Question for 3rd grade teachers and parents...

[_queenie_]

I just asked my DD13 what she did in math in third grade (I can't keep track) and she said it wasn't very different from what your daughter is doing. Being at the 5's tables apparently isn't that bad for January. I guess they didn't do long division until 4th grade, and still then a lot of kids didn't get it. If your DD is bored now they'll probally be a lot more boredom to come, mine says you keep practicing multiplication tables religously until 5th grade, even that a lot kids in her grade had to recite them a few weeks ago (pre-algebra, 8th grade, yikes)! Both my kids have been bored a lot in school, I'm sure there's other kids in the class who are in the same boat. Try talking to the teacher and maybe she could from a little advanced math group, according to my DD they tend to do that right up until sixth grade and that's how they find what class to put them in in 7th grade (she's already in Algebra 1, I thought that was pretty advanced but she says some kids in her grade are already in Algebra 2).

 

[SmallWorld71]

I think you have a couple of different problems here.
1) content - Do you know what program your DD's school is using? We use Everyday Math at the school where I teach 1st grade and where my DS is in 3rd grade. One of my favorite things about this program is that it reaches out to all kids no matter where they are. There are always chances for those more gifted students to branch out and ways to help those who find math difficult. Not all programs do a good job with this. My son is very gifted in math and has never found it to be boring.
2) Teaching style - Every child, no matter where their level, deserves to be called upon equally. For this reason, I have the children's names in my class on popsicle sticks in a container, and when I call on children I pull out a stick to see who gets to answer. Someone shouldn't be excluded from a discussion because of their ability level, high or low.

Hopefully you can talk to the teacher and see if there are ways to challenge your daughter. Chances are, if she is bored, others are too. If you're looking for ways to challenge her at home, let me know. I can check with the math coaches at my school for some good ideas. My DS loves sports, so we do a lot of activities with him centered around baseball and football statistics. Some real world math that she enjoys can help keep her interest alive, even if school is not a lot of fun.

 

[PaulaSue]

I am very concerned that my DDs 3rd grade math class is not where it should be. Honestly, she is bored to death. The curriculum is focusing on logic, problem solving, place value, etc. to the point of pushing aside some of the basics. They are only up to the 5's tables in multiplication. The stuff is so easy for her she has gotten a 100 on every paper, quiz and test (except for one where she didn't read the directions). After looking at a state testing sample I realize that they are teaching to the test. I know other districts in the area who are well beyond what DD is doing but interestingly our district scores the highest on the state test every year.

I don't really care about the state test. I care that DD is challenged and continues to love math. Right now I fear she will begin to hate it b/c of the monotony. Where are your 3rd graders? I hear most are doing long division by now.

My 3rd graders class has NOT even started multiplication yet.

 

[tchrrx]

- My class is on their 7's as a whole group (this is as high as our worksheets take us right now). However, they have the chance to each be on their own tables individually with their timed tests (which they pass to earn a cupcake party).

- We have been doing long division (one number into 3 or 4 numbers) for at least 2 months now.

- We're also working on measurement conversions (12 c. = ____ pts.)

- This week we'll do roman numerals to 30. (We already know through 12).

- We've also practiced basic algebraic equations (n + 9 = 16 - 3).


Hope this helps some! Good luck!

 

[tchrrx]

My 3rd graders class has NOT even started multiplication yet.

Yikes! My DD (2nd grade) started the idea of multiplication this week.

Ex. There are 12 stars on her paper. She has to circle them in groups of two. Then, she has to write how many group their are and how many are in each group. The paper then reads that 6 x 2 = 12.

She doesn't really understand it yet, but she is being exposed to it. I think that she'll have her 0-2 (if not more) learned by May.

 

[PaulaSue]

Right now they are studing subtraction review and the clock...

 

[floridalaurie]

My daughter just took her timed 2's test. They have been working on multiplication but they aren't too far into it. They were also working on division(not sure how when they don't know multiplication yet). They have done some basic algebra and problem solving things, as well as word problems. I am not happy with where they are in math or spelling. I've been told by the teacher that they are following the required 3rd grade outline set by the state.

 

[marcyinPA]

My DS8 has begun multiplication as repeated addition. I'm not a fan of our math program...it's not your "basic" math...it's complicated to me. When DS doesn't understand something, and asks me for help, he gets upset with me because they don't learn it "that way"....UGH.

Anyway, I think he's done all of his facts up to 12, but they don't learn them in order of the 1's, 2's, 3's, etc. He hasn't had any timed tests yet in multiplication. Those will come soon...100 problems in 5 minutes. He totally bombed the timed addition test. He knows his addition facts, but he's S-L-O-W....and unfortunately, you need to be fast to complete those in 5 minutes! If he was allowed to take as much time as he needed, then he'd have aced it...

