What should I help my future 3rd grader learn this summer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's about what we do. Summer days are long and there is a lot of time to do just about everything.

Barnes & Noble has dozen's of workbooks to add some structure if you don't want to roll your own. We're going to try the Singapore math this summer....

Singapore is a different method of learning, so be prepared to reteach old concepts using new methods before moving forward.

That's part of why we do it. Solving the same problem using different methods is quite an important skill in my mind....

[Anonymous]

If I could do it all over again, I would definitely work more on math facts/multiplication tables. Just a couple minutes a day is good enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The biggest and only thing you really need to have your child learn and practice this summer is the multiplication tables. They will be fine waiting for the rest in the fall. The AAP program knows that everyone entering in 3rd grade has only had through 2nd grade math, and your child will have the aptitude to pick up the curriculum well.

It's important to know that, unless things have changed in the last 2 years, the 3rd grade AAP classes will be taking timed math tests twice a week during the year. They will be given 100 math fact problems and will try to complete as many as they can in 5 minutes (ie. 4x9=36, 8x7=56, 12x11=121, etc). First they will start with addition. Once they are able to complete 100 addition problems with only 1 or no mistakes in 5 minutes, they then will move to subtraction. Same thing. Then multiplication (through 12s), then division (through 12s), then a mix of all. Once they finish that, they next move onto the same rotation again but this time completing 100 problems in 3 minutes, starting with addition, then subtraction and so on. This will take pretty much all year to reach the end and some won't finish entirely. My daughter made it through addition and subtraction in 3 minutes but didn't quite finish the rest before the year ended. It really does work in helping the kids memorize the multiplication and division facts. There's no way they can complete 100 multiplication or division fact problems in 5 minutes without having almost all if not all of them memorized. If they have to pause several times to calculate without just knowing them by memory, time will run out before they finish.

Of course some students are a little stressed at the beginning, doing these timed tests, until they've done them so many times it becomes rote. That's why practicing in the summer really helps...they're used to the time tests in the fall and, having practiced multiplication and division during the summer, can move through the stages at a quick pace which helps their confidence.

We had our daughter practice timed tests but in a different way during the summer before starting 3rd grade. Rather than seeing how many problems she could complete in 5 minutes (with there being some she didn't get to when the buzzer went off), we did it the opposite way. We had her start with 25 multiplication fact problems a night or every other night (changing them up of course), and seeing how long it took her to finish. Then the next time she'd do it again and try to beat her time from the last session. She loved the challenge of trying to beat her previous time and it made it a fun game for her. We started with multiplication fact problems 0-6, then 0-9, then 0-12. Once she had the whole 0-12 test down to a low time, we moved to division math facts, same process. By the time she started in the fall she was ready for the timed tests in class and not stressed about them at all.

Every school uses a different method for the timed multiplication tests.
Ours did facts up to the 12s.
They started with timed tests, 60 facts in 2 minutes, and progressed from the 2s-12s. Then they did mixed fact tests before moving on to division facts, then mixed multiplication and division.
This was a source of much stress for my dd who can call out the answers that quickly, but doesn't write fast enough to write them all in 2 minutes.
The bigger problem was that they posted each child's progress on the board in the hallway for all to see.
Needless to say, the whole process was a nightmare for her, but she finally made it through.

[Anonymous]

Time management and organizational skills become more important in 3rd grade. If your child is not really on top of things, it can feel a bit overwhelming even if they know all their math facts. My child struggled with writing assignments in the planner, bringing homework to and from school, keeping his desk and papers organized, and staying on top of in-school work and due dates. I'm still working on encouraging him to create systems that will help him stay mentally organized, both at home and at school. It really felt a lot different than 2nd grade.

[Anonymous]

+1 Mult tables. Don't know why this is so hard, but it takes time.

[Anonymous]

What methods did you all find the most useful (and least stressful for kids and yourself) for learning multiplication tables?

[Anonymous]

+1000 Memorize Multiplication Tables!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What methods did you all find the most useful (and least stressful for kids and yourself) for learning multiplication tables?

Same question!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, there's nothing wrong with supplemental curriculum over the summer. If you have the time to teach and your kid enjoy learning it, why don't you do it? Kids in Asian countries are learning all year round. AAP is just a joke. Look further, your child will compete with those Asian kids in the future.

Why does everything have to be about Asian kids? They're not inherently more intelligent, just pushed harder to achieve more.
There is a lot moto to life than academic achievement. My kids enjoy life, spend weeks at camp, learn new sports, and spend time with friends and family in the summer. They've always been at the top of their class without ever doing work during the summer other than reading for pleasure.

I actually do believe many of them are inherently more intelligent. When my son was in Montessori preschool (we're not Asian), I volunteered a lot and noticed that the kids who seemed to learn more easily were the Asian kids. I highly doubt that it was the results of home prep that I was witnessing. It was really quite interesting to see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, there's nothing wrong with supplemental curriculum over the summer. If you have the time to teach and your kid enjoy learning it, why don't you do it? Kids in Asian countries are learning all year round. AAP is just a joke. Look further, your child will compete with those Asian kids in the future.

