By Shawn Jensen. 3rd Grade Math. Published at Thursday, November 05th, 2020 - 00:33:00 AM.
Its tomorrow. Its recess. Im standing at the bottom of the high slide on my trusty crutches because my friend is climbing the scary stairs to the top so she can make the exhilarating glide down and land triumphantly at my feet. We will both giggle at the fun of it all. Just before my friends turn to slide down, the boy who was climbing the stairs ahead of her stopped at the top and hollered for everyone on the playground to watch him. As we all watched expectantly, he dug deep, with both hands, into the pockets of his blue jeans. Next thing I knew rocks were careening pell-mell down that high slide at me. I was the target. I was an easy mark, since I hadnt yet mastered the art of nimble crutching. Above the cries of my friend waiting to come down to me, he yelled out, "Thats what she gets. Shes fat and crippled and retarded and has rocks in her head." There was a lot of laughter. I eventually learned to walk well - no braces, no crutches, post-polio syndrome in check. Hurray! Im special. "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but names can never hurt me." I only think about that grade school high slide incident every ten years or so when something or someone reminds me how mean a few bullies can be. Mostly, I have nothing but positive memories of precious school days - mine and those of my three children.
When determining what to select for 5th grade science projects, there are several factors that should be considered. What are the teaching objectives? Is the project practical for this age group? What is the cost factor involved? Is the project simple enough for students in this age group to complete successfully and learn from? If the project is to be entered into a science fair, is it portable? Perhaps most importantly, will the student have fun completing the project? The cost factor must be kept to a level that the student or the students parents can easily afford. Some schools may have scholarships available, but not all will. In high poverty areas this is especially important, so take advantage of any financial aid that is available. Being eliminated from competition based on the lack of financial ability may teach the student a lesson, but not the desired one. Lessons learned at this age will affect the students future attitude toward learning. Completing 5th grade science projects can enhance a students curiosity and willingness to learn in later grades. Relatively simple projects relating to physics principles or global warming might well foster an interest in more advanced projects later.
Emphasize Skill Building In any academic subject, skills build upon each other as a child learns. If even one math concept has a child lost or confused, theyll have a hard time understanding the next thing that theyre meant to be learning. Its important to put emphasis on skill building at an early age so that, by the time they reach 3rd grade math, kids have the foundation necessary to begin learning and mastering more complex concepts. A knowledge of math facts is key at this level, especially when it comes to multiplication. In order to come to a full understanding of these facts, kids need to be proficient in addition and subtraction. Both of these processes involve a clear understanding of how numbers work together, a skill which can be tested and reinforced through the use of math games and interactive learning tools.
Most school districts are rather lenient when it comes to new teacher mistakes. However, because of a lack of experience, there are several things that can and do get new teachers fired. This article is about one specific action by one specific teacher; although Im beginning to wonder if he is one of those Urban Legends. First, some background. A couple weeks ago I was doing some research for an article about UCSMP (University of Chicago School Mathematics Project) and trends in mathematics. I taught high school math in a school district that started using UCSMP (we referred to it as the Chicago Series) in 1988. My feelings about the Chicago Series will be in another article, but overall, I considered it to be an excellent math series with tremendous potential for improving student understanding of mathematics but with a couple major flaws that always seemed to lead to its demise. For my research, I just wanted to know if it still existed. I came across an article that I thought was written this year by a 23-year-old, male, 3rd grade math, 1st year teacher. My immediate reaction to his article was that he should be fired for several reasons.
Im ashamed to admit that I have just spent almost five hours trying to find his article again so that I could verify my facts. I was never able to find it again. (Did he get fired and remove it?) However, I found articles referring to a 23-year-old 1st year math teacher who taught 4th grade math in 2006; and I found a similar article referring to a 23-year-old female math teacher who was being praised for what she did. This is probably a good example of how stories change in the retelling. What I finally decided about the story was that it really doesnt matter whether it is true or not. Either way, it is a wonderful example both of something a new teacher absolutely should never do, and it is a good example of both of those major flaws in the Chicago Series.
With adaptive learning programs, your child wont just play one level and complete the program. The games offer a comprehensive learning tool that works with kids from kindergarten through third grade. With hundreds of levels, different ways to play and constant interaction, the online games never lose their meaning. The same children can play the games but in different ways, since the programs are tailored toward the learning styles of each child. This is what makes adaptive learning an essential tool in classrooms as well. For 3rd grade math, you can expect a balance of fractions, graphs, money and multiplication that challenge the mind with each lesson. If youre unsure about investing in a particular program, try a program with a free trial. By implementing these valuable learning aids, you can help your child make the most of third grade.
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