3Rd Grade STINKS!

I'm having the same problem with my third grader. I actually posted about it last night. There is twice as much work. I've spoken to other moms and thier kids are struggling also. So much homework after school! My daughter is in a gifted class, but the only difference seems to be its accelerated and book reports.

Third grade is a huge leap academically and developmentally. There is an expectation of independence and time management that many children struggle to learn. This is also the first year of state assessments for most children and that increases the pace and breadth of curriculum maps.

I would talk with the teacher about having your daughter be the "helper" in the classroom. If this means that she's feeling pressured to get things done quickly so she has time to help, then it's not OK. If the teacher has a peer-tutoring program going on in the classroom, different story.

Third grade now is nothing like when we were in school. It's faster and more complex. Telling her that it's OK to make mistakes is a great start! I would also make sure that she sees you and your husband making mistakes and learning from them. Many times we keep our short-comings from our children and they need to see that we forget things, say the wrong things, do the wrong things and survive.

If she doesn't already have a non-academic acitivity, consider letting her join a club or something else outside of school that she would enjoy and that would help her find some balance.

Yes. Yes it does. Suck.

Third grade seems to be the grade where they start expecting more independence, applying actual grades and not just checks and plusses, expecting more accountability.

It is a lot of pressure when they aren't used to it.

I think your husband taking her for breakfast is a great idea. She needs to know that there is no pressure here. Also talking to the teacher about her needing to focus on what she is doing and helping less is probably a good idea. She needs to be taking care of herself and getting to a more comfortable place before she helps others.

My daughter is in 3rd grade is going through the same thing your daughter is. She had no problems K-2nd, was well advanced in all subjects. She starts 3rd grade and it seems foreign to her. I am just reassuring her that its okay to make mistakes and school is going to be tough at times. I know here in Texas they start taking the state test in 3rd grade and the teacher pointed that out to me at meet the teacher night. She said that 3rd grade will be the toughest grade for alot of students.

I am just praying that your daughter and mine continue to try their best and work hard this year.

My 3rd grade year: I still liked school, but it was the first year that I questioned whether I liked it or not. I loved K-2 (2nd grade was awesome because I was in a magnet school and went on a field trip every month). 3rd grade....a little more expected out of them, and THEY want their own independence but get freaked out a little at the independence they're expected to show during lessons....and they're also getting more into noticing differences with their classmates (she's smarter than me, he doesn't like me, she had way more friends at the birthday party than I did, please don't let the teacher call on me to read aloud, his pants look really stupid---is he poor?). That kind of stuff. I think this is when it first comes into play, at least it was for me. I noticed with my bff's son that his 3rd grade year was a little rough with conduct grades and he was totally stressed out that someone might find out he was on the free lunch program. I loved my 4th and 5th grade years though (8th grade was terrible though), and my bff's son is in 4th grade and thinks he rules the school. I kind of consider that age to be almost a mini-puberty (if not hormonally, then at least in trying to find themselves, and balance a line between "little kid" and "almost big kid". I think you're on the right track with a breakfast date, and seeing if she can confide and tell him what's actually wrong (if she even knows). Just be there for her and work on ways to build her self confidence and self worth.

My nephew started 3rd grade this year and said it's a cake walk. He's not advanced, just an average Joe. It definitely varies from school to school. My son just started first grade (private/advanced) and I think that stinks. He is a slow poke, but extremely bright and what he isn't finishing comes home. We're spending a butt load of time on that on top of flashcards, phonics charts, sentence structure, spelling words, bible scripts, math drills, etc. I am the one freaking out...I feel like his teacher.
Maybe she needs more of your time with homework and reviewing ahead so she doesn't get lost. Poor girl, she can do it...she'll get into a groove and sail through again. Sounds like she's got it ;)

My son is in third grade this year--and (so far) he likes it.
I had heard a few horror stories about the work load and then again I have heard the work load is more in 4th.

Schoolwork wise, the only speed bump we've hit is the fact that my son's math class is "too boring/easy/babyish" for him. The teacher is giving him challenge packets now and is going to evaluate whether or not these units are review for him or if he needs to be bumped up a level in math.

Why is she expected to "help" the other kids? I mean, I see the value in a peer helping out & helping someone to "click" with a concept--but why is she "expected" to do this? She should be in advanced level classes where they're all (pretty much) on the same page?

I think you're doing the right thing by not demanding perfection. I never "get" those types of parents. She's 8. Make "do your best" her own little mantra!

Mine is doing ok......but im shocked at whats expected of her in her homework sometimes. On occasion when i look at it i feel like im on the show "are you smarter than a 5th grader"

It's not healthy for her to feel so pressured in third grade. School should be fun, even though it's work.

Yes, tell her it's okay to make mistakes. And remember to always praise effort, not intelligence or perfection.

Well I can tell you from what I'm learning with my son who is in 3rd grade this year as well that they have a lot of testing. This is the first year they have state test along with the Iowa Basic Skills Test that they just finished up with last week. I don't know if you guys do all of this testing but maybe that is stressing her out as well. Like you said just remind her that it is ok to make mistakes nobody is perfect. I hope it gets better for her!