Math

This is an exciting year in Third Grade because this is the third year with the Scott Foresman / Addison Wesley Math Program, which means that this group of children began with this program. 

Students practice math concepts and skills through hands-on experiences, which build to the abstract level. Students are assessed often to evaluate their progress on skills.  Throughout the year, these skills are constantly reviewed using a spiraling approach, to maintain and reinforce their learning. Students have many opportunities to do word problems in every area of mathematics. Problem solving is connected to real world applications through lessons using the DK  Dorling Kindersley literature, and the Discovery School Channel video library. The Scott Foresman program also has many technology resources for students such as “Take it to the net” at www.scottforesman.com for more practice, test prep, Discovery Channel, and Math etools, which are interactive math manipulatives that can be accessed at school and at home.

Math strands that are covered are:

·        Numbers: numeration, money, fraction and decimal concepts, integers, place value

·         Operations: estimation, addition and subtraction with regrouping to four digits, multiplication, division, and adding and subtracting decimals and fractions.

·        Geometry: plane and solid figures, points, lines, line segments, rays, angles, symmetry, congruence.

·        Measurement: standard and metric length, weight/mass, capacity, volume, temperature, time, perimeter, area, and volume

·        Data Analysis and Probability: pictographs, line graphs, circle graphs, data collection and analysis, charts/tables, ordered pairs, reading grids and probability.

·        Algebra: patterns, logical reasoning, commutative and associative propertied in addition and subtraction, writing expressions with variables and parentheses

·        Problem Solving:  using a problem solving plan, choosing an operation, reasoning and proof, explaining solutions with numbers, words, and illustrations including drawing pictures, graph, and charts.

Students in third grade are expected to have addition and subtraction facts mastered early in the year. These facts must be mastered and automatic in order to move on to four digit addition and subtraction with regrouping. Students need to practice facts at home with flash cards daily. At mid-year the students then begin to learn multiplication facts. These facts also need to be automatic and must be practiced at home daily, to reinforce the learning in the classroom.