Elementary School Word Problem Goals

Use addition and subtraction within 100 to solve one- and two-step word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions CCSS.Math.Content.2.OA.A.1

• First, you need to know how well a student adds and subtracts. If a student is struggling with addition and subtraction, you might want to adapt the standard to addition and subtraction within 20 rather than 100.
• Second, you need to know how the student does with word problems. What do they do when presented with a one-step problem with simple language? Can they do problems both for addition and subtraction? What happens when the language is more complex or other steps added in?
• Finally, you want to have a sense of how supports help. Does the student need a problem read to them? A graphic organizer for problem solving? Access to manipulatives?

Need more ideas? Check out the PreK-2 Mathematics Present Levels and Assessments Resource page or the 2nd-5th Grade Mathematics Present Levels and Assessments Resource page.

Looking for easy-to-use assessment resources or support with turning assessments into goals and present levels? Check out the IEP Success Kit in the store!

When word problems are read to him and he is prompted to use his strategies, John can solve one-step word problems with addition and subtraction to 20 with 60% accuracy.  

For more baseline ideas and present levels templates, check out the IEP Success Kit!

• 2nd grade goal 1: Given four problems, ____________ will use addition and subtraction within 100 to solve one-step word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions with 75% accuracy as measured by teacher records and observations CCSS.Math.Content.2.OA.A.1
• 2nd grade goal 2: Given four problems, __________ will use addition and subtraction within 100 to solve one- and two-step word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions with 75% accuracy as measured by teacher records and observations. CCSS.Math.Content.2.OA.A.1

Modify the problem solving goal to make it work for your student! You might need to change the number of steps in the word problem, the numbers for addition and subtraction, or the supports the student is offered.

• Add supports for the student
  • Given four problems and access to a pre-taught graphic organizer for word problems, ____________ will use addition and subtraction within 100 to solve one-step word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions with 75% accuracy as measured by teacher records and observations CCSS.Math.Content.2.OA.A.1
  • Given four problems and a checklist for solving word problems, ____________ will use addition and subtraction within 100 to solve one-step word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions with 75% accuracy as measured by teacher records and observations CCSS.Math.Content.2.OA.A.1
  • Given four problems that are read to her and a calculator, ____________ will use addition and subtraction within 100 to solve one-step word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions with 75% accuracy as measured by teacher records and observations CCSS.Math.Content.2.OA.A.1
• Adjust the accuracy or number of trials
  • Change the number of problems: Given five word problems, ____________ will use addition and subtraction within 100 to solve one-step word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions with 80% accuracy as measured by teacher records and observations CCSS.Math.Content.2.OA.A.1
• Change the difficulty
  • Harder (two-step): Given four problems, __________ will use addition and subtraction within 100 to solve one- and two-step word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions with 75% accuracy as measured by teacher records and observations CCSS.Math.Content.2.OA.A.1
  • Easier (one step, supports): Given four problems that are read to her and a checklist for solving word problems, ____________ will use addition and subtraction within 100 to solve one-step word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions with 75% accuracy as measured by teacher records and observations CCSS.Math.Content.2.OA.A.1

• If you need curriculum, check out the Word Problem Intervention series in the shop! The series has a total of twelve workbooks, with parts describing the difficulty of the word problem itself and the level describing the difficulty of the computations.
• Schema based instruction is a research-based approach to helping students with mathematics difficulties learn to solve word problems. Check out this article on it, with tips on how to use it!
•  Pirate Math Equation Quest is a free, research-based game that helps students with disabilities master word problems.

 Use multiplication and division within 100 to solve word problems in situations involving equal groups, arrays, and measurement quantities CCSS.Math.Content.3.OA.A.3

• First, you need to know how well a student has mastered multiplication and division. Do they need a multiplication chart? A calculator?
• Second, you need to know how the student does with word problems. What do they do when presented with a one-step problem with simple language? Can they do problems both for addition and subtraction? What happens when the language is more complex or other steps added in?
• Finally, you want to have a sense of how supports help. Does the student need a problem read to them? A graphic organizer for problem solving? Access to manipulatives?

Need more ideas? Check out the 2nd-5th Grade Mathematics Present Levels and Assessments Resource page.

Looking for easy-to-use assessment resources or support with turning assessments into goals and present levels? Check out the IEP Success Kit in the store!

Alejandro is able to use a multiplication chart to solve multiplication and division fact problems.  He can solve one-step multiplication word problems with 75% accuracy and division one-step problems with 50% accuracy. He needs support to solve multi-step word problems. 

For more baseline ideas and present levels templates, check out the IEP Success Kit!

•  Given four problems and a multiplication chart, _________ will use multiplication and division within 100 to solve one- and two-step word problems in situations involving equal groups, arrays, and measurement quantities with 75% accuracy as measured by teacher records and observations CCSS.Math.Content.3.OA.A.3

Modify the problem solving goal to make it work for your student! You might need to change the number of steps in the word problem or the supports the student is offered.