Why does everything have to be about Asian kids? They're not inherently more intelligent, just pushed harder to achieve more.
There is a lot moto to life than academic achievement. My kids enjoy life, spend weeks at camp, learn new sports, and spend time with friends and family in the summer. They've always been at the top of their class without ever doing work during the summer other than reading for pleasure.

I actually do believe many of them are inherently more intelligent. When my son was in Montessori preschool (we're not Asian), I volunteered a lot and noticed that the kids who seemed to learn more easily were the Asian kids. I highly doubt that it was the results of home prep that I was witnessing. It was really quite interesting to see.

I have taught preschool in northern Va for more than 10 years and I have witnessed the exact opposite phenomenon. A majority of the Asian kids I have taught have been the most unruly and "young" seeming kids in the class. Their parents let them run free and wild in the hallways and parking lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, there's nothing wrong with supplemental curriculum over the summer. If you have the time to teach and your kid enjoy learning it, why don't you do it? Kids in Asian countries are learning all year round. AAP is just a joke. Look further, your child will compete with those Asian kids in the future.

Why does everything have to be about Asian kids? They're not inherently more intelligent, just pushed harder to achieve more.
There is a lot moto to life than academic achievement. My kids enjoy life, spend weeks at camp, learn new sports, and spend time with friends and family in the summer. They've always been at the top of their class without ever doing work during the summer other than reading for pleasure.

I actually do believe many of them are inherently more intelligent. When my son was in Montessori preschool (we're not Asian), I volunteered a lot and noticed that the kids who seemed to learn more easily were the Asian kids. I highly doubt that it was the results of home prep that I was witnessing. It was really quite interesting to see.

I have taught preschool in northern Va for more than 10 years and I have witnessed the exact opposite phenomenon. A majority of the Asian kids I have taught have been the most unruly and "young" seeming kids in the class. Their parents let them run free and wild in the hallways and parking lot.

unruly and intelligent are key words used by the above 2 posters to describe Asian kids. Now they can coexist. Can't they?

Between, I'm Asian and believe that intelligence is a statistical probability and has nothing to do with race. It is given by nature . Nurture - that is a different story and that's where parents play a key role.

[Anonymous]

Let your kids be kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The biggest and only thing you really need to have your child learn and practice this summer is the multiplication tables. They will be fine waiting for the rest in the fall. The AAP program knows that everyone entering in 3rd grade has only had through 2nd grade math, and your child will have the aptitude to pick up the curriculum well.

It's important to know that, unless things have changed in the last 2 years, the 3rd grade AAP classes will be taking timed math tests twice a week during the year. They will be given 100 math fact problems and will try to complete as many as they can in 5 minutes (ie. 4x9=36, 8x7=56, 12x11=121, etc). First they will start with addition. Once they are able to complete 100 addition problems with only 1 or no mistakes in 5 minutes, they then will move to subtraction. Same thing. Then multiplication (through 12s), then division (through 12s), then a mix of all. Once they finish that, they next move onto the same rotation again but this time completing 100 problems in 3 minutes, starting with addition, then subtraction and so on. This will take pretty much all year to reach the end and some won't finish entirely. My daughter made it through addition and subtraction in 3 minutes but didn't quite finish the rest before the year ended. It really does work in helping the kids memorize the multiplication and division facts. There's no way they can complete 100 multiplication or division fact problems in 5 minutes without having almost all if not all of them memorized. If they have to pause several times to calculate without just knowing them by memory, time will run out before they finish.

Of course some students are a little stressed at the beginning, doing these timed tests, until they've done them so many times it becomes rote. That's why practicing in the summer really helps...they're used to the time tests in the fall and, having practiced multiplication and division during the summer, can move through the stages at a quick pace which helps their confidence.

We had our daughter practice timed tests but in a different way during the summer before starting 3rd grade. Rather than seeing how many problems she could complete in 5 minutes (with there being some she didn't get to when the buzzer went off), we did it the opposite way. We had her start with 25 multiplication fact problems a night or every other night (changing them up of course), and seeing how long it took her to finish. Then the next time she'd do it again and try to beat her time from the last session. She loved the challenge of trying to beat her previous time and it made it a fun game for her. We started with multiplication fact problems 0-6, then 0-9, then 0-12. Once she had the whole 0-12 test down to a low time, we moved to division math facts, same process. By the time she started in the fall she was ready for the timed tests in class and not stressed about them at all.

Maybe the single most helpful post I've read on DCUM. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Quantum physics.

No way is your kid getting into TJ if you stop at multiplication tables for summer learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Quantum physics.

No way is your kid getting into TJ if you stop at multiplication tables for summer learning.

Then u should teach that to ur kids AND with this attitude. Will help for sure!