Mathematical Thinking

We have been working on a unit called Mathematical Thinking at Grade 3. This unit will help your child get used to solving problems that take considerable time, thought and discussion. While solving these problems, your child will be using materials like pattern blocks, cubes and calculators, and will be writing, drawing and talking about how to do the problems. Emphasis during this unit will be on thinking hard and reasoning carefully to solve mathematical problems.

During this unit your child will explore even and odd numbers, create symmetrical designs, look for number patterns and combine and compare different amounts of money or handfuls of objects. The class will also collect and organize information about themselves as a group - we call this working with data.

While our class is working on this unit and throughout the year, you can help in several ways:

*Your child will have assignments to work on at home. Sometimes he or she will require your participation. For example, your child brought home a game called Plus-Minus-Stay the Same. He/she should have taught you how to play. Later in the unit, your child will be figuring out ways to make $1.00 and will be asking to count the change in your pocket or purse.

*Often children will work out number problems by using real objects. So when they are working at home, it would help them to have a large collection of objects for counting, such as beans, buttons, or pennies.

*In class, students made a set of Addition Cards. You will probably recognize these as addition facts, although we call them combinations. Your child is working to memorize these facts. The goal is for each child to develop effective strategies for combining numbers. For example, one strategy a child might use is:
"What's 6 + 7? Well, I know 6 + 6 = 12, and 6 + 7 is one more than that, so it's
13." You can help with these combinations by listening to your child's strategies or sharing ones that you use. Soon I will send home more information about memorizing number facts at home.