Math
Third grade math is considerably more difficult with the change to the Common Core Learning Standards. Students are expected to think more critically and work through problems independently using the resources they have available to them. There is a lot more discussion as to "why" something works and not just "how" to solve the problem. This method of learning will be more valuable to the students in the long run, but will take a little time to adjust. In our classroom, we have a vocabulary word wall that we consistently add new words to. This can be useful to your child as we learn new concepts.
This year we will be using My Math Curriculum. This is a new math curriculum which is aligned to the Common Core standards. Math in 3rd grade centers around larger numbers, fractions, time, money, and measurement. Students will have a book to use as well as online access to everything we cover in class. Please visit http://connected.mcgraw-hill.com/connected/login.do to log into your child's account. Their username and password is the same they use for computer-ins at school; however, their five digit password has a letter "m" in front. Assignments will be done in class as well as given for homework. Most assignments given for homework will be taken as a math grade. After each unit, we will have math test which will be taken as a math grade. Math tests will be announced on the weekly updates on this website. I will also have the students write in their assignment books when we will be having a test.
Third grade math is considerably more difficult with the change to the Common Core Learning Standards. Students are expected to think more critically and work through problems independently using the resources they have available to them. There is a lot more discussion as to "why" something works and not just "how" to solve the problem. This method of learning will be more valuable to the students in the long run, but will take a little time to adjust. In our classroom, we have a vocabulary word wall that we consistently add new words to. This can be useful to your child as we learn new concepts.
This year we will be using My Math Curriculum. This is a new math curriculum which is aligned to the Common Core standards. Math in 3rd grade centers around larger numbers, fractions, time, money, and measurement. Students will have a book to use as well as online access to everything we cover in class. Please visit http://connected.mcgraw-hill.com/connected/login.do to log into your child's account. Their username and password is the same they use for computer-ins at school; however, their five digit password has a letter "m" in front. Assignments will be done in class as well as given for homework. Most assignments given for homework will be taken as a math grade. After each unit, we will have math test which will be taken as a math grade. Math tests will be announced on the weekly updates on this website. I will also have the students write in their assignment books when we will be having a test.
Reading
This year we will be reading a combination of short stories, novels, poems, and folk tales. When we read a story out of our reading textbook, we will remain on one story for the week. New vocabulary words will be introduced at the beginning of each story. A comprehension and vocabulary test over the story will be given on Friday. Tests will be announced in on weekly updates as well as written on your child's assignment sheet. When we are reading a novel, we will spend about 1 month completing a literary unit. New vocabulary words will be introduced on a weekly basis. We will also have vocabulary and comprehension quizzes every few chapters. At the end the novel, there will be an end of the book test/project that will be counted as a reading grade. Also during literary units, I will assign journal entries, reflections, and chapter summaries.
This year we will be reading a combination of short stories, novels, poems, and folk tales. When we read a story out of our reading textbook, we will remain on one story for the week. New vocabulary words will be introduced at the beginning of each story. A comprehension and vocabulary test over the story will be given on Friday. Tests will be announced in on weekly updates as well as written on your child's assignment sheet. When we are reading a novel, we will spend about 1 month completing a literary unit. New vocabulary words will be introduced on a weekly basis. We will also have vocabulary and comprehension quizzes every few chapters. At the end the novel, there will be an end of the book test/project that will be counted as a reading grade. Also during literary units, I will assign journal entries, reflections, and chapter summaries.
Language & Writing
Our writing and language curriculum are introduced together. Language lessons focus on the proper use of grammar. Students will study sentence structure, parts of speech, capitalization rules, and punctuation rules. We will have an interactive language notebook which we will use to take notes in as we learn new concepts. During writing, we will be writing narratives as well as informative and argumentative pieces throughout the year. We will work on organizing our writing and adding details to our writing. Sometimes we will go to the computer lab to type writing pieces and other times we will write by hand. When in the computer lab, we will use a blog website to type pieces (www.kidblog.org). The students will also write journal entries throughout the year. I do NOT take off points for misspelled words for journal entries. When the students write journal entries, I also do not correct spelling mistakes. For these short writing pieces, I want them to convey their thoughts and ideas rather than worry about being marked off for spelling. I want journal entries to be fun to write and be a positive writing experience. However, I do correct spelling on lengthy writing assignments and essays. I also will take off points for spelling if it is a writing assignment where they have done several drafts and have turned in a final draft. If you would prefer that I also correct spelling errors on their journal entries, please contact me and I would be more than happy to do so.
Spelling
Our spelling curriculum will focus on learning how to find the correct spelling of words in all writing therefore there will be no weekly spelling list. Instead, each student will have a spelling folder that contains the 1,500 most frequently used words in writing. Students will learn how to locate the correct spelling of words using different resources available to them. Spelling will consist of learning No Excuse Words, reviewing skills, and weekly tests. Each student will have an alphabetical listing of the "no excuse words" all 3rd grade students should know how to spell. In the back of the spelling folder is a homophone guide to help determine which form of the word goes with the correct spelling. On Friday, students will take a "real-life" spelling test. I will give them a story missing 16 to 22 words that they will have to fill in while listening to me read. I will read the story three times through while the students fill in the missing blanks with a spelling word. They will then have time to use their spelling folder or a dictionary as a resource to double check their spelling of the words. This exercise will create independence in finding the correct way to spell words, just as many of us have to do in real-life situations.
Our spelling curriculum will focus on learning how to find the correct spelling of words in all writing therefore there will be no weekly spelling list. Instead, each student will have a spelling folder that contains the 1,500 most frequently used words in writing. Students will learn how to locate the correct spelling of words using different resources available to them. Spelling will consist of learning No Excuse Words, reviewing skills, and weekly tests. Each student will have an alphabetical listing of the "no excuse words" all 3rd grade students should know how to spell. In the back of the spelling folder is a homophone guide to help determine which form of the word goes with the correct spelling. On Friday, students will take a "real-life" spelling test. I will give them a story missing 16 to 22 words that they will have to fill in while listening to me read. I will read the story three times through while the students fill in the missing blanks with a spelling word. They will then have time to use their spelling folder or a dictionary as a resource to double check their spelling of the words. This exercise will create independence in finding the correct way to spell words, just as many of us have to do in real-life situations.
Science
We have a science book that we will be using to cover our new topics for 3rd grade. We will primarily focus on earth and life science. We will also be doing a lot of hands on activities to help us learn through experiments. Technology is another source from which we will be learning science. We will watch Discovery Education videos to increase our understanding of topics. After each chapter, we will take tests which will be entered as a science grade. Tests will be announced on the weekly updates as well as written on your child's assignment book. Study guides will always be filled out in class and sent home to help your child prepare for science tests.
We have a science book that we will be using to cover our new topics for 3rd grade. We will primarily focus on earth and life science. We will also be doing a lot of hands on activities to help us learn through experiments. Technology is another source from which we will be learning science. We will watch Discovery Education videos to increase our understanding of topics. After each chapter, we will take tests which will be entered as a science grade. Tests will be announced on the weekly updates as well as written on your child's assignment book. Study guides will always be filled out in class and sent home to help your child prepare for science tests.
Social Studies
In social studies, we will cover the history of the United States. For the first 10 minutes of social studies every Monday, we will practice our geography skills by locating places on a map through an interactive website (www.geosense.net). In 3rd grade, we also work really hard on learning all of the fifty states' names, spellings, and abbreviations. After each chapter in our book, there will be test. The test will be entered as a social studies grade. Tests will be announced on weekly updates as well as written in your child's assignment book. Study guides will always be filled out in class and sent home to help your child prepare for the test.