{"id":6,"date":"2018-07-10T21:20:38","date_gmt":"2018-07-10T21:20:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/democlassroom.school.assumption.org\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2023-09-06T22:01:07","modified_gmt":"2023-09-06T22:01:07","slug":"curriculum-overview","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/school.assumption.org\/thirdgrade\/","title":{"rendered":"Curriculum Overview"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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This is a very exciting and challenging year for your child. The third graders are now solidifying their primary years to make a good transition into intermediate grades next year.  It is a year of growth and challenge and as their teacher. I look forward to being an important part of your child\u2019s learning along with you. Thank you in advance for all of your support in emphasizing the importance of learning and always doing your best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Philosophy:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Each child entering our classroom is a unique and special individual with their own talents and qualities.  All students have a right to a good learning environment with high expectations for each child. My job as their third grade teacher is to ensure that class is conducted in an atmosphere of mutual respect.  When one person is speaking, others are quiet and listening.  We laugh with and not at others. We expect the students to do their best at following directions, being prepared, trying hard in all academic areas, and respecting school property and the property of others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Classroom Environment<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

       We are proactive in our teaching so behavior issues tend not to be a problem. Stealing a line from E. B. White, \u201cIf I make the work interesting the discipline usually takes care of itself.\u201d We use lots of positive encouragement and interactions with your children. The beginning of the year is about rewarding classroom management. We are obtaining points if students make good transitions and can take care of their materials and each other in positive ways. Individually, each child, with the approval of the teacher, creates a goal (behavior or academic) on Friday to focus on for the following week. It will be communicated on the half sheet of paper going home in students’ Friday Folders. Later in the year, students will be rewarded based on these personal goals they make.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Academic Subjects:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MAP testing <\/strong>The students will also taking the national MAP test starting in mid September. There will be four tests (math, reading, language and science) over a period of three weeks. It will solidify what areas your child needs to work on as well as be challenged. We will be meeting with each student discussing their results and allowing for them to create academic goals throughout the year based on these results and on-going progress through the year. We will discuss these results and goals at our conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Religion<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Christian values are integrated throughout the day.
Word of Life and Second Step are the two texts and programs used in third grade focusing on:
\u2022 The Church is One \u2013 The Holy Spirit guides us, Sacraments of Christian Initiation,\u00a0Love one another
\u2022 The Church is Holy \u2013 Forgiveness and healing, Reconciliation, Jesus teaches how to\u00a0love
\u2022 The Church is Catholic \u2013 The Mass, Serving others, Openness
\u2022 The Church is Apostolic \u2013 Continues the mission of the Apostles, Committed
through Sacraments, Commitments
\u2022 The Church Has a Mission to the World \u2013 Sign of the Kingdom of God, Called to
Serve, Witness for Justice and Peace, World Peace
\u2022 A Variety of Prayer Experiences – meditation, scriptural reflections.
\u2022 <\/span><\/span>Liturgical year
\u2022 Conflict and Resolution, Socialization Skills
\u2022 Anti-Bullying Program
\u2022 Scripture Study
\u2022 Community Services<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Religion is also integrated throughout our day, with morning prayers, scripture
readings, intentions, meal blessings, closing prayers, as well as it is integrated within other subject areas. An example of this is in handwriting, when we write scripture verses in our best cursive penmanship or in science when we discuss how God created the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prayers for third graders to memorize this year:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. The Apostle’s Creed<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Come Holy Spirit<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Spelling<\/strong><\/span>
    The Zaner-Bloser program is used along with words that will be integrated
    throughout the curriculum. The list of spelling words will be obtained from the third grade high frequency list and vocabulary from different subject areas. Students will be learning in-depth about the phonics of the selected spelling list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Handwriting<\/strong><\/span>
    The Slingerland Method is used. Cursive is taught\/reviewed at the beginning of the year and various assignments will be expected to written in cursive once all letters, capitals and lower case letters are taught.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Literature<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Third graders have a new Reading curriculum: Benchmark Advance. It has a Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop element to the program. We will be diving into reading lots of Fiction and Non-Fiction literature using small books. To build fluency, students will be able to perform through “Reader’s Theater.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In October, third graders will be reading a fictional book called: Molly\u2019s Pilgrim. From there, we will be using non-fiction texts to read about immigration through Ellis Island. We will be having an \u201cImmigration Day\u201d in which your children will dress up like an assigned immigrant and pass through \u201cEllis Island.” We need parent volunteers for this!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Reading and writing will also be integrated into the Science and Social Studies as well for content vocabulary and research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Independent Reading\/Book Reports<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Students are to read at least 20 minutes three to four times a week. At the end of each month, students will present a book report. There will be various assignments as we go, which I will keep you informed in the newsletters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Grammar<\/strong><\/span>