 

[rlovew]

IOf you want to know the state expected standards your best place to start is looking at the DOE website and finding their curriculm standards. The New Jersey math stanards for are avaiable here http://education.state.nj.us/cccs/?_standard_matrix;c=4

I teach 3rd grade in Florida- my students are working through their multiplication tables some are still on 3's or 4's and others hjave finished their 12's. We all learned how the concept worked and they have memorized them at their own rates. I have all my students participate in the same math lesson every day. I can't imagine having the time to prepare for more than 1 math lesson and then grade and figure out how to average in a variety of different assignments for the subject area to make the grades fair across the class. I doi however have math centers everyday and use Accelerated Math, computer games, and board games to challenge students at their own levels. It takes a teacher with strong classroom management to handle that however and it takes time and organization to implement it. Your child's teacher may be doing all that they can handle and may be stronger in some areas of the curriculm than others. It is not their job to challenge your child but to insure that all students are taught the state mandated curiculum. That is not to say that your child should not be challenged but most contracts expect teachers to teach the curriculm provided by the state not provide individual lessons to all children. If your child is gifted in math than I would try to get her into the gifted program.

 

[CEDmom]

I am very concerned that my DDs 3rd grade math class is not where it should be. Honestly, she is bored to death. The curriculum is focusing on logic, problem solving, place value, etc. to the point of pushing aside some of the basics. They are only up to the 5's tables in multiplication. The stuff is so easy for her she has gotten a 100 on every paper, quiz and test (except for one where she didn't read the directions). After looking at a state testing sample I realize that they are teaching to the test. I know other districts in the area who are well beyond what DD is doing but interestingly our district scores the highest on the state test every year.

I don't really care about the state test. I care that DD is challenged and continues to love math. Right now I fear she will begin to hate it b/c of the monotony. Where are your 3rd graders? I hear most are doing long division by now.

My DD is in 3rd and they're not doing long division. They're still working on multiplication up to the 10 times table. They'll be done in about 2 weeks. My DD is pretty good at math and gets pulled out of her regular class for math club a few times a week. Does your school have an option like that?

 

[OU1247]

As a public school teacher (music ed) and as a mom of a very very bright DS third grader...I know what you are talking about. My son who was tested for GT in 1st made it with a 99 on the test was reading at 4, doing X's by 1st grade and just finished the 7th Harry Potter book in 3 days! And he is making an 89 in math right now because it is basic addition and he rushes through it, it sloppy and well he doesn't care. He tells me he is bored.

So I have enrolled him in the Kumon Enrichment Center in our town. It is based on Japanese teachings. It is extra cash I really don't want to spend but...to me it is worth it.

The problem with public ed right now....we really focus on lower kids and the ones that are good students or GT get over looked. Find something extra for her to do soon or you will lose her.

 

[mnasf]

Where are your 3rd graders? I hear most are doing long division by now.[/QUOTE]

My daughter is where yours is and we are in one of the top districts in CA. She has not begun anything near long division.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Where are your 3rd graders? I hear most are doing long division by now.

My daughter is where yours is and we are in one of the top districts in CA. She has not begun anything near long division.[/QUOTE]

Honestly, every math curriculum that I have seen, does the bulk of their long division in 4th and 5th grade. It is a very small component of a math curriculum anyway. I do think it is much more important that children are taught what division means and when to use it. That process needs to be taught hand in hand with multiplication and should be part of the 3rd grade curriculum. Also, there are many different ways to multiply and divide. Too often schools emphasize a certain way and children become "experts" at multiplying or dividing but when faced with a real life problem such as a word problem, they have no idea what they are doing.
Your school is probably right on track.

 

[shelly3girls]

Thank you everyone for all of the replies! It is great to hear that her class is on track to where most of the other 3rd grades. She definitely needs some type of enrichment so I will research what has been mentioned. Her school no longer offers a GT or advanced program, not even a math team. Everything has been cut due to budgeting issues. I think the more that is offered in terms of the learning disabled the more they had to cut back on enrichment. I realize the importance of these programs but I wish there was a way to offer some enrichment. Fortunately my sister who is a teacher has offered to work with DD twice a week.

Thanks again for all of the advice!

 

[robsmom]

3rd grade mom here. I worry sometimes about math at my son's school as well and do not even get me started on the easy spelling lists this year. I honestly don't remember what multiplication number they are up to as they are not learning to the tables but use "fact triangles" that do multiplication and division. We are not doing the table or doing the triangles in order per se. To be honest, we don't study them too much as math is my son's best subject and we spend much more homework time on writing. They are doing "Everyday Math". I sometimes think that they should be further on the basics but this system is designed to focus on word problems, logic, etc. It also goes back and reviews prior year things and does a lot of geometry. So, while i wory about the basic memorization stuff being slower, i find that he is ahead of what we did as kids in that they are dealing with fractions, decimals, doing word problems, graphing, do basic geometry formulas like area, etc.

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[PaulaSue]

I just had to report...This week my DD's class FINALLY started multiplication! 2 papers came home with grouping. Now, how do I help her "get it"?