Is this math problem 3rd grade appropriate?

[castleview]

The concept is fine, but would a third grader get the vocab?:

"The U.S. Postal Service sends out 89 letters, 54 of which are to foreign countries. How many are sent domestically?"

Please let me know if this would be typical or if it confirms my theory that any author of the Common Core should be put to sleep.

 

[sam_gordon]

The concept is fine, but would a third grader get the vocab?:

"The U.S. Postal Service sends out 89 letters, 54 of which are to foreign countries. How many are sent domestically?"

Please let me know if this would be typical or if it confirms my theory that any author of the Common Core should be put to sleep.

So you're ok with the idea of the problem, but whoever came up with Common Core should be blamed?

I see one possible word that a 3rd grader might not understand (or may figure it out in the context). I'll ask my 4th grader tonight if he can figure it out.

 

[DopeyDame]

I don't have a 3rd grader myself, but I definitely don't see anything overly difficult in that question. The only thing I can even possibly think would be a problem would be domestically, but that's when the perfectly capable 8 or 9 year old should go look it up if they don't know what it means (and I would hope most do already know what it means.)

 

[Handbag Lady]

I don't think any kid knows what a letter is these days.

 

[castleview]

So you're ok with the idea of the problem, but whoever came up with Common Core should be blamed?

I see one possible word that a 3rd grader might not understand (or may figure it out in the context). I'll ask my 4th grader tonight if he can figure it out.

I'm okay with the concept of rounding off and estimating (or maybe I've just accepted that estimation and mental math in a horizontal line are just around for a few years…drifting off, sorry). But the presentation I think is indicative of the cluelessness of Common Core creators. They've ignored the who building up philosophy in math and have the kids doing all these whacky techniques without developing their math facts.

 

[clutter]

Neither.

The vocab is possibly beyond a 3rd grader, but it's a good opportunity to learn it. I think the math is a bit too easy for a 3rd grader, and the vocab possibly above level.

As for Common Core, if you don't like the problem, you don't have an issue with Common Core, you have an issue with your school's implementation of it. Common Core wants a 3rd grader to be able to solve that type of word problem - math wise. It was your school's (district's) choice to use that vocabulary.

btw, rounding and estimating tortured my dd and myself (literal thinkers) 8 years ago, when she was in third grade. Again - not a common core thing. Also, it has come in handy later on - I remember seeing her use it in one of her classes, maybe a science one.

 

[DopeyDame]

I'm okay with the concept of rounding off and estimating (or maybe I've just accepted that estimation and mental math in a horizontal line are just around for a few years…drifting off, sorry). But the presentation I think is indicative of the cluelessness of Common Core creators. They've ignored the who building up philosophy in math and have the kids doing all these whacky techniques without developing their math facts.

I don't understand how estimation or mental math or building up have anything to do with this problem. It's a very simple and straight forward word problem, that any 3rd grader should be able to do (after they look up a word, maybe). If you have problems with teaching them to subtract 89 from 54 with lots of different methods, I'm on your side, but this question as presented seems like a perfectly reasonable word problem for a grade school child who should have been subtracting competently for a year or two by this point.

 

[castleview]

Neither.

The vocab is possibly beyond a 3rd grader, but it's a good opportunity to learn it. I think the math is a bit too easy for a 3rd grader, and the vocab possibly above level.

As for Common Core, if you don't like the problem, you don't have an issue with Common Core, you have an issue with your school's implementation of it. Common Core wants a 3rd grader to be able to solve that type of word problem - math wise. It was your school's (district's) choice to use that vocabulary.

I do have an issue with Common Core because it's a top down design and school systems have to find curriculums that align with it. Perhaps if a teacher had anything to do with creating the Common Core standards, it would be more realistic. The math isn't that hard, I agree. But my son has had so much of the "next best" technique over the last few years that regular math fact memorization was ignored.

 

[sam_gordon]

I'm okay with the concept of rounding off and estimating (or maybe I've just accepted that estimation and mental math in a horizontal line are just around for a few years…drifting off, sorry). But the presentation I think is indicative of the cluelessness of Common Core creators. They've ignored the who building up philosophy in math and have the kids doing all these whacky techniques without developing their math facts.

