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3rd Grade Math – What My Child Learns in Grade 3 Math TutorGiant Grade 3 math challenges your child to use the skills learned in grade 2 math in more complex ways. In grade 3 math class, students will learn to add, subtract, and multiply greater numbers, measure mass, capacity, perimeter and time with including more units, comparing and classifying new shapes, reading more types of graphs, and predicting probability events. Grade 3 math is the last year for math in the primary grades. In this grade, your child will use his/her computation skills and apply them in more advanced situations. Grade 3 math is an important year in math class because it is applying simpler grade 1 and grade 2 math skills to more complex math concepts. This article will help you better understand what is expected of your child in 3rd grade math class. Whether you are reading this in September, March, or June, you will have a better understanding of where your child is at with regards to his/her stage of math skills. These guidelines are universal, that is, they apply to most 3rd grade math students regardless of location. Grade 3 Math – Number Sense and Numeration Grade 3 math students will increase their knowledge of number skills in order to get ready for the junior grades. Students in grade 3 will learn to compare and order numbers up to 1000. Your child will learn to combine, compare, and determine the relationships of fractions and represent halves, thirds, and quarters. Counting skills will become more advanced as your child learns to count forwards and backwards by 1’s, 2’s, 5’s, 10’s, 25’s and 100’s up to 1000. Your child will also learn how to calculate addition and subtraction problems using two and three digit numbers using mental math and estimation strategies. Students will be expected in grade 3 math class to multiply by 7 x 7 and divide 49 Grade 3 Math – Measurement In grade 3, your child will learn and practice estimating and measuring lengths, heights, and distances in standard units. Your child will also learn how to estimate, measure, and record perimeter, mass, capacity, and area. Time and temperature measurement skills will also become more advanced in grade 3 as your child will learn to estimate, read, and record temperature and read time from analogue and digital clocks. Grade 3 students will also learn to estimate and compare objects by linear measurement and area. Grade 3 Math - Geometry Grade 3 will find a noticeable change in their geometry unit. In grade 3 math class, students will learn new concepts such as identifying and comparing angles. They will sort and classify 3-dimensional shapes and sort pyramids and prisms. Your grade 3 child will learn to identify shapes based on their sides and bases. In grade 3, students will learn transformations (i.e. flips, slides, and turns also known as translations, transformations, and reflections) of shapes on a grid. Grade 3 Math - Patterning and Algebra Your grade 3 child will learn more advanced patterning and more challenging algebra skills this year. This year, your child will identify, extend and create patterns with more than one attribute (i.e. instead of a pattern based on shape, it could be based on shape and size). Grade 3 students will also learn about addition, subtraction, and multiplication patterns. In grade 3 algebra, your child will determine the inverse relationship between addition and subtraction. More complex algebra equations such as determining the missing number from a two digit equation will be studied. A good understanding of addition is also required in grade 3 math in order to study the associative property (i.e. 14 + 8 equals 14 + 6 + 2). Grade 3 Math – Data Analysis and Probability Students will learn to gather, collect, organize and read data. In grade 2 math class, students will be able to read pictographs, tally charts, and horizontal and vertical bar graphs to analyze data. As opposed to grade 2 math, grade 3 math introduces your child to the skill of drawing conclusions from the data in graphs. They will also learn to predict the frequency of an outcome. Grade 3 Math - Summary By the end of grade 3, your child will gain a better understanding of the comparing larger numbers. The focus in measurement will be on estimating and measuring more and larger units of measurement. The study of angles, more complex algebraic equations, and drawing conclusions from data will also be emphasized in grade 3 math class.
So what can I do with this information? If this is the beginning of the school year: Now you are aware of the curriculum expectations/content standards for your child. As your child begins grade 3 math class, you can help him/her learn the concepts at home, with or without school books (see other math tips in this category). You can also prepare your child before the lessons are taught. Make sure your child understands the basics of measurement, number patterns, basic shapes, and basic data management (i.e. graphs) so that he/she will be well prepared for this more difficult year in math. If this is the middle of the school year: You can reinforce content that was already learned in class (i.e. by reviewing math workbooks, textbooks, finding a tutoring service, etc…). If your child is having difficulties in grade 3 math, look back to grade 2 math and see where your child needs help. If this is the end of the school year: Now you have a good idea as to what was expected from your child in grade 3 math. You can take a look at your child’s report card and school workbook to determine ‘problem’ areas. ©Tutorgiant.com
Learn'Em Good Math by Stuart Ackerman MSc.Ed.,B.A. |
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