Learning Styles & Skills
3rd grade math: Helping your child
by E.M.Robinson
You can help your child understand the concepts of third grade math. Just like learning to
walk, read, or ride a bike, children learn at different rates and it simply takes some
students longer than others OR, even more likely, some children need another approach
because they have different learning styles.
Maybe your child needs more time or just a different approach. Here are some
approaches that may help your child with that third grade math. You just might find that
these approaches help his or her math comprehension well beyond Grade 3.
1) If you haven't already done so, start experiencing multiplication in daily life. It is so
important to see the use of multiplication in the store, at the gas tank, in the kitchen, etc.
Having this frame of reference is critical. After all, away from the elementary school
classroom, people don't go around reciting the times tables. They use them.
2) Multiplication is repeated addition. 5+5+5+5= 5X4 = 20. If cans of green beans are 79
cents and you buy four, it is correct to figure .79 + .79 + .79 + .79 = $3.16- but it is so
much more efficient to figure $ .79 X 4 = $ 3.16. That may not be as obvious adding four
numbers as it would be adding many more, but it is an important concept to introduce and
emphasize early on.
3) Show and experience fact families. And, yes, this is taught, but sometimes more time
is needed.
8x7=56
7x8=56
56 divided by 7 = 8
56 divided by 8 = 7
Write each of the factors, their product, and = signs on cards and have your child move
them around to show the families.
4) In the fact family above, start calling the 7 and the 8 factors because it comes up later
in math and it is a very important concept. Call these numbers factors and it will pay off
and you are getting double results for your efforts of working with your child on
multiplication. The answer in multiplication is called The Product. Use that vocabulary,
too, as it will also pay off.
5) Demonstrate multiplication and division by using materials your child can handle
and move around. Coins, poker chips, marbles, dry beans, anything that is small
enough to handle easily and large enough to see clearly, can be used to demonstrate
the concept that multiplication is repeated addition. Set these items up in sets to be
sure your student understands the underlying concept. 3 x 7 = 21 is three sets of seven
items or seven sets of three items. AND even 21 items divided into 3 sets means 7 will be
in each set OR 21 items set off into 7 sets or groups will give you exactly 3 in each set.
6) Use index cards to create a match game. 9 x 6 = is on one card and its mate is on a card
that says 54. Games like Concentration or any game that is interactive works well for
practice. Dice, playing cards, spinners, etc. can all be used to get that practice in for
multiplication. These hands-on games are valuable and they hold your child's interest.
7) As much as you can, emphasize that, yes, 9 x 6 = 54..... therefore...
6 x 9 = 54 as well.
Math has a language and it will help in the long run if you can use some of the terms.
For example, this principle mentioned here is the Commutative Property of
Multiplication: When two numbers are multiplied together, the product is the same
regardless of the order of the numbers being multiplied. For example: 3X2 = 2X3
8) Word problems throw a lot of kids. Make it visual. Show your child how to draw
pictures, diagrams, tables, or any representation that can help him or her sort out the
information in the problem. Draw lots of pictures- even stick figures, boxes, arrows,
question marks, .... any representations of what is actually being asked in the word
problem. This strategy, once understood, can be used in later grades as a progression
toward solving the problem mathematically. This comprehension element is critical to
math success.
9) Make your math practice an active experience with your child. A visit to the teacher
may give you some ideas on how to actively support your child's math instruction.
Whether you purchase materials or simply get some ideas to take home and then use
household materials, the hands-on learning experience is very effective for children of all
ages.
10) Check with your child's teacher. Sometimes, materials can be sent home for you to
use and return. Whether the math skill is place value, integers, geometry, or solving basic
equations, your child's teacher will have ideas and probably some manipulatives (handson materials) that you might be able to borrow to work with your child at home.
The key to individualized instruction is finding out how a child learns best. Rather than
trying the same method over and over again and wondering why you child isn't "getting
it"- approach from another direction. Whenever you can make a pencil and paper drill an
active, hands-on activity, the more productive and enjoyable your time will be.