Some Concerns You May Be Having About Math

I know that there are some concerns about math papers and scores you may be seeing.

The good news is that our new series is aligned with the common core standards which were adopted by Kansas and the majority of the United States. These common core standards focus on deeper understanding of skills and call upon the students to share, explain, and refute answers verbally, in writing, and through models and drawings. I firmly believe that this move will make our children better problem solvers and critical thinkers in the long run, even though here at the start it may be bumpy!

That being said, the disadvantage that our 3rd graders have is that they are being asked to do things differently than they have in the past. It is no longer enough just to have an answer, but instead they may need to explain how they got their answer or why they solved the problem the way they did. This requires perserverence and endurance that many students are not prepared for, yet!

Please do not stress about homework scores you see on daily papers. These are opportunities to practice and get better with the majority of grade card grades coming from quizzes and tests. To best help your child, please encourage him to 1. COMPLETE all homework with their BEST EFFORT 2. Ask questions when they do not understand. 3. PARTICIPATE and PAY ATTENTION to in class activities.

Your child should have brought home this week a parent letter explaining how to access our math series online. Here you will find a digital copy of the text, extra practice, and under the "To Do" tab, activities for your child. It is my goal to adjust these activities to reflect what your child is currently working on. If you check your child's agenda on a nightly basis, you will find a topic and lesson number that correspond with the e-text. For example 2-4 is Topic 2 Lesson 4 and you could look at the examples and practice given for that lesson. Please take advantage of this resource!