How to help a 3rd grader with math
If you’re searching for ways to help a 3rd grader with math, you’ve come to the right place. Here are the top ten tips to bolster your child’s math skills and increase their confidence.
Author
Katie Wickliff
Published:
Oct 2024
Key takeaways
- • Math difficulties are increasingly common among elementary-aged students.
- • Partner with your child’s teacher to pinpoint where they need extra help.
- • When practicing math at home, focus on fun and meaningful activities.
If your child’s math homework has you both dissolving into tears by the end of the night, don’t worry–you’re not alone! While learning differences such as dyslexia and dyscalculia contribute to math difficulties, many students without these diagnoses still struggle with math. In fact, research shows that pandemic disruption between 2020-2022 contributed to a significant decline in national math scores for 9-year-olds.
Students find math challenging for various reasons. For example, some struggle with math anxiety and feel overwhelmed when faced with a page full of problems. Some students might simply rush through their work. Some students need more practice to grasp certain concepts, and some may need the information presented differently.
No matter what specific challenge your student faces, this article outlines several ways parents and caregivers can give their child the 3rd grade math help they need to succeed.
Table of contents
10 ways to help your 3rd grader with math
Math help for 3rd graders can be simpler than you think. It just takes time, patience, and a bit of creativity. Take a look at our tips for 3rd grade math help and try them out with your child this week.
1. Cultivate a positive math mindset
While it’s important for parents to acknowledge their child’s math difficulties or frustrations, avoid too much negativity–even if you disliked math as a child. Studies have shown that when parents speak positively about math, their children develop more confidence. If your child has a negative attitude towards math, try to reframe their mindset by showing them that math can be enjoyable.
2. Foster communication between school and home
Communication between school and home is essential to support your child’s math success. Don’t hesitate to ask your child’s teacher for a list of the topics covered in 3rd grade math. The more familiar you become with your school or district’s 3rd grade math curriculum, the more confident you’ll feel when helping your child at home. However, there’s no need to become an expert–teachers appreciate parents who want a partnership between school and home.
3. Ask for specifics
When communicating with your child’s teacher, emphasize your desire to help your child at home, and ask for specific areas where your child may need more support.
4. Read all about it
Perhaps your child isn’t crazy about math but loves to read. Using books can bring math concepts to life. A few great illustrated picture books include “Pigeon Math” by Asia Citro, “Sir Cumference and the Roundabout Battle: A Math Adventure” by Cindy Neuschwander, and “The Boy Who Loved Math” by Deborah Heiligman.
For older students, middle-grade novels like “The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl” by Stacy McAnulty or “Solving for M” by Jennifer Swender seamlessly blend math concepts with unforgettable characters and stories.
5. Get cooking
Cooking with your child provides concrete examples of using fractions in real life. Let your child choose the recipe and lead the measuring process. While you’re having fun cooking together, you can subtly draw your child’s attention to fractions concepts, such as “We need ½ cup flour and ¼ cup sugar. Which ingredient do we need more of?”
6. Have fun with memorization
Students need to memorize their basic facts to form a solid mathematical foundation. However, memorizing facts doesn’t have to be boring. After pinpointing what facts your child needs to practice, make up silly songs and rhymes or incorporate dance moves to cement their knowledge. Additionally, math apps are an engaging way for students to practice their facts.
7. Tell time
In 3rd grade, students learn to tell time on digital and analog clocks. Use real-world examples to build time-telling skills, such as asking questions like, “It’s 8:30, and it takes ten minutes to get to soccer practice. What time will we get there?”
8. Unleash their creativity
Art provides unlimited opportunities for 3rd grade math help. For example, explore geometric figures by creating a collage of unique shapes–rhombuses, parallelograms, and trapezoids. Paint mixing is a great way for kids to learn ratios and fractions, or use a variety of colors and mediums to create complex patterns.
9. Practice graphing
Graphing is another important math concept in 3rd grade. Encourage your child’s natural curiosity by helping them develop survey questions for friends and family and then plotting the results.
10. Let them solve it
We know how hard it is to watch your child struggle with math. However, avoid taking over too quickly. Instead, encourage your child to develop their problem-solving skills by asking questions like “What strategies can you use here?” Your child will feel supported and empowered to solve their own problems–in math and in life.
Math apps vs tutoring
Private tutoring is one option to help support your child in math. Tutors can be a wonderful resource, providing focused support your child may not get in the classroom. However, tutors can also be quite expensive, and depending on your student’s specific challenges–may not be the best fit. Today’s math apps are expertly designed to engage young learners and can be an excellent supplemental resource. Plus, the best math apps come with a much lower price tag than hiring a private tutor.
FAQs about 3rd grade math help
Math help for 3rd graders can look different for each student. Helping your 3rd grader with math requires a positive mindset, communication between home and school, and leaning into your child’s strengths and interests to help make math fun.
In 3rd grade, students build upon the foundation of addition and subtraction by exploring multiplication and division. Third graders also begin to study fractions, often using pictures and number lines to help visualize this concept. Telling time and counting money are two other topics covered in third grade.
Related Topics
Learn what’s taught in 3rd grade math & common core 3rd grade math standards.
