Special Offer Numberless & Numbered Word Problems with BONUS

This AMAZING product uses a strategy that will truly help your students understand and solve math word problems (story problems) with sums and differences within 20. It includes 88 numberless story problems that you work through together as a class or small group and 88 word word problems for students to complete independently.

UPDATE – We have added a DIGITAL version of this product for your convenience!

The problems are organized by word problem type. There is a section on joining, separating, and comparing. The sections address ALL of the 11 addition and subtraction word problem types.

It also includes 88 independent problems (with numbers) called, “On My Own.” There is one similar problem for each numberless problem provided. To facilitate differentiation, each “On My Own” problem comes in a version with blanks to write your own numbers in.

What Are the BENEFITS to Numberless Word Problems?

Numberless word problems require students to process what the problem is and what is needed to solve it. Students will no longer absentmindedly add or subtract numbers they see, because there aren’t any numbers there – at first, anyway.

For example:

There were students on the bus.

More students got on the bus.

How many more students got on the bus?

After students THINK about and PROCESS the problem, they are presented with snippets of needed information, a little at a time. By presenting a word problem in a numberless manner first, students are truly focusing on what the problem is asking.

Here’s What Other Teachers are Saying!

“I love, love, love this! It gets students thinking about what the problems are telling them and what they are not. My students are thinking rather than writing the first 2 numbers they see and adding them together.”

“These are A-mazing!! These have helped my students understand what information is needed to solve different types of problems and to think about what they are solving for. The process used to think about a problem encouraged my students to engage in productive student discourse about math.”

“I just loved using this product this year with my students. I particularly love how student friendly it is. I believe this teaching strategy is one of the best ones for teaching problem solving. Your product made it very easy to use the strategy in my classroom!”

“I love this unit. Using numberless word problems has been a great boost to teaching word problems. The conversation is so much better. My kids get it. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

“Our primary-grade teachers just were bemoaning how students always just want to add, whenever they see two numbers! This is brilliant…one of those “why didn’t I think of that?” moments when you realize you can begin without numbers. Thanks so much! I’m going to purchase extra licenses for my colleagues!”

Why Did We Create This Resource?

For years we introduced and taught students how to solve math word problems teaching them strategies to use such as underlining the question, circling important information, and looking for key words. Some of our students had success, but many students struggled, especially when the unknown was not the end result. They didn’t truly understand the situation or how to tackle it. Luckily, we stumbled upon the idea of using numberless word problems to truly help students focus on the problem situation. It increased student discourse and understanding GREATLY. With repeated exposure, discussion and practice, students began approaching math word problems with understanding and success.

Who is This Resource For?

-Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade Teachers

-Special Education Teachers

-Whole Group Math Instruction

-Small Group Math Instruction

-Math Intervention

Thank you for considering this product!