3rd Grade Curriculum
Literacy
- Balanced Literacy approach including: interactive read-alouds, daily mini lessons focusing on specific reading strategies, independent reading time, word work, and student reading conferences
- Reading a variety of literary genres such as: fiction, non-fiction, historical fiction, biographies, fantasy, informational and poetry
- Use reading strategies and skills to enhance and expand comprehension (understanding) of the material
- Read actively by questioning, writing, discussing, and interpreting the material
- Book Club groups promote group collaboration while digging deeper into the text
- Guiding Reading Levels (A to Z) to choose "just right books"
- MAPS and Reading 3D assessments for data collection at the beginning, middle, and end of the school year
Writing/Vocabulary/Spelling
- Increase spelling, writing and vocabulary skills
- Being a Writer-use of mentor texts to cultivate writers
- Use of a 'Day Book' which is similar to a writing journal-used as a toolbox for writers
- Writing conventions (capitalization, punctuation, and spelling)
- Complete sentences and paragraph writing
- Grammar/Parts of Speech
- Editing and proofreading skills
- Cursive handwriting
Math
- Math Investigations Units of Study
- Place value to 1,000 and number sense
- Addition/Subtraction/Multiplication/Division
- Problem Solving Skills
- Algebra concepts: solving for an unknown number and writing number sentences
- Estimation or Rounding of numbers
- Fractions
- Geometry
- Measurement
- Area/Perimeter
- MAPS assessments used for data collection at the beginning, middle, and end of the school year.
Science
- Use of Interactive Science Notebooks for note taking-ideas, discoveries, and responses to scientific concepts
- The Scientific Method
- Hands on Labs
- Matter/Energy
- Landforms
- Solar System
- Muscular and Skeletal Systems
- Soil/Plants
- Force in Motion
Social Studies
- Use of Social Studies interactive textbooks and Scholastic News to learn about current and historical events
- Explore big ideas such as civic responsibility, community leadership, cultural differences, and responsible behavior
- Map skills and Geography
- Use of our Classroom Economy to experience "real world" situations, such as being paid for class jobs, paying monthly rent, and paying fines for not doing our homework or making good behavior choices
Health
- Building and managing positive relationships
- Making healthy food choices
- Mental and emotional health
- Personal health
- Responsibility with medicines
- Responding to peer pressure
Personal Responsibility and Accountability
Your child is encouraged to be an active participant in his/her own education. Your child will be held accountable for completing classwork and homework on time, participating in class, and arriving at school daily with all necessary materials, prepared, and ready to learn. I ask that you assist your child by checking over their homework, reading together, and encouraging their best effort. Practicing basic facts (like addition, subtraction, and multiplication) at home with your child is one way you can help their recall, especially in math.
Third grade is a challenging transition year with many additional responsibilities and growing expectations; however, with your support, your child will be well prepared. Please help me to stress the importance of personal responsibility and accountability for one's own actions.
Third grade is a challenging transition year with many additional responsibilities and growing expectations; however, with your support, your child will be well prepared. Please help me to stress the importance of personal responsibility and accountability for one's own actions.