Math Facts

Daily Math Fact Practice for Grade Three

Third graders have a challenging year of learning many math facts and increasing their speed.  Below you will find a general time line of when your child will be expected to master their facts.  I hope that this will help you determine how much time should be devoted to daily practice so that they can be successful during their school day.  Feel free to encourage your child to advance toward the next goal at any time.

  • At the beginning of the year, your child should be able to do 30 addition facts in about one and a half minutes.  This includes all of the facts to 18…such as 8 + 7 = 15 and 9 + 9 = 18.
  • By the end of fall, they should be proficient with their subtraction facts as well.  The subtraction fact goal is 30 subtraction facts in about one and a half minutes with facts from 18…such as 17 -9 = 8 or 18 – 9 = 9.  It’s not unusual for the subtraction facts to require intensive practice and repetition.
  • The winter months are a time when your child will begin to develop their multiplication skills with the 0-5, and 10 tables.  They are not expected to master the 6, 7, 8, or 9 tables in third grade but often are ready to begin them anyway.
  • By spring, your child will easily see the connection between multiplication and division to master those 0-5, and 10 division facts.  They are not responsible for the 6, 7, 8, or 9 facts for division but might feel ready to tackle them before fourth grade.

Your child will not be given worksheets of math facts for daily practice. In an effort to vary the kinds of practice activities that can build their proficiency and minimize frustration you might try some of the enclosed strategies.  This is not a complete list of all the fun ways to jazz up learning so if you have a fun and exciting way to practice at home…I hope that you will consider sending it in to share.

Strategies for Practice Math Facts

Flash Cards
Sort these mini flash cards into two piles:  One pile that you know as quick as a rabbit and one that is slow like a turtle.  Count how many are in each.  Now practice the cards that are in the slow pile till you know them faster and faster!  The next day, resort them into Rabbits and Turtles and count again.  Have you noticed anything about the number of turtles?  How about the number of rabbits?  Before long you might not have any turtles left!!!

Here are two PDF documents that you can use.  Please note the two options below.  If the PDF with the front and back of the cards does not work, please use the fronts PDF only and then write answer on the back.

Double-Sided Math Flash Cards – If your printer can double-side print, then choose this option.  This document is 64 pages single sided or 32 pages double-sided.

Single-Sided Math Flash Cards – Facts Only (no answers) – Use this if you cannot open the double-sided version.  Parents will need to write the answers (usually in light pencil) on the back of each card.  Students should not do this to ensure that the correct answer is placed on the back.  This document is 32 pages long.

Dice
Roll two (or three) dice. Then add, subtract, or multiply the two digits.  This is a fun activity to do every time a commercial comes on the TV.   You will be so smart and not waste three or four minutes watching silly people try to sell you something.

Deck of Cards
This is a twist on the game of War.  Each player puts a card down and adds, subtracts, or multiplies the two numbers.  Jacks, Queens, and Kings are equal to ten and the Ace can be a one or an eleven.

Computer Links
There are many wonderful links on the Southeast web page for math skills, especially in the area of math facts.  Computers can be a wonderful motivation for children so be sure to check this out at:  http://www.mansfieldct.org/schools/southeast/3

A personal favorite is That’s A Fact as it allows your child to select the type of practice, a level of difficulty and has the option of timed or un-timed practice sessions.

If your child prefers the pencil and paper type math fact drill, they can be created in the Math Fact Café.  If you do not have a computer available please feel free to contact me for some daily drill masters.

I hope that these activities will help your child build their confidence and skills with math facts.