This practicum was designed to improve third grade students' problem-solving abilities through the use of problem-solving strategies. The project was implemented in a suburban elementary school that has a high percentage of students with limited or no English language skills. Activities were designed to increase the students' interest in solving word problems and to improve their problem-solving skills. Divided into small, cooperative groups, the students were taught how to use open-ended questions and problem-solving strategies such as patterns, charts, and graphs. Emphasis was placed on mathematical language development, reading word problems with understanding, and writing. The students wrote, read, and solved original word problems. Parents participated as math-partners. Observation data on how the students responded to various activities were collected and recorded in a log for evaluation. The students' work was evaluated regularly during and at the end of the project. Samples of the students' work were kept in a portfolio so that progress could be monitored by the teacher and the students. The results of the practicum indicated that when students are taught problem-solving strategies and how to read word problems with understanding, the students will be successful in solving word problems and will enjoy solving the problems. The questionnaire used for preliminary student interviews is included. Contains 16 references. (AA)