Looking for word problems? Many educational institutions have websites  that have done some of the heavy lifting. If you would like to use pre-made word problems you can customize them by changing some of the elements to include your student names, activities relevant to their lives, or shared experiences. 

• Word Problem Types This chart provides clarity for the different types of problems most applicable to young children. From DREME Network.

• Word Problem Types by grade level K-2 - Writers of the CCSS created this table to highlight the main types in these early grades. It shows the focus areas applicable to K-2.

• Word Problem Types by grade level  3-5 -  Problem situations and for multiplication and division.

• Addition and Subtraction Word Problems by problem type: join / separate / compare /part part whole

• Addition and Subtraction Word Problems K-5 by problem type from CGI Math Teacher Learning Center.

• Differentiated word problems template - you'll make a copy of the document in order to edit.

• NCTM Problem of the Week - available to NCTM members via login. 

• Learning From Children - Strengths based assessments, Blog, Videos, Resources

• Numberless Word Problems  (K-5)

• The Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing (CEMC)

Problem of the Week for use with their students from Grades 3  to 12.

3 Reads Protocol  A strategy for doing a close read of a complex word problem or math task.

Making Word Problems Meaningful This article from NCTM highlights 4 strategies that students and teachers already know and use in literacy to better comprehend mathematical word problems: visualizing, retelling, making connections and asking questions. 

Overcoming Obstacles in Solving Word Problems. This article from NCTM highlights 4 strategies that  strategies to help students get started in problem solving, support comprehension of the problem, and increase engagement and accountability. 

Avoiding the Ineffective Keyword Strategy Try these meaningful approaches to helping students make sense of word problems. When we teach students to rely on "keywords" this negates making sense of the context. NCTM 

This 8 minute video features teachers unpacking word problems with their class to ensure they understand the context and story. From the book Children's Mathematics CGI. 

Summary of the 5 Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematics Discussions based on the book by Margaret Smith and Mary Kay Stein. 

Planning template for orchestrating mathematical discussions with word problems. Through the 5 practices of anticipating / monitoring / selecting / sequencing / connecting student work, word problems become a powerful student centered activity that helps students learn and apply math concepts. 

Discussion Tool - If you use mathematical discussions to increase student engagement, this helpful article from NCTM provides a discussion tool to help teachers keep track of which students have contributed and shared their work. It contains an overview of potential biases when implementing the 5 practices (such as selecting mainly procedural tasks or selecting the same students to share out without tracking participation) and ideas to help create a more equitable classroom culture; one in which students are recognized as contributors and develop a positive identity as mathematicians.