This course is designed to be a series of four sessions, each lasting eight weeks.  Each session will target specific skills generally found in third grade level math.  We will used story-based instruction to introduce concepts and follow up with manipulatives, guided practice, and independent practice.  While later sessions will cover such concepts as multiplication, division, factors and multiples, fractions, measurement, geometry, time, and money, this first session will focus on strengthening number sense, a key factor in understanding arithmetic.  

We will begin with a review of place value including ones, tens, hundreds, and thousands.  Students will explore the magnitude of numbers and gain a better understanding of the relationships between them from one place value to another.  We will use manipulatives, number words, and visual representations to quantify numbers.  We will then explore the concept of comparing numbers using <, >, and =.  We will proceed to rounding and estimating numbers and then begin adding and subtracting 2- and 3- digit numbers, adding 3 or more numbers, and adding and subtracting 4-digit numbers.

We will also focus on mastering multiplication facts from the Times 1s - the Times 6s.  We will do this one table or set of facts at at time and students will have the opportunity to earn beads on a multiplication necklace as they pass off each level!  We will practice the facts in multiple ways including number models and games.