reading charts and writing story problems -...

The Reading Teacher Vol. 66 Issue 3 pp. 254–257 DOI:10.1002/TRTR.01122 © 2012 International Reading AssociationR T

254

Reading Charts and Writing Story ProblemsAdapted from ReadWriteThink.org lesson plans “QARs + Tables = Successful Comprehension of Math Word Problems” by Janet Beyersdorfer and “Solving the Math Curse: Reading and Writing

Math Word Problems” by Valerie A. Adair

Ch d W i i S PToolbox

Students work in groups to apply and demonstrate the QAR strategy by creating their own word problems. Students create and answer questions using information from a table or chart.

InstructionsShow the students a table or chart. This may be a chart or table from a textbook or any other source. It may even be one you create on a site such as Create A Graph Website (nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/). Discuss how data can be presented in formats other than paragraphs.

Students discuss the advantages and disadvantages of presenting information in chart form. Their discussion may include the charts heightened ability to compare information and to see patterns in the data. They may also mention that tables and charts only present the information without explaining or analyzing the data.

Ask the students a question whose answer is “right there” in the data on the table. Ask the students to offer other possible “right there” questions. Write a question on the board to model question sentence structure. Allow the students time to write a “right there” question on their QAR

Worksheet (see reproducible). Ask the students a question whose answer is in the graphic but you have to use information from comparing data or referring to the title. Ask the students to offer examples of other “think and search” questions. Allow the students time to write one of the sample questions on their QAR Worksheet. Continue modeling questions and guiding their examples until all four squares of the QAR Worksheet have been filled in with at least one example. Refer to the Guide Sheet for Using QARs With Graphics reproducible to review the criteria for each type of question.

Provide each group of students with a chart or allow them to find or create their own. Have the students work in groups to create questions. Each group will have a recorder, QAR Checker, and Timekeeper. The recorder writes down the word problems created by the group. The QAR Checker will make certain the group is following directions regarding which QAR to use. The Timekeeper keeps the group on task and monitors the group’s progress to ensure completion of the task. All students are responsible for creating the word problems and answering them. Each group fills out the Collaborative Group Worksheet (see reproducible).

Give students time to work on their charts and word problems. Go around the classroom and guide the groups. Make sure that all students are contributing to their group. Share the student-created word problems and charts with the class through presentations or the creation of a class booklet. The charts and problems may also be posted on a bulletin board for independent or challenge work.

Extensions ■ Students write a guidebook with

information on how to read a table or graph. The Create a Graph website provides excellent information on each type of graph.

■ Students may develop a poster related the information found on a table or chart.

Supplemental Resources

■ Word Problem Rubric www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson1123/rubric.pdf

■ Using QARs With Charts and Graphs: www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson151/mesmer.pdf

■ Student Self-Assessment Checklist www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson1123/checklist.pdf

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ToolboxReading Charts and Writing Story ProblemsAdapted from ReadWriteThink.org lesson plans “QARs + Tables = Successful Comprehension of Math Word Problems” by Janet Beyersdorfer and “Solving the Math Curse: Reading and Writing


www.reading.org R T

ToolboxReproducible


256

Reading Charts and Writing Story ProblemsAdapted from ReadWriteThink.org lesson plans “QARs + Tables = Successful Comprehension of Math Word Problems” by Janet Beyersdorfer and “Solving the Math Curse: Reading and Writing


Ch d W i i S PToolboxCh d W i i S PToolbox

The Reading Teacher Vol. 66 Issue 3 November 2012R T

Reproducible


257

ToolboxReading Charts and Writing Story ProblemsAdapted from ReadWriteThink.org lesson plans “QARs + Tables = Successful Comprehension of Math Word Problems” by Janet Beyersdorfer and “Solving the Math Curse: Reading and Writing


www.reading.org R T

ToolboxReproducible


reading charts and writing story problems -...

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