How can a teacher use a word problems as a means of helping students construct strategies for the basic math facts?

Answer 1

devise some real world math problems that focus on the various strategies.

eg) trig- mr blue has a triangular wall on his barn, find the angle of x when side y=12m and side z= 6m. (use a diagram to explain the question)

or for the really basic addition/multiplication, blah blah, just use shopping lists and stuff.