷) | "Share equally" is the biggest clue for division. |
How Schools Teach It (And How You Can Help)
If your child is stuck, don't just tell them the answer. Use the two strategies Dubai schools rely on:
1. The RUCSAC Method
A checklist for every problem:
- Read the question (Twice!).
- Underline the keywords (numbers & vocab).
- Choose the operation (+ - x ÷).
- Solve it.
- Answer it.
- Check it.
2. Bar Modeling (Visualizing)
If the words are confusing, draw them.
"Sam has 3 times as many..."
Draw 1 box for Tom and 3 boxes for Sam. Suddenly, the math becomes visible without needing to understand complex grammar.
Is it Math or English?
Often, a child needs a tutor who can teach "Math Comprehension," not just sums. We specialize in decoding word problems for Year 3-6 students.
Find a Word Problem SpecialistWord problems (also known as "Reasoning" or "Problem Solving") make up a significant percentage of marks in GL Assessments and CAT4 Quantitative tests. Arithmetic alone is rarely enough to achieve an "Above Average" (Stanine 7+) score.