Welcome!

March 2023

Hello, families!

This month we’re taking a closer look at the problem-based math instruction happening in Jefferson’s classrooms. One way teachers engage our young mathematicians in making sense of the math and language in word problems is through the teaching of a routine called Three Reads. The Three Reads strategy involves reading a math scenario three times with a different goal each time. 

• First Read: Read to understand the problem. 

  • What is happening in the problem?

  • Which words am I unsure about?  

  • What do I need to find out?

• Second Read: Read to understand the math. 

  • What do the mathematical terms mean? 

  • What do the numbers represent?

• Third Read: Read to make a plan. 

  • What strategy, representation, or tool will work best to solve the problem? 

Three Reads instruction is easily adapted based on students’ level of readiness. Our youngest learners often do a quick sketch and add labels to help them understand a problem. Intermediate students might highlight specific parts of a problem and annotate with short notes during the Three Reads process. For an added challenge, the children may be asked to generate the question or quantities in a given scenario. Jefferson mathematicians especially enjoy writing and solving their own math word problems! 

Ask your child to share with you how they practice Three Reads in class and encourage him/her to give the strategy a try when solving math word problems at home. If you’d like additional ideas about how you can support your child’s learning, please reach out. We’d love to connect with you.   

Winter Graham, K-2 ELA & Math Coach

wgraham@everettsd.org

Jessica Lundgren, 3-5 ELA & Math Coach

jlundgren@everettsd.org