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Solving Multi-Part Word Problems {Freebie Printable Chart}

Solving multi-part math constructed response tasks is such a tricky skill for my students. Not only is the actual solving of the problems tricky, but my students also struggle with organizing their responses and their work. I have spent a lot of time this past school year thinking of how to combat that and help scaffold my students. This post sums up what I have come up with so far to help, including a free printable of the steps my students take when solving multi-part math problems and tasks.
Multi part word problems can be just as tricky (if not trickier) than multi step word problems. Check out this post for tips and a free printable to help your students tackle rigorous word problems and constructed response math tasks that have multiple parts.
First, I wanted to come up with a set of steps for my students to follow when they are solving multi-part word problems. My students respond really well to steps and it helps walk them through the process until it comes more internal. Here are the steps:
 Multi part word problems can be just as tricky (if not trickier) than multi step word problems. Check out this post for tips and a free printable to help your students tackle rigorous word problems and constructed response math tasks that have multiple parts.
To me, the most important step will be Step 4. This will force the students to think about whether they need to carry over any existing information for the additional parts. I require my students to actually write the information that is needed from the other part(s) or to write that no information is needed. Here is an example of a constructed response task that has been completed using the steps from the chart. As you can see the information that was carried over from Part A was recorded. Eventually, the students will get to the point where writing this is no longer necessary, but this will definitely help them in the beginning and make this internal.
Multi part word problems can be just as tricky (if not trickier) than multi step word problems. Check out this post for tips and a free printable to help your students tackle rigorous word problems and constructed response math tasks that have multiple parts.

Here are a few more examples. As you can see on the bottom example, part B required no additional information from part A.

Multi part word problems can be just as tricky (if not trickier) than multi step word problems. Check out this post for tips and a free printable to help your students tackle rigorous word problems and constructed response math tasks that have multiple parts.

Download the FREE Solving Multi-Part Math Tasks Poster

If you think these steps will be helpful for your students or for you as you model thinking through solving complex math tasks with multiple parts, click here or on the image below to grab the poster for free. You can use this to guide your anchor chart and then give students a copy to refer to when they are solving multi-part math tasks.

Multi part word problems can be just as tricky (if not trickier) than multi step word problems. Check out this post for tips and a free printable to help your students tackle rigorous word problems and constructed response math tasks that have multiple parts.

 

Need Multi-Part Math Tasks and Word Problems?

The particular resource that I use to teach multi part word problems and constructed response math tasks comes with three different versions of each task. The tasks themselves are not differentiated, but the response part is differentiated. The first level has sentence stems to help the students respond in complete sentences. The second level has no stems but separates the work space for each part. The final part (where I will eventually move all my students to) has no stems and no separate work space. The students will be expected to organize their answers on their own with no scaffold. Click here to see the bundle that includes 60 math tasks (20 Whole Numbers, 20 Fractions, and 20 Decimals).

 Multi part word problems can be just as tricky (if not trickier) than multi step word problems. Check out this post for tips and a free printable to help your students tackle rigorous word problems and constructed response math tasks that have multiple parts.
How do you help your students solve multi-part math tasks and word problems ? Let me know in the comments!

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Welcome friends! I’m Jennifer Findley: a teacher, mother, and avid reader. I believe that with the right resources, mindset, and strategies, all students can achieve at high levels and learn to love learning. My goal is to provide resources and strategies to inspire you and help make this belief a reality for your students. Learn more about me.

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