Math: Starting with the Hard Part

In many classrooms, word problems—the ones that really make students think—are saved for last. They’re tucked at the bottom of the page, meant to be tackled after the worksheets, drills, and basic practice. But here’s the problem: by the time teachers get to them, the clock has run out. And without support, students often skip them or struggle through alone, missing out on the most meaningful part of math learning.

At Blue Horizons Knowledge Academy, we flip that approach. We start with the hard part.

Every day, our math block begins with problem solving. Before we dive into the procedures, we wrestle with the messy, real-world stories that require interpretation, persistence, and strategy. We talk through problems together. We draw models, look for patterns, and ask questions like, What is this really asking? and What do we already know?

By starting with complex problems, students build deep understanding. The algorithms and computations that follow make more sense—they’re no longer disconnected steps but tools that serve a purpose. And because we’ve already done the heavy thinking as a group, students are more confident tackling the independent work that comes next.

Starting with the hard part teaches kids how to think, not just how to follow directions. It’s where real math learning begins—and where it should begin.