|
School Life | K-6 Elementary
Third Grade
Welcome to Third Grade!
Third grade is an exciting year filled with many “firsts” for your students. Our curriculum is very integrated, and you will frequently find that what we are doing in Language Arts often relates to Science, Social Studies, the Arts, Math, and Technology. Linking the curriculum in this way gives us a chance to really immerse ourselves in what we are learning, and gives the students a much greater depth of understanding.
In the Language Arts, the focus will shift from “learning to read” in the primary grades to “reading to learn” in the intermediate grades. To help us achieve this goal we will read from a variety of books, including novels and expository texts, and articles from the internet, magazines, encyclopedias, and newspapers. Comprehension, fluency, vocabulary, and skills will be taught explicitly to the whole class and in small group settings to address the needs of the students as individual learners. Our writing program will be closely linked with our other classroom work, and will involve daily writing and a “Writer’s Workshop.” Writing skills will be based on the “6 Traits” model and focus on ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions (including grammar and spelling). The students will be responsible for narrative writing, personal letter writing, and multi-paragraph compositions, including book reports and informational reports throughout the year.
To teach spelling, the "Words Their Way" program is used which focuses on teaching a spelling skill rather than a spelling word. It gives students the tools to spell new words with old patterns.
Math is taught from the Saxon Math program and includes multiplication, division, simple fractions, and measurement. Math tests are given after every 5th lesson (beginning after lesson 10), and parents are advised well in advance of upcoming assessments. To give the students practice and incentive to master their math facts, we will also be completing “Minute Math” tests twice a week to help the students build a solid foundation for their daily work.
Our job in Social Studies is to connect our present to our past. Students will be taught to emphasize the “communities” in their lives and demonstrate how they can play active parts. Themes will highlight Native American tribes of the United States and specifically the Sacramento region, government and economics, as well as the formation and qualities of leadership.
In Science we will work within the three main branches of the discipline: physical science, life science, and earth science. Our focus will be on exploring these topics through scientific method, process, and investigation. The major goal: to teach the students how to be scientists themselves and to see the world as a place where science takes place every day (not just by men with crazy hair in lab coats). Themes which will be covered include the Solar System, energy and matter, and light.
Our Art program teaches both technique and appreciation through vocabulary and exploration of celebrated artworks in history. The kids build portfolios of artwork through the year, which culminates with a unit in the art of cursive writing.
Parents are kept informed of the classroom happenings via email. The weekly newsletter is sent home Thursdays and includes themes and events for the week, special requests, projected homework assignments, and an on-going calendar.
Again, welcome to Third Grade… and let the learning begin!
Kindergarten
First Grade
Second Grade
Fourth Grade
Fifth Grade
Sixth Grade
|