• Add supports for the student
  •  Given four problems and a multiplication chart, _________ will use multiplication and division within 100 to solve one- and two-step word problems in situations involving equal groups, arrays, and measurement quantities with 75% accuracy as measured by teacher records and observations CCSS.Math.Content.3.OA.A.3
  •  Given four problems and a checklist for solving word problems, _________ will use multiplication and division within 100 to solve one- and two-step word problems in situations involving equal groups, arrays, and measurement quantities with 75% accuracy as measured by teacher records and observations CCSS.Math.Content.3.OA.A.3
  •  Given four problems that are read to her and a graphic organizer for solving word problems, _________ will use multiplication and division within 100 to solve one- and two-step word problems in situations involving equal groups, arrays, and measurement quantities with 75% accuracy as measured by teacher records and observations CCSS.Math.Content.3.OA.A.3
• Adjust the accuracy or number of trials
  • Change the number of problems: Given five problems and a multiplication chart, _________ will use multiplication and division within 100 to solve one- and two-step in situations involving equal groups, arrays, and measurement quantities with 80% accuracy as measured by teacher records and observations CCSS.Math.Content.3.OA.A.3
• Change the difficulty
  • Harder (two-step): Given four problems, _________ will use multiplication and division within 100 to solve one- and two-step word problems in situations involving equal groups, arrays, and measurement quantities with 75% accuracy as measured by teacher records and observations CCSS.Math.Content.3.OA.A.3
  • Easier (one step, supports): Given four problems that are read to her, a multiplication chart, and a checklist for solving word problems, _________ will use multiplication and division within 100 to solve one-step word problems in situations involving equal groups, arrays, and measurement quantities with 75% accuracy as measured by teacher records and observations CCSS.Math.Content.3.OA.A.3

• If you need curriculum, check out the Word Problem Intervention series in the shop! The series has a total of twelve workbooks, with parts describing the difficulty of the word problem itself and the level describing the difficulty of the computations.
• Schema based instruction is a research-based approach to helping students with mathematics difficulties learn to solve word problems. Check out this article on it, with tips on how to use it!
•  Pirate Math Equation Quest is a free, research-based game that helps students with disabilities master word problems.

Solve multistep word problems posed with whole numbers and having whole-number answers using the four operations, including problems in which remainders must be interpreted CCSS.Math.Content.4.OA.A.3

• First, you need to know how well a student has mastered multiplication and division. Do they need a multiplication chart? A calculator?
• Second, you need to know how the student does with word problems. What do they do when presented with a one-step problem with simple language? Can they do problems both for addition and subtraction? What happens when the language is more complex or other steps added in?
• Finally, you want to have a sense of how supports help. Does the student need a problem read to them? A graphic organizer for problem solving? Access to manipulatives?

Need more ideas? Check out the 2nd-5th Grade Mathematics Present Levels and Assessments Resource page.

Looking for easy-to-use assessment resources or support with turning assessments into goals and present levels? Check out the IEP Success Kit in the store!

Alejandro is able to use a multiplication chart to solve multiplication and division fact problems.  He can solve one-step multiplication word problems with 75% accuracy and division one-step problems with 50% accuracy. He needs support to solve multi-step word problems. 

For more baseline ideas and present levels templates, check out the IEP Success Kit!

• 4th grade goal 1: Given four problems and a multiplication chart, _____________________ will solve one step word problems posed with whole numbers and having whole-number answers using the four operations with 75% accuracy as measured by teacher records and observations CCSS.Math.Content.4.OA.A.3
• 4th grade goal 2: Given four problems and a multiplication chart _________ will solve multistep word problems posed with whole numbers and having whole-number answers using the four operations, including problems in which remainders must be interpreted with 75% accuracy as measured by teacher records and observations CCSS.Math.Content.4.OA.A.3

Modify the problem solving goal to make it work for your student! You might need to change the number of steps in the word problem or the supports the student is offered.

• Add supports for the student
  • Given four problems and a multiplication chart _________ will solve multistep word problems posed with whole numbers and having whole-number answers using the four operations, including problems in which remainders must be interpreted with 75% accuracy as measured by teacher records and observations CCSS.Math.Content.4.OA.A.3
  • Given four problems and a check list for solving word problems _________ will solve multistep word problems posed with whole numbers and having whole-number answers using the four operations, including problems in which remainders must be interpreted with 75% accuracy as measured by teacher records and observations CCSS.Math.Content.4.OA.A.3
  • Given four problems that are read to her and a graphic organizer for solving word problems,  _________ will solve multistep word problems posed with whole numbers and having whole-number answers using the four operations, including problems in which remainders must be interpreted with 75% accuracy as measured by teacher records and observations CCSS.Math.Content.4.OA.A.3
• Adjust the accuracy or number of trials
  • Change the number of problems: Given five problems and a multiplication chart _________ will solve multistep word problems posed with whole numbers and having whole-number answers using the four operations, including problems in which remainders must be interpreted with 80% accuracy as measured by teacher records and observations CCSS.Math.Content.4.OA.A.3
• Adjust number or complexity of operations
  • Change to just addition and subtraction: Given four problems _________ will solve multistep addition and subtraction word problems with 75% accuracy as measured by teacher records and observations CCSS.Math.Content.4.OA.A.3
  • Reduce  to multiplication and division facts: Given four problems  _________ will solve multistep word problems posed with whole numbers and having whole-number answers using the four operations with 75% accuracy as measured by teacher records and observations CCSS.Math.Content.4.OA.A.3
• Change the difficulty
  • Harder (two-step):Given four problems  _________ will solve multistep word problems posed with whole numbers and having whole-number answers using the four operations, including problems in which remainders must be interpreted with 75% accuracy as measured by teacher records and observations CCSS.Math.Content.4.OA.A.3
  • Easier (one step): Given a  four problems read to her, a checklist for solving word problems, and a multiplication chart _________ will solve one-step word problems posed with whole numbers and having whole-number answers using the four operations with 75% accuracy as measured by teacher records and observations CCSS.Math.Content.4.OA.A.3

• If you need curriculum, check out the Word Problem Intervention series in the shop! The series has a total of twelve workbooks, with parts describing the difficulty of the word problem itself and the level describing the difficulty of the computations.
• Schema based instruction is a research-based approach to helping students with mathematics difficulties learn to solve word problems. Check out this article on it, with tips on how to use it!
•  Pirate Math Equation Quest is a free, research-based game that helps students with disabilities master word problems.