The Secret Weapon for Solving Math Word Problems: Sight Words + a Little Octopus
Introduction
Many young learners struggle with math word problems—not because they lack mathematical ability, but because they have to put effort into decoding the vocabulary used in the questions. Before a child can subtract apples, they must first understand what “fewer” means. Before they can calculate totals, they must recognize what “altogether” implies. Vocabulary is the quiet gatekeeper of mathematical success.
That’s why I’ve developed a set of H5P-powered digital flashcards to help learners master the 20+ most essential math sight words. And I didn’t stop there— I made the sentences funny and memorable, so they stick in children’s minds.
But let’s dig a little deeper. Why do these words matter so much?
The Working Memory Octopus 🐙
In their book Uncommon Sense Teaching, cognitive psychologists Barbara Oakley, Beth Rogowsky, and Terry Sejnowski describe working memory as a little octopus juggling pieces of information. It only has a few arms—five to seven, according to research—and when it’s overloaded, things start falling.
Now picture this: a child is reading a math word problem. If they haven’t yet automated common math vocabulary like more than, altogether, or fewer, they’re forced to decode each term phonetically. That decoding process grabs several of the octopus’s arms. Suddenly, there’s not enough capacity left to hold the numbers and relationships needed to solve the actual math.
This insight aligns with what Cognitive Load Theory tells us. Originally developed by psychologists John Sweller, Paul Ayres, and Slava Kalyuga, CLT emphasizes that learning is hampered when working memory is overwhelmed. When word recognition is not yet fluent, the language load competes with the math load—and the numbers lose.
So What’s the Fix?
Automation. Fluency. Familiarity.
By giving learners early and repeated exposure to the key math vocabulary before they encounter it in problem-solving contexts, we lighten their cognitive load. That’s exactly what my digital flashcards try to do. They introduce each math sight word with:
✅ A clear pronunciation (via Clipchamp text-to-speech)
✅ A math-based sentence that is quirky and memorable
✅ Repetition and play—because that’s how young minds learn best
Examples From the Flashcards
- Add — “When you add a banana to another banana in a monkey’s lunchbox, you get two bananas and one very happy monkey!”
- How many — “How many socks does a centipede need? Way more than your calculator can handle!”
- Fewer — “If a pirate has fewer gold coins today than yesterday, someone’s been sneaky!”
We’re building strong mental associations and reducing the language burden before learners tackle word problems.
Why This Matters
According to researchers like Swanson & Jerman (2006) and Gathercole & Alloway (2008), students who struggle with both language comprehension and working memory are at a double disadvantage in math. Our goal is to remove one of those barriers—by making sure that math words become sight words.
Try the Flashcards Now
The H5P Dialog Cards are completely free and accessible right here. They’re perfect for learners, teachers, tutors, and even parents looking to give their child a boost.
Whether you’re teaching online or in a traditional classroom, this little set of word cards could be a game-changer for how your learners engage with math.
🧠 Teach the words. Lighten the load. Let the numbers fly.