Multiplication in 3rd Grade

[Anonymous]

Hello, I've been reading some of the posts here and I'm getting a bit stressed. I'm not a tiger mom, I don't give my children homework during the summer, I don't do academic anything. They do the things they want during the summer (art, soccer, swimming, etc.) My question is, how long do the AAP teachers spend on learning the multiplication tables compared to the regular classroom? My eldest will be going to AAP, but is not the academic type of kid. He always does well in school, but doesn't like to do the work. He loves the outdoors and sports. He just scored so high on that test, and now I'm worried he'll fall behind since so many parents are teaching their kids multiplication over the summer or their kids already know the tables. I just thought it was the teacher's job to teach the academics.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the teacher and the center. My DD barely knew her multiplication tables going into 3rd grade AAP and by the start of October she had them down cold, thanks to the teacher's work. I wouldn't be concerned.

[Anonymous]

He'll be behind. If he's as smart as you say he'll figure it out.

[Anonymous]

What about division? The school supply list for my child's class said ' students should know their basic multiplication and division facts.'

[Anonymous]

Eh, they'll be fine. Most of my DD's AAP class didn't know their multiplication facts and definitely not division. She probably barely remembers them now and she's going into 4th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello, I've been reading some of the posts here and I'm getting a bit stressed. I'm not a tiger mom, I don't give my children homework during the summer, I don't do academic anything. They do the things they want during the summer (art, soccer, swimming, etc.) My question is, how long do the AAP teachers spend on learning the multiplication tables compared to the regular classroom? My eldest will be going to AAP, but is not the academic type of kid. He always does well in school, but doesn't like to do the work. He loves the outdoors and sports. He just scored so high on that test, and now I'm worried he'll fall behind since so many parents are teaching their kids multiplication over the summer or their kids already know the tables. I just thought it was the teacher's job to teach the academics.

I don't think giving your children an academic boost/review during the summer is = to being a "tiger mom." In fact, I think it's just plain efficient to work on things that might be more challenging or time-consuming during the summer so that the busy school year (when evenings are filled with soccer practice, dance lessons, scouts, other homework, etc.) is smoother and less stressful for my child. I see it as a classic Tortoise v. Hare situation -- my kids can work on a couple of things during the summer that will make them feel more confident and make their work during the school year that much easier -- "slow and steady" rather than "all relaxation, then all work."

As for it being the teacher's job to teach the academics -- well, that's a good one! Since FCPS has dropped the "traditional" education, I feel like I have to teach that during the summer. By traditional, I mean basic math facts, grammar, spelling, cursive. FCPS does certain things well, but they have lost a lot of the focus on the details and basics.

OP -- it's certainly your choice, but if I were advising you, I'd have my child start working on multiplication. If he picks it up fast, great! What have you lost? If it's not so fast, well, at least you've given him help with some of the easier facts and he can spend more time during the school year imprinting the more difficult facts (6s, 7s, and 8s) on his memory. I don't see what the downside is to working on these during the summer except that the parent has to take 20 min. out of his/her life to engage and encourage (and perhaps listen to some pushback from the kids). But, 20 min. during Aug. days is a lot easier to find than and extra 20 min. in Oct. when days are getting shorter and there is a social studies project due, reading and word study and a math assignment every night... KWIM?

[Anonymous]

I agree with PP. My non-AAP child learned her multiplication facts cold in a week last summer, so it can be done (even by an average child). My AAP'er took a month or so.

[Anonymous]

They learn the facts, make sure they learn what multiplication means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They learn the facts, make sure they learn what multiplication means.

Oh please, how hard is it to understand what multiplication means. Any kid who is in AAP shouldn't have a difficult time understanding the meaning of multiplication. It takes a couple of lessons to understand it is repeated addition and a way to group numbers. What takes a longer time for many students is memorizing them, which is no longer emphasized. It is really hard to do well in math if you don't have your math facts memorized. Once you do then you can spend more time on understanding more complicated concepts because your working memory isn't being overloaded trying to skip count or count up or down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They learn the facts, make sure they learn what multiplication means.

Oh please, how hard is it to understand what multiplication means. Any kid who is in AAP shouldn't have a difficult time understanding the meaning of multiplication. It takes a couple of lessons to understand it is repeated addition and a way to group numbers. What takes a longer time for many students is memorizing them, which is no longer emphasized. It is really hard to do well in math if you don't have your math facts memorized. Once you do then you can spend more time on understanding more complicated concepts because your working memory isn't being overloaded trying to skip count or count up or down.

I totally agree. Math facts are often what trip people up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They learn the facts, make sure they learn what multiplication means.

Oh please, how hard is it to understand what multiplication means. Any kid who is in AAP shouldn't have a difficult time understanding the meaning of multiplication. It takes a couple of lessons to understand it is repeated addition and a way to group numbers. What takes a longer time for many students is memorizing them, which is no longer emphasized. It is really hard to do well in math if you don't have your math facts memorized. Once you do then you can spend more time on understanding more complicated concepts because your working memory isn't being overloaded trying to skip count or count up or down.

I totally agree. Math facts are often what trip people up.

+1 I have seen many kids get advanced mathematical problems wrong because of a simple math fact mistake. Have your child practice facts for just 5-10 minutes a day and you will be amazed at how much just that little bit of time helps!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Eh, they'll be fine. Most of my DD's AAP class didn't know their multiplication facts and definitely not division. She probably barely remembers them now and she's going into 4th.

And these are "advanced" third graders? Seriously yikes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eh, they'll be fine. Most of my DD's AAP class didn't know their multiplication facts and definitely not division. She probably barely remembers them now and she's going into 4th.

And these are "advanced" third graders? Seriously yikes.

And this is at a Center.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eh, they'll be fine. Most of my DD's AAP class didn't know their multiplication facts and definitely not division. She probably barely remembers them now and she's going into 4th.

And these are "advanced" third graders? Seriously yikes.

Advanced children may not be good at memorizing but they understand more complex ideas quickly. I see that in my rising AAP DD.