CUBES Math Strategy: A Step-by-Step Guide for Word Problems

Math problem-solving is one of the most challenging things we teach. The CUBES strategy gives students a clear way to approach tricky word problems. Whether they’re solving for volume, area, or figuring out how many more apples Sally has than Timmy, CUBES helps struggling learners break problems into manageable steps. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, students have a systematic plan to follow.

So if you’ve ever found yourself scratching your head in frustration over your struggling learners’ battle with story problems, fear not! The CUBES math strategy is here to make your life a whole lot easier. Stick around to learn more about how this awesome strategy can help you help your struggling students become math problem-solving pros!

What is the CUBES Math Strategy?

The CUBES math strategy is a tool designed to help give students a systematic approach to breaking down and solving math word problems. The acronym C.U.B.E.S stands for:

• Circle key numbers & units
• Underline the question
• Box math action words
• Evaluate the problem
• Solve the problem & check your work

By breaking down the problem into these steps, students can better understand the context of the problem and effectively solve it.

Benefits of using the CUBES strategy in math word problems

CUBES isn’t the perfect strategy for every problem, especially as questions become more complex. But it’s a strong starting point for helping struggling students approach word problems more systematically.

Many struggling learners struggle with executive functioning. They need a clear, repeatable plan. A strategy like CUBES gives them defined steps instead of leaving them overwhelmed. That structure builds confidence and prepares them for multi-step problem solving.

It’s also worth noting that word problem struggles are often tied to reading demands. Vocabulary, multi-step directions, and language complexity all matter. If you’re thinking about math support within a broader system, you may also find this guide to supporting struggling readers in grades 3–8 helpful. Strong reading systems often strengthen math performance, too.

Does the CUBES Math Strategy Really Work?

The CUBES strategy can be a helpful scaffold for students who feel overwhelmed when they see a math word problem. It gives them a predictable process for slowing down, identifying important information, and deciding what the problem is asking.

But CUBES works best when we treat it as a comprehension tool rather than a formula for choosing an operation.

That distinction matters.

Students can learn to circle numbers, underline a question, and box math words without actually understanding the situation in the problem. They may also begin looking for a keyword that tells them whether to add, subtract, multiply, or divide.

Unfortunately, word problems don’t always work that neatly.

A word such as more, for example, can appear in problems requiring different operations depending on the relationship between the quantities.

Instead, I use CUBES to help students organize what they are reading while continuing to ask questions such as:

• What is happening in this problem?
• What does each number represent?
• What are we trying to find?
• How are the quantities related?
• What strategy or model would help us solve it?
• Does our answer make sense?

The goal isn’t for students to become really good at completing CUBES.

The goal is for the structure to help them develop the habits they need to eventually make sense of word problems independently.

Before CUBES: Read the Entire Problem First

There’s one step I would add before students pick up their pencils and start circling or underlining anything:

Read the whole problem.

This sounds obvious, but it is especially important for students who tend to see numbers and immediately start calculating.

Ask students to read the problem once without marking it up. Their first job is simply to understand the situation.

You might ask:

What’s happening in this problem?

Students don’t need to know the operation yet. They should be able to explain the basic situation in their own words.

Then they can go back through the problem using CUBES.

This small change helps keep the strategy focused on comprehension rather than turning it into a hunt for numbers and keywords.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using the CUBES Strategy

Teaching CUBES means modeling the steps and gradually releasing responsibility until students can use the strategy independently. The goal is simple: give students a clear process so they can approach word problems with confidence.

Here’s what each step looks like:

C- Circle the numbers & units

Students circle the key information in the problem. This includes numbers, units, and words that represent quantities such as half, dozen, or several. If no numbers are given, they circle relevant details like none.

They should also pay attention to units and decimals.

While we do not want students relying only on keywords, it is helpful for them to recognize words that signal mathematical operations.

U- Underline the question

After identifying key information, students underline what the problem is actually asking.

This keeps them focused. If they do not clearly identify the question, they are likely to solve the wrong thing.

B- Box important math language

Students can box words or phrases that help them understand how the quantities are related, but these words should not automatically determine the operation.

Rather than teaching students that altogether means add or more means subtract, ask them to use the entire context of the problem. The important question isn’t “What operation does this word mean?” It is “What relationship is this sentence describing?”

E- Evaluate or Equation

At this stage, students decide how to solve. Some may write an equation. Others may draw a model or use manipulatives.

The key is that by now, the problem has been broken down into manageable parts.

S- Solve & Check

Students solve the problem and check their work.

Encourage them to show their thinking and explain their reasoning. Checking may include plugging the answer back into the problem or reviewing calculations for errors.

Reflection matters here. Ask what worked, what was challenging, and how they might approach a similar problem next time.

Tips for Implementing the CUBES Math Word Problem Strategy

When introducing a new strategy, it helps to learn from teachers who’ve tried it. Here are a few practical tips:

To teach the cubes strategy, you should:

• Teach it as a complete process.
  CUBES works best when students see the full flow. Model several examples and create a visual anchor chart that stays posted for reference.
• Model before releasing.
  Start with a familiar problem and think aloud as you apply each step. A daily routine like a Problem of the Day works well for this because students can focus on the strategy without being overwhelmed by new content.
• Build visuals together.
  Create anchor charts as a class and practice with hands-on examples. Construction paper cubes or simple manipulatives can help make the steps concrete.
• Avoid over-relying on algorithms.
  CUBES helps students organize the problem. It does not dictate how they calculate. Encourage drawings, number lines, or other strategies you’ve already taught.

Ultimately, CUBES helps students filter out distractions and focus on what matters. For learners who tend to get overwhelmed by details, that structure can make a real difference.

When Should Students Move Beyond CUBES?

CUBES is a scaffold, so the long-term goal isn’t for students to need it for every word problem they solve.

As students become stronger problem solvers, gradually shift the emphasis away from marking each part of the acronym and toward the thinking behind it.

Instead of requiring students to circle, underline, and box every problem, ask them to explain:

What do you know? What are you trying to find? How are the quantities related? What strategy makes sense?

Some students may stop needing the visual CUBES routine fairly quickly. Others, particularly students who struggle with reading comprehension, attention, or organizing multistep tasks, may benefit from using the structure longer.

Either way, the destination is the same: students should eventually be able to make sense of a word problem, choose an appropriate strategy, solve it, and determine whether their answer is reasonable without relying on an acronym to tell them what to do.

Looking for more math differentiation support?

Looking for ready-made word problem practice that works with strategies like CUBES? My grade-level word problem warm-ups give students a daily problem to apply exactly this kind of structured thinking — without you having to build it from scratch.

→ 3rd Grade Math Word Problems · 4th Grade · 5th Grade · 6th Grade · 7th Grade

For broader math differentiation support, this Math Differentiation guide covers accommodations, fluency, and intervention all in one place.

For more math differentiation strategies, tools, and intervention resources, see the complete math differentiation guide.