Reply to AAP 3rd grade Math : do you teach/help your DC?

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Reply to "AAP 3rd grade Math : do you teach/help your DC?"

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[quote=Anonymous]OP --- I was in your shoes a year ago.  My DD was really struggling with 3rd grade Adv. Math.  For the entire first quarter, she'd come home and seem to have NO understanding whatsoever about the homework.  I taught her EVERY night.  I was getting frustrated and DD was getting frustrated.  Finally, I emailed the math teacher and she called me back and we had a long chat.  She said she'd keep an eye on DD at school and I decided (or we agreed) that DD would put "I don't know how to do this" on her homework rather than me teaching the subject every night.  I tried to back off and to encourage DD to ask the teacher for help (DD was very uncomfortable doing that, but I wanted to put the responsiblity on her).

I also had a conference with the math teacher and the regular teacher where I questioned if DD was appropriately placed in Adv. Math.  They both insisted that her test scores put her in the class and "it was not a close case."  So, they wanted to keep her in the class.

At any rate, it wasn't a perfect solution, but on the whole, it improved.  There were still times that I helped after seeing that DD was stuck or off-track.  But, I tried to back off during the 2nd/3rd/4th quarters and put the responsibility back on the teacher and the student.

DD got a "3" each quarter for achievement, so even if she wasn't acing the tests, she was hanging in there.

Fast forward to this year... SOOOO much better.  Not sure if it is b/c she has a different teacher or if 4th grade Adv. Math doesn't involve "new" concepts yet.  But, DD's homework is shorter (fewere questions) and she gets it done in a short amount of time.  I check it to make sure she is on track, but it's been WAY, WAY easier on both of us compared to last year first quarter.

So.... my advice is (1) talk to the teacher, (2) keep checking on your child and helping *a little*, but if DC doesn't understand any of it have her write "I don't understand this" on the paper, and (3) be patient -- 3rd grade math (decimals and multiple digit multiplication) is completely new to the kids.  There is hope!

I can't tell you how many times I heard "I HATE MATH!" with paper and pencil being thrown last year.  This year -- not at all.  Thank goodness![/quote]

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