Language Arts
In third grade, students continue to develop strategies to effectively use language. Through the presentation of reports and journal writing, they learn to write and speak for a specific purpose. Students learn to become strategic readers by identifying the elements of a story. Teachers encourage students to make connections such as text-to –text, text –to-self and text-to-world connections as they read. Study skills include note taking, the use of reference materials, interpreting graphs and diagrams, and test-taking skills.   Vocabulary development continues to include the refinement of phonetic and decoding skills. Word analysis strategies include: homonyms, antonyms, synonyms, analogies, multiple meaning and compound words. Students expand their vocabulary by learning strategies for identifying unfamiliar words. Reading comprehension skills taught include: understanding fiction and nonfiction reading selections, identifying main ideas, sequencing events, recalling details, making predictions, drawing inferences, and understanding cause-and-effect relationships.  Third graders continue to learn and practice the steps of the writing process. Peer conferencing is introduced as another revision technique. Proper grammar, spelling, and the mechanics of writing are taught to enable students to proofread and communicate more effectively.   

Mathematics
Third graders focus on fact families in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. They continue developing strategies for multi-digit addition and subtraction problems. Learning multiplication facts through the 12’s is a goal this year. Other third-grade skills include the study of geometry, negative numbers, calculator skills, telling time, fractions, and money. Practical application of measurement skills includes linear, weight, and capacity with customary and metric units. Students perform probability experiments that provide information for analyzing data and predicting outcomes. Third graders will have activity sheets for homework on a regular basis.    

Science                      
The third-grade curriculum focuses on the physical, earth, and life sciences. Students will observe the life cycle of a butterfly in the Life Cycles unit.  The Water unit allows students observe and explore properties of water in liquid, gas and solid states, observe the expansion and contraction of water as it gains and loses heat, investigate factors that influence the cycle of evaporation and condensation of water, and compare water quality using indicators. Students also study the Solar System and the relationship between the sun, moon, and Earth. This unit is supplemented with literature that further explains the place of our solar system within the universe.   

Social Studies

The social studies curriculum in third grade reviews the concept of community. Students participate in activities that teach them skills in geography, problem solving, and study skills. They learn how geography, climate, and natural resources have impacted the development and history of the areas.

We invite you to be
a partner in your child’s education!

Stay-Tuned:  Ask your child what he or she is studying, and please look in the planner every night.  Teachers do write notes in the planners if necessary. Also, we will send home quarterly progress reports, notes or make phone calls if we feel that your child is not progressing as expected.

Ask Questions:  If you have any concerns or are wondering why something is happening, please feel free to call or email us at any time.  We welcome all concerns, ideas, and feedback that affect your child or our classroom.  

Homework:  You should expect that your child will have some type of homework every day (Monday-Thursday).  You will always find the homework assignments written in their planner every day.  It is supposed to be brought to school every day and will go home every day!  Students should be able to do most assignments independently, but do help if it is completely necessary.  If you notice that your child is not able to do an assignment on his or her own, please send a note or jot a note to us on the assignment.  We will contact you if your child is falling behind or turning in poor work. 

Snack:  Third grade students do not have lunch until 12:45 P.M. All students may bring a nutritious snack and a drink to school every day. 

Arrival Time: We also would like to request that students arrive at school no earlier than 8:00.  It is not safe for them to be hanging around or playing on the equipment with no supervision.  We certainly do not want your child to get injured prior to the school day. 

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