Third Grade: Here We Come!

Third grade is a big year.  Students are moving into more abstract thought processes.  Peer pressure is more influential as well.  In WV, third graders will begin taking the yearly WesTest.  I have provided a link for test taking tips on this blog. Subjects like science and social studies will no longer be incorporated into reading and math.  They will now be stand alone subjects as well.  It's hard to believe, but your baby has grown into an adolescent.

1. 
Review two- and three-digit addition and subtraction problems, both with and without regrouping. Children should also be able to tell the value of each number they write. Practice equal grouping.  Provide 10 pennies and have the child to divide the pennies into equal groups of two pennies per group (making 5 groups) for example.  This will help them with division and multiplication.

2.

Counting a variety of coins is a continuous process.  I have mentioned before that this a very hard process for kids to learn.

 3. 

Teach your child to tell time using minute increments.  Require your child to tell the time, read a thermometer, and report the date on the calendar to maintain the skills learned in second grade.

4.

Practice word problems.  Make sure students know to look for key words.  Words like altogether, difference, increase, decrease, how much more, how much less, total, and sum are clues.

5.

Provide opportunities to measure things with a ruler, measurement tape, or with measuring cups and spoons while baking. In third grade students will be expected to use tools such as rulers to find the area and perimeter of basic 

6.

Point out basic two- and three-dimensional shapes found around the house and in nature: circles, squares, and triangles; spheres, cubes, and cones. Knowing these shapes well will give your child a solid foundation for the geometric concepts introduced in third grade.  Make sure they know how many sides and corners are on the shape as well.

7.

Practice writing name in cursive.

8. 

Encourage kids to start reading chapter books if they aren't already doing so.

9. 
Work cooperatively and productively with other children in small groups to complete projects

10.
Understand how choices affect consequences.

11.
Use prefixes, suffixes, and root words and other strategies to identify unfamiliar words

12.
Be able to conduct simple interviews or do simple research and write on a topic

13.
Show students to be prepared for a discussion, having read or studied required material.

14.
Encourage kids to start combining sentences into paragraphs.  Three point paragraphs are used (opening sentence attention getter that names the topic, three sentences talking about the topic, and the last sentence restating the topic or a "leave-you thinking" type question to close).