Students are discovering measurement. Please refer to chapter 6!
Elementary Math Help: 3rd and 4th Grade
adapted from http://math-and-reading-help-for-
kids.org/articles/Elementary_math_help%3A_3rd_and_4th_grade.html
If you have a third or fourth grade student who is having problems with
math, you can help them out at home! This article can show parents how to
teach their 3rd and 4th grade students the mathematics skill they need to
excel.
Math is used every day at school, home and the workplace. While your third
or fourth grade child is not expected to know calculus, they should have an
understanding of numbers, addition, subtraction, some multiplication,
division, and the proper use of measurements. Whether your child is
struggling with these skills or you just want to increase their
understanding, there exercises you can perform as a family to help your
student excel in their elementary school math classes.
Expose your child to as much math as possible at home and around town. It
will show them that there is a point to their math worksheets and lessons.
Number recognition exercises can make a boring car ride fun. Encourage your
child to practice addition by counting the number of cars you drive past on
the way to school. They can read aloud the license plates or address numbers
on the cars and mailboxes you pass. Be sure that your child pays close
attention at grocery markets and other stores. These are excellent settings
to teach students about numbers, addition and subtraction. Challenge your
child to add up various costs in their head. A child in the third and fourth
grade should be able to add and subtract numbers up into the 20's and 30's.
At home you can make small worksheets for your child to complete. Don't
overload your child with additional work; remember it's not a punishment. If
you have problems creating effective worksheets, don't forget about
educational programming like the programs shown on PBS. These shows are
created specifically to help kids with mathematical and other academic
skills.
Third grade students should be able to multiply and divide numbers up to 7,
while fourth grade students should be familiar with the multiplication
tables for all the numbers up to 10. You can use objects from around the
house (noodles, beans or toothpicks) to help your child catch on. Objects
help a student visualize the abstract mathematical principles she is trying
to master. For example, if your child is struggling with 6 x 5, make five
piles of six toothpicks each. Then, have them count the total number of
tooth picks. They will catch on that this is just another way of performing
multiplication. Reverse the process to teach your child about division.
In third and fourth grade, students learn about inches, feet, yards and
meters. Measurements are easy to introduce and teach at home. Show your
child what a yardstick is. Have them measure the distance from the kitchen
to the living room or from their bedroom to the bathroom. Kids love
measuring distances around the house and it's a great way to teach them
about distances. Children also learn about weight and mass during these
years. Scales at home or at the grocery store can teach your child about
these concepts. Let them weigh the produce at the store (keep an eye on it
until he gets the hang of it!) and ask them to guess the weight before hand
to build their estimating skills.
Computer programs and games can help third and fourth grade students to
master these and other important mathematical skills. Computer games capture
a child's attention through music, bright colors and fun activities. They're
readily available at the store or online and many. Don't forget to check out
the math games on this site under the Just for Kids section.
Encouragement is critical to a child's academic development. Having fun at
home with math will help your student grasp these important subjects and
help your family to bond. Don't forget to check with your child's math
teacher to see if there are any other at home math activities they recommend
or other mathematical concepts that your child needs to work on