Word problems require students to translate language into math, identify what they're solving for, and choose the right strategy—skills that take practice to develop. Tutors help students break problems into smaller steps, draw pictures or diagrams to visualize the situation, and build confidence in their problem-solving approach. With personalized instruction, your child can work through word problems at their own pace and learn strategies they can apply to new problems.

Showing work helps teachers understand your child's thinking and catch misconceptions early, rather than just checking if the answer is correct. It also helps students develop problem-solving strategies they can apply to harder math later. Tutors can guide students in organizing their work clearly, explaining their steps, and building the habit of thinking through problems systematically rather than rushing to an answer.

Yes—one-on-one instruction creates a low-pressure environment where students can ask questions, make mistakes, and learn without worrying about keeping up with classmates. Tutors can celebrate small wins, break concepts into manageable pieces, and help students see that struggling with math is a normal part of learning. Many students discover they actually enjoy math once they understand the 'why' behind the concepts, not just the 'how.'

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who specialize in 3rd grade math and understand the curriculum used in Mesa schools. You can share your child's specific needs—whether it's building multiplication fluency, tackling word problems, or boosting confidence—and get matched with a tutor who fits your family's schedule and learning style. Most families see their first tutor within a few days of signing up.

The first session is about getting to know your child, understanding their strengths and challenges, and building rapport. The tutor will likely review some of the math your child is working on at school, ask questions about what topics feel confusing, and start identifying patterns in how your child approaches problems. This foundation helps the tutor create a personalized plan for the sessions ahead.

Third graders are expected to develop fluency with multiplication and division facts, which means knowing them quickly and accurately. Rather than just drilling facts, tutors help students see the patterns and relationships between numbers—like how 3 × 4 and 4 × 3 give the same answer, or how division 'undoes' multiplication. This deeper understanding makes facts stick better and helps students apply them to larger problems.

Fractions are a big shift in 3rd grade—students move from thinking about whole numbers to understanding parts of a whole. Many students find this abstract at first, which is why hands-on practice with visual models (like fraction bars or pie slices) helps tremendously. Tutors can use concrete tools and real-world examples to help your child build intuition about fractions before moving to more symbolic work.