Use the GET strategy to help students understand and solve word problems. If students are struggling to understand when to multiply or divide in equal group word problems, try using the GET strategy. Using this strategy, the student breaks down the information into the groups, the amount in a group or the total. They can then determine the operation based what information is missing.

This visual example is color coded to help students understand each part of the word problem. There are three examples so students can see the difference between knowing the total, the groups or amount in each group.