How would I teach word problem?

Our class recently had a thought-provoking discussion about word problems in math. The general consensus was that we’ve all become so adept at solving them that, over time, they’ve lost their meaning in a real-world context. Instead, word problems now feel like an exercise in identifying keywords and units that can easily be plugged into formulas. While we’ve become proficient at this, the process feels mechanical—less about understanding the problem and more about finding the right numbers to fit a predetermined solution.

However, when I was a child, I had a very different experience with word problems. Growing up in my home country, the math curriculum placed a greater emphasis on storytelling and narrative within word problems compared to the curriculum here in British Columbia. I remember that those word problems often felt like a refreshing break from the gruelling algebraic exercises. While algebra could be tedious and repetitive, word problems brought in a sense of creativity and engagement. 

One of the most rewarding moments came when I got my tests back and saw that I had earned full marks on the word problems. It felt like a validation of my abilities, especially because I was often one of the few students who not only understood the questions but could also work through all the steps to arrive at the correct solution. That sense of mastery was incredibly motivating.

Reflecting on both our class discussion and my personal experiences, I believe that to make word problems more conducive to learning, they need to be more engaging and challenging. Teachers should experiment with how word problems are framed—how the information is presented and how the questions are worded. The goal should be to spark curiosity in young learners, encouraging them to think critically and creatively rather than simply applying formulas. By integrating more context, narrative, and even humour, we can turn word problems into opportunities for exploration. Because after all, children are naturally inquisitive and constantly seeking new information.