Our kids struggle with math from time to time. The subject gets increasingly more complex the older our kids get. Graphic organizers can help math students slow down to think through a problem in its component parts and, therefore, enhance their problem-solving skills.
How to use math graphic organizers
Graphic organizers help students to logically process the information. Often, by following a step by step process, students find they don’t get lost in the math. A graphic organizer helps students organize the thought process as well as provide a framework to collect, visualize and organize the math information to work through the problem.
Depending on the type of math problem your child is tackling, there are many different graphic organizers to use. A search on the internet for math graphic organizers is a truly overwhelming experience for parents. Let us try to make your job a little easier. We’ve created five graphic organizers we believe your elementary school children would rely on the most.
Word problem graphic organizer
Word problems are inherently difficult for most students as these problems involve working out what exactly is being asked of them and to apply the correct math equations. This word problem graphic organizer helps students slow down the process and think through the problem carefully.
Four operations graphic organizer
When solving large number equations, such as 3-digit by 2-digit multiplication, or adding 4-digit by 3-digit numbers, many students have trouble with lining up the numbers properly. Using these grids, students ensure there is one number per box and that they solve each row by their place values (ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, etc.)
Step by step graphic organizer
As students move up the grades, they will find that math problems are solved in many steps. This step by step graphic organizer helps them break down the math problem in those steps and to visualize the process to solve the problem correctly.
Frayer Model graphic organizer
Learning new words or concepts in math is an important part of understanding math. This graphic organizer was developed by Dorothy Frayer and her colleagues at the University of Wisconsin. The model helps students draw on their current knowledge of math terms to build connections to new terms.
Number lines graphic organizer
Students use number lines to understand number sequences and to visualize counting, comparing, adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing numbers. Used by younger students for simple whole number counting and math equations, older students continue to use numbers lines for working out equations of negative to positive numbers, as well as for fractions and decimals.
