Math Facts Your 3rd Grader Should Know (Checklist)

Why 3rd Grade Is a Pivot Point

Third grade is when math shifts from "learning to calculate" to "calculating to learn." Kids need solid fact foundations to handle what's coming: multi-digit multiplication, fractions, and eventually algebra.

Addition Facts (Should Be Automatic)

By 3rd grade, these should be instant (under 3 seconds):

All single-digit addition:

• 0 + 0 through 9 + 9
• Including "harder" ones like 7 + 8, 6 + 9

Mentally adding 10:

• 47 + 10 = 57 (instant)
• 82 + 10 = 92

Checklist:

• [ ] Sums to 10 (automatic)
• [ ] Sums to 20 (automatic)
• [ ] Adding 10 to any number (automatic)

Subtraction Facts (Should Be Automatic)

All single-digit subtraction:

• 10 - 7, 15 - 8, 13 - 6, etc.
• Should recall these, not count backward

Checklist:

• [ ] Subtraction within 10 (automatic)
• [ ] Subtraction within 20 (automatic)
• [ ] Mentally subtracting 10 (automatic)

Multiplication Facts (The Big Focus)

This is THE year for multiplication. By end of 3rd grade:

Fully memorized:

• ×0, ×1 (easy patterns)
• ×2 (doubles)
• ×5 (ends in 0 or 5)
• ×10 (add a zero)

Working toward fluency:

• ×3, ×4
• ×6, ×7, ×8, ×9

Checklist:

• [ ] ×2 facts (automatic)
• [ ] ×5 facts (automatic)
• [ ] ×10 facts (automatic)
• [ ] ×3 facts (mostly automatic)
• [ ] ×4 facts (mostly automatic)
• [ ] All facts to 10×10 (knows them, working on speed)

Division Facts (Introduction)

Division starts in 3rd grade:

Should understand:

• Division as "sharing equally"
• Division as the opposite of multiplication
• If 3 × 4 = 12, then 12 ÷ 3 = 4

Beginning to learn:

• Division facts related to known multiplication
• Simple division with remainders

Checklist:

• [ ] Understands division concept
• [ ] Can divide using related multiplication facts
• [ ] Knows ÷1, ÷2, ÷5, ÷10 facts

Fractions (Introduction)

3rd grade fractions focus on understanding, not operations:

Should understand:

• What 1/2, 1/3, 1/4 mean
• That the denominator is the total parts
• That the numerator is the parts we have
• Equivalent fractions (1/2 = 2/4)
• Comparing simple fractions

Checklist:

• [ ] Can identify fractions in pictures
• [ ] Understands equal parts concept
• [ ] Can compare fractions with same denominator
• [ ] Knows simple equivalent fractions

Place Value (Should Be Solid)

Checklist:

• [ ] Understands ones, tens, hundreds, thousands
• [ ] Can read and write numbers to 1,000
• [ ] Knows the value of each digit in a number
• [ ] Can round to nearest 10 or 100

What to Do If There Are Gaps

• Identify the specific gap — use this checklist
• Go back and fill it — don't push forward with holes
• Practice consistently — 10-15 minutes daily
• Use our free tools — targeted practice by grade and topic

Practice Resources for 3rd Graders

• 3rd Grade Addition — Review and speed-building
• 3rd Grade Subtraction — Multi-digit practice
• 3rd Grade Multiplication — Fact fluency
• 3rd Grade Division — Concept building
• 3rd Grade Fractions — Visual understanding