3rd Grade Math

[NCDisneyMom]

Let me preface by saying that math is NOT my strong point. Never was. A calculator is my friend.

My ds is in 3rd grade, and he is already bringing home basic algebra for homework (25 + N = 43. What is the value of N?). Luckily he is good at math, but I think it takes me longer to check his homework than it does for him to do it in the first place! I'm in big trouble if I'm already having trouble with 3rd grade math homework...how will I help him as he gets into more complicated math? I think I need to go back to school with him to learn it all over again.

 

[mumom95]

I also have a third grader, but I used to be a high school math teacher, so 3rd grade math is pretty easy for me.

Now language arts, that's where I struggle. He'll come home with a paper and say their supposed to find all the some kind of somethings in the paragraph, and I have no idea what he is talking about. So, I'll excuse myself for a moment, tell him I have to go to the bathroom, grab my cell phone and after I lock the bathroom door I call one of my best friends who is an English teacher. She'll explain to me what it is, then I come out of the bathroom and help my son and look like a genius. I'm just waiting for the time when he says "mom, you don't need to lock yourself in the bathroom, I know you are calling Linda"

Nothing like an elementary school child to make you wonder how you ever graduated high school.

 

[SeaShelley]

PLEASE tell me that whatever you did it was in PENCIL !!!!!!!

 

[mjkacmom]

I give it up to DH once they reach 5th grade. However, don't ask him to diagram a sentence! My 2nd grader still asks me questions in math, but the older 2 don't bother - just wait for dad!

 

[NCDisneyMom]

PLEASE tell me that whatever you did it was in PENCIL !!!!!!!

No worries there!

I'll be fine with all of the English, Literature, and even Sciences (when there are no formulas or math involved, of course. ). I think I need to find a math teacher whom I can sneak into the bathroom to call.

 

[GJM]

I am right there with you! Math is not one of my strong areas either. Plus they use Everyday Math here, which I can't stand along with lots of other parents.

The other day I couldn't help my DS because I had no clue of how it was to be done. I am so ready for 3rd. grade to be over with.

 

[tasha99]

PLEASE tell me that whatever you did it was in PENCIL !!!!!!!

I have stayed out of that thread. I made DS do his math homework in pen last night. We moved over the weekend, and I can't find anything. I was too dog tired to go out to buy pencils last night.

 

[Cindy B]

I'm in a rd grade classroom. Think of the original problem like high school or jr. high algebra.


25 + n = 45
-25 -25

n= 20

Yes, they do learn how to isolate the variable and solve the equation. ETA: The columns didn't really line up but you get the idea.

If they can't isolate the variable, they can use a guess and check strategy or an estimation strategy.

 

[Suzie Zoo]

Wow... that seems advanced for third grade. Not so much because of the level of difficulty, but because it's so abstract.

 

[mumom95]

Maybe we need to start a 3rd grade homework help thread. Anytime we are stuck on homework, we can post the question and get some help.

 

[Cindy B]

Wow... that seems advanced for third grade. Not so much because of the level of difficulty, but because it's so abstract.

Do you mean the n is abstract?

My students learn this in K. It's stuff like _+1 = 3 What is the _?

 

[vanillamickey]

I'm in a rd grade classroom. Think of the original problem like high school or jr. high algebra.


25 + n = 45
-25 -25

n= 20

Yes, they do learn how to isolate the variable and solve the equation. ETA: The columns didn't really line up but you get the idea.

If they can't isolate the variable, they can use a guess and check strategy or an estimation strategy.

Subtracting 25 from 25 seems unnessecary. Just subtract 25 from 45. That's how I learned it.

That reminds me, whe I was younger I used to think "number" was SUCH a loooooooooong word.

 

[mumom95]

Subtracting 25 from 25 seems unnessecary. Just subtract 25 from 45. That's how I learned it.

That reminds me, whe I was younger I used to think "number" was SUCH a loooooooooong word.

To get the students ready for more difficult equations, you need to start teaching them whatever you do to one side of an equation, you must do to the other side, this is how you keep the equation equal. That is why they have to subtract 25 from both sides.

 

[taylor1293]

In third grade, you would simply reverse the equation and say 45 - 25 = 20; therefore n = 20

 

[robinb]

I am right there with you! Math is not one of my strong areas either. Plus they use Everyday Math here, which I can't stand along with lots of other parents.

I'm OK with math in general, but that Everyday Math is something OTHER than math. I try to explain things to Celia, but she doesn't get my explanation because it's not one of the strategies that she has been taught. I finally found something that helped me explain things to her: http://www.nychold.com/em-arith.html .

 

[lowie]

i'm absolutely awful at math, and my luck, DS started AP classes this year so he skipped 3rd grade math and went straight to 4th.. i'm lost... lmbo! luckily MIL is a retired teacher so she is in charge of homework.

 

[Cindy B]

To get the students ready for more difficult equations, you need to start teaching them whatever you do to one side of an equation, you must do to the other side, this is how you keep the equation equal. That is why they have to subtract 25 from both sides.

Yes! I use a little picture of a scale (the beam one) to show this.

You can use the "simpler" version and I have done that for other students but some like to use the "algebra" version.

 

[teacups]

Oh yea. I LOVE teaching math.

 

[GJM]

Thank you for the link for Everyday Math, I will check that out. I only took General Math in HS, so I will be totally lost.

The other day my DS had a Math problem, he couldn't figure it out, so I did and I explained it to him and he had to write how he came to the answer. He then said we have to come up with 3 ways of how we got the answer - I could only figure out one way and that is how we left it.

Just let them do good old fashion Math the way we learned in school - not this Everyday Math that seems to make it more complicated.

 

[rie'smom]

When our daughter was in the 4th grade, she had a math problem that stumped my husband. He had taught college math a few years earlier! I finally figured it out but the solution was very convoluted.