Your eight to ten year old child will encounter some increasingly challenging concepts in math during third and fourth grade. These number concepts include:

·      Multiplying multi-digit numbers

·      Long division

·      Understanding and using six-digit numbers in all operations

·      Understanding and comparing fractions

·      Decimals

These concepts require students expand their numerical framework to include proportions and parts of a whole. They are foundational concepts that lay the groundwork for understanding much more complex math. Read Focus on Math: Proportional Thinking and Focus on Math: Wholes & Parts to understand these fundamental concepts.

Avoid the Shortcut Temptation

When children are learning challenging concepts it is easy for parents to suggest “tips” or “shortcuts” for solving problems. Be careful about introducing tips and shortcuts too soon. The tips may help your child solve a few isolated problems but they can mask major misunderstandings of the concept. This conceptual misunderstanding will likely rear its head as a major math gap later.

For example, if your fourth grader is trying to compare 2/3 and 5/6 you might be tempted to tell them, “just cross multiply the numerator and the denominators to see which is bigger.”

2 x 6 = 12 and 3 x 5 = 15.

15 > 12, so 5/6 > 2/3.

This shortcut is fine when the child understands why it works but introducing it too soon could cause problems. You might see the relationship between those steps and the larger concept but does your child?

Your child could easily miss that you are actually skipping several steps that show the concept. Here is the same idea without skipping steps.

6/6 = 1

2/3 x 6/6 =12/18 The look changed but not the proportions because you just multiplied by one.

2/3 = 12/18 They are equivalent fractions.

3/3=1

5/6 x 3/3 = 15/18

5/6 = 15/ 18

15/18 > 12/18

If your child does not realize that the purpose of cross-multiplying is to get the same denominator, your child could solve a hundred problems correctly but still not understand why the shortcut works. Understanding why is critical to your child’s ultimate success with fractions and proportional relationships.

Stay Informed

You will want to stay informed about your child’s progress because the math curriculum in these grades are packed with new learning. Review your child’s homework and tests. Ask them why they solve problems the way they do. Be aware that if they cannot explain their process they may not understand the concepts. Call us if you feel concerned and we'll set up an appointment for a no-cost, no-obligation assessment of their skills.

To help your third or fourth grader you may also want to read:

Why Kids Struggle with Fractions

Eat and Play to Understand Fractions

Solutions to 6 Common Reasons Kids Have Trouble with Division

Is Your Child Dependent on Algorithms . . . and is That a Bad Thing?

Worried Your Child Has Not Memorized the Multiplication Tables?

Diagnose Your Child’s Math Mistakes with 2 Easy Questions

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