What strategy should Mrs. Marshall use to help students improve their ability to identify the correct operation for word problems?

Using a warm-up question daily can effectively help students improve their ability to identify the correct operation for word problems because it provides consistent practice and immediate engagement. Warm-ups can be designed to focus on the language of the problems, helping students to recognize keywords and phrases that denote specific operations, such as "total" for addition or "difference" for subtraction.

Moreover, starting each class with a warm-up question sets the tone for active participation and critical thinking. This strategy allows for incremental learning, where students can reflect on their understanding over time and receive immediate feedback from the teacher or their peers. Engaging with a variety of word problems through daily practice reinforces the connection between language and mathematical operations, which is essential for building problem-solving skills.

Additionally, it fosters a routine and creates a safe learning environment where students may feel more comfortable taking risks and making mistakes as they learn to dissect word problems. As this option focuses on daily, focused practice, it effectively integrates vocabulary with operational understanding, ultimately supporting students' comprehension and decision-making skills in mathematics.