Money, Money, Money!

Today we began a unit on MONEY. We will focus, first, on how to count bills/coins. Here are some tips:

- Start by counting the coins or bills with the greatest amount FIRST, then count coins of smaller values.

BILLS - HALF DOLLARS - QUARTERS - DIMES - NICKELS - PENNIES

- Help your child count change using real money. When you empty pockets or receive change from making a purchase, ask your child to count what you found or received. Practical, real-life practice is key!

- Help your child by modeling how to count change by "adding on." For example, if you had two quarters, three dimes and two pennies, start with .50 then add on the two dimes by counting by tens (.60 then .70 then .80) and then add on by counting by ones (.81 then .82).

- One of the most important skills - at this point in the unit - is for your child to recognize amounts of money without having to physically count or even think. Help your child with the following:

2 quarters = 50 cents

3 quarters = 75 cents

4 quarters = $1.00

10 dimes = $1.00

20 nickels = $1.00

Mountain Math

Check out a sample bulletin board for Mountain Math (this is essentially what ours looks like in the classroom). Each week, using the numbers, symbols or problems posted, students respond to questions and review 24 key concepts. The same concepts are reviewed each week - the numbers, shapes, problems, etc. change. Students did a GREAT job this week and I'm very excited about the great progress they will make with this supplemental spiral program. I am very confident that my students are going to master their content at higher levels and will be able to retain math skills instead of memorizing a skill during the unit and forgetting weeks later. Look for your child's Mountain Math answer sheet to see all the skills that were reviewed each week.

Subtraction and Regrouping

The following site gives a great illustrated and animated explanation for regrouping when subtracting.
http://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/subtraction-regrouping.html

Another topic we have been working on is subtracting across zero. Most students have surprisingly done very well with this skill - it is usually pretty challenging!

Click on the link below and scroll down to find a tutorial, sample games and a quiz to check your child's understanding or mastery.
http://www.macmillanmh.com/math/2009/ca/student/grade3/chapter_03.html