Wait, WHAT? Where does the problem say anything about "rounding off" or "estimating"? And what "whacky techniques" are the kids supposed to do with the problem?

It looks to me like they want the kids to 89-54=35. It is actually a simple word problem as long as the kids figure out "foreign countries" <> "domestically".

 

[castleview]

I don't understand how estimation or mental math or building up have anything to do with this problem. It's a very simple and straight forward word problem, that any 3rd grader should be able to do (after they look up a word, maybe). If you have problems with teaching them to subtract 84 from 59 with lots of different methods, I'm on your side, but this question as presented seems like a perfectly reasonable word problem for a grade school child who should have been subtracting competently for a year or two by this point.

They are not allowed to align the numbers on top of each other when doing mental math.

 

[DopeyDame]

I do have an issue with Common Core because it's a top down design and school systems have to find curriculums that align with it. Perhaps if a teacher had anything to do with creating the Common Core standards, it would be more realistic. The math isn't that hard, I agree. But my son has had so much of the "next best" technique over the last few years that regular math fact memorization was ignored.

Again... I'm still not understanding how your concerns have anything at all to do with the problem you posted. I doesn't matter if he memorized his math facts at all. In SOME method - "next best" or not - he should know how to subtract by 3rd grade. If he does, this is a very simple math problem for him.

 

[castleview]

Wait, WHAT? Where does the problem say anything about "rounding off" or "estimating"? And what "whacky techniques" are the kids supposed to do with the problem?

It looks to me like they want the kids to 89-54=35. It is actually a simple word problem as long as the kids figure out "foreign countries" <> "domestically".

No…this is estimation. They want him to round 89 off to 90 and 54 off to 50 and then get to 140.

 

[LJSquishy]

The only possible issue may be with the word 'domestically'. I suspect if they don't already know the word, they will ask someone or look up the definition. Other than that, I cannot see any possible issue.

 

[sam_gordon]

I do have an issue with Common Core because it's a top down design and school systems have to find curriculums that align with it. Perhaps if a teacher had anything to do with creating the Common Core standards, it would be more realistic. The math isn't that hard, I agree. But my son has had so much of the "next best" technique over the last few years that regular math fact memorization was ignored.

Here's the link to all the CC Math standards. Would you be so kind as to pick a grade and let us know what is "unrealistic" about the standard?

Here's the link for CC English Language standards. Please let us know what's unrealistic there.

 

[castleview]

Again... I'm still not understanding how your concerns have anything at all to do with the problem you posted. I doesn't matter if he memorized his math facts at all. In SOME method - "next best" or not - he should know how to subtract by 3rd grade. If he does, this is a very simple math problem for him.

The word problem we are talking about…he knows how to subtract. But having the kids subtract double digits (with possible borrowing) and not allowing them to line up the problem isn't right.

 

[kellyjeanie]

My son is in 3rd grade. He didn't know what domestically meant, but he guessed the question was what is 89-54.

 

[Disneychix]

My child is in 1st grade and I don't see a problem with that question for a 3rd grader. I don't know the behind the scenes action where it stated they are to estimate and round off.

In 1st grade it's just subtraction.

 

[sam_gordon]

The word problem we are talking about…he knows how to subtract. But having the kids subtract double digits (with possible borrowing) and not allowing them to line up the problem isn't right.

I thought you were concerned about the vocabulary in the problem. That's what you originally said.

Now, it's estimation and not being able to line up numbers, but the problem you posted says nothing about either. And, it's a subtraction problem, not addition, so 90-50 the answer would be 40, not 140.

 

[castleview]

The only possible issue may be with the word 'domestically'. I suspect if they don't already know the word, they will ask someone or look up the definition. Other than that, I cannot see any possible issue.

I probably wouldn't have been bothered if it we weren't getting hit with some crazy things already. My son is a very good student, but the math has been making him feel stupid. I've asked the teacher about intervention and she plans on it. The teachers are actually stacking the intervention lists because the kids are having a hard time and the teachers have no say on this particular curriculum.

 

[EMAW_KSU]

No…this is estimation. They want him to round 89 off to 90 and 54 off to 50 and then get to 140.

They are saying that 140 is the correct answer?