    Students will also learn in depth about nouns, verbs, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, prefixes, suffixes, homonyms, homographs and figures of speech. We will be integrating our grammar in writing as well. D.O.L. (Daily Oral Language) is used one to two times a week in the morning to focus in grammar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Writing<\/strong><\/span>
    The Six Traits of Writing, the Four Square pre-writing method, and multiple
    organizers will be modeled and used throughout the year. The focus will be mainly on narrative (creative writing) and expository (factual paragraphs and essays) writing. Students will also learn about persuading, comparing and contrasting, poetry, outlines and research papers. Final drafts will be typed into Word or on a Power Point presentation. As writing assignments are due, I will let you know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Math:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Third grade will be using the Go Math!<\/em> textbook from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. We will also pull material from many other sources. This year, special emphasis will be placed on multiplication and division and mastering these basic facts. It is essential that students know their addition and subtraction facts with accuracy and speed. Please assist them with this at home. This will help as we continue to build our knowledge base in math. When we begin our sections on multiplication and division, they will also be asked to memorize their facts up to the 12\u2019s. They will be tested periodically for mastery of these facts. The following concepts will be covered this year:
    \u2022 Addition and subtraction fluency
    \u2022 Place value
    \u2022 Rounding
    \u2022 Multiplication and division facts through 12
    \u2022 Problem solving
    \u2022 Fractions
    \u2022 Measurement
    \u2022 Time
    \u2022 Graphing
    \u2022 Area and Perimeter<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Instruction on the above concepts will be given Monday through Thursday, with homework each of these nights. Sometimes one of the night\u2019s math homework will be to spend 15 minutes practicing math on IXL. Friday will be either “Fact Friday” or another type of game day, reinforcing the concepts taught that week. Your students will explore many different approaches to understanding concepts and solving problems. They will be asked not only to find answers, but to model the problem and explain how they got their answer. Catholic Identity and the Student Learning Expectations are an integral part of how we approach math. Ask your children how learning math can make help them to serve God and go forth to make a lasting difference in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Science<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are what drives our curriculum. The following units will be covered throughout this year:
    \u2022 Fossils
    \u2022 Structures, Process and Interactions of Organisms
    \u2022 Heredity Traits
    \u2022 Force & Motion
    \u2022 Magnetism
    \u2022 Weather<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Social Studies<\/span><\/strong>
    At the beginning of the year, students are will be learning about map skills. They will also be learning about the regions of North America. There will be an \u201cEllis Island\u201d experience in November which will lead family studies and presentations this fall and winter. This spring we will study about Native Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Field trips<\/strong><\/span>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    October 25th -Whatcom Farm Circle -Lynden Fairgrounds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Immigration Day – November<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Bellingham Courthouse -December<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Grading Policy:<\/strong><\/span>
    In third grade, students are graded using standards base assessment. They are not assigned a letter grade but are given a number that corresponds to an academic quality. The goal is for every student to meet standard. Standard numbers are not the equivalent of a letter grade. Listed below are the standard number and a description. Students learning expectations (SLE\u2019s) refer to behavior, work habits and attitude. They will be listed on the front of the report card.
    4- Exceeding Expectation- The student consistently and independently exceeds
    expectation.
    3 – Meeting Expectation – The student frequently meets expectations with minimal assistance.
    2.5- Beginning to Meet Expectations – The student is beginning to meet expectations with minimal assistance.
    2-Working toward Expectation – The student occasionally meets expectation and
    requires moderate assistance and redirection.
    1-Below Expectation – The student rarely meets expectation and requires  considerable assistance and redirection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We are anticipating a great year in Third Grade. Thank you for your Commitment to our Catholic Community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Blessings,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Beverly Williams<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    bwilliams@assumption.school<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    This is a very exciting and challenging year for your child. The third graders are now solidifying their primary years to make a good transition into intermediate grades next year.  It is a year of growth and challenge and as their teacher. I look forward to being an important part of your child\u2019s learning along … Continue reading Curriculum Overview<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/school.assumption.org\/thirdgrade\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/school.assumption.org\/thirdgrade\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/school.assumption.org\/thirdgrade\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/school.assumption.org\/thirdgrade\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/school.assumption.org\/thirdgrade\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/school.assumption.org\/thirdgrade\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/school.assumption.org\/thirdgrade\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}