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Two-step word problems
Can do: Solves problems that need two operations, and knows what the middle answer means.
Why it matters
One-step problems can be guessed from the numbers. Two-step problems can't — they force actual comprehension of the situation.
What it looks like when it's wobbly
Does the first step and stops, or does both operations in the wrong order.
⏱️ Two-minute check
"I had 45 stickers, gave 12 away, then got 20 more. How many now?"
Solid looks like: 53, with the middle number 33 visible in their working.
The full activity for this topic · 10 minutes
What's the Hidden Question?
- 1Read the problem twice, then ask: "What do we need to know before we can answer this?"
- 2That is the hidden first question. Write it down as its own sentence.
- 3Solve step one and label the answer with what it means: "33 stickers left."
- 4Then do step two and answer the actual question.
- 5Check it back against the story: does 53 make sense?
If it's too hard
You state the two steps and they solve them.
If it's too easy
They write a two-step problem for you, which is much harder than solving one.
Say this
"What do we have to work out first, before we can answer the real question?"