Third Grade Curriculum Overview Mrs. Griffith Mrs. Sturtz Mrs. Riddle

Congratulations! Your child is now considered an upper elementary student! We Encourage: Independence Responsibility Organization Be Safe, Be Kind, Be Productive

Parent Volunteers We greatly appreciate the help of parent volunteers both inside and outside of the classroom!We greatly appreciate the help of parent volunteers both inside and outside of the classroom! We will be sending out more information about parent volunteering once we have established our classroom community and procedures.We will be sending out more information about parent volunteering once we have established our classroom community and procedures. In order to be a volunteer, please complete the form in order to have a background check done.In order to be a volunteer, please complete the form in order to have a background check done. Please sign up for conferences, math center, and holiday parties.Please sign up for conferences, math center, and holiday parties.

Daily Routines Each day our class will take a short “working snack” break. Students can have a nutritious snack at this time.Each day our class will take a short “working snack” break. Students can have a nutritious snack at this time. Please provide your child with a water bottle marked with his/her name in permanent marker. Please help your child remember to fill his/her water bottle prior to school and take it home nightly.Please provide your child with a water bottle marked with his/her name in permanent marker. Please help your child remember to fill his/her water bottle prior to school and take it home nightly.

Planners/Homework Homework for the evening is discussed with the whole class. Students are expected to fill out their own planners and complete assigned homework every night. Please sign your child’s planner each night after they’ve completed their homework. Homework Club will be available M-Th each week.

Binders Binders will be used throughout the year, as a method of collecting artifacts and reflecting on your child’s growth. Periodically, we will send the binder home for you and your child to reflect upon and review. Please sign select pages when necessary and make sure that your child brings back his/her data binder the following school day. More information will be sent home regarding binders, so stay tuned!

Reading Workshop The biggest change in reading at the third-grade level is the shift from “Learning to Read” to “Reading to Learn.” We will be using a workshop model in our classrooms and following the Lucy Caulkins Units of Study for Teaching Reading. Students will be expected to read approximately 200 pages per week between school and home. Students will keep track of their reading using their Reading Log.

Writing Workshop We will be using a workshop model in our classrooms and following the Lucy Caulkins Units of Study for Teaching Writing. Students will draft ideas and entries in their writer’s notebooks. Throughout the year, 3 rd graders will write personal narratives, essays, fiction, poetry and informational reports. Each text type will be assessed using a common rubric used across the district.

Word Work Our spelling program in 3 rd grade is Words Their Way, which is the study of patterns, not memorization of difficult words. Based on initial assessment, students will be working with different patterns and sorts. New sorts will start each Monday beginning in October. Children will spend time examining, manipulating, sorting, and categorizing their words throughout the week. They will be assessed each Friday, using words that follow the patterns they’ve been studying, but not necessarily the words they’ve been using to sort. In order for kids to appropriately transfer their spelling skills to their everyday writing, they need to do more than just memorize words, they need to understand how words work.

Handwriting Throughout the year we will teach the cursive alphabet, both uppercase and lowercase letters. As students become more comfortable reading and writing cursive, we will expect them to incorporate cursive writing into their every day assignments.

Math We use the Everyday Math Program and additional units through Oakland Schools that will help us reach all Common Core curriculum. Due to new standards and curriculum changes we will not use all of our journal pages and home links. Home Links and other forms of homework will be used to address unit skills. Lesson and home links will jump around so please be sure to check the planner each night for assigned homework. Skills to practice at home: –Telling time –Money –Multiplication Facts

EDM Online Reinforce skills mastery through challenging and fun games online. Everyday Mathematics Games provides an easy-to-use management system that provides detailed reports on the skills learned through each game. Family resources: lesson videos, online reference book, and games. Please look for cards with Login/Passwords on it.

Social Studies Third Grade focuses on: –Maps, graphs, and timelines –Michigan History –Natural resources –Core Democratic Values

Science Science is mostly hands-on Units of study include: –Roles of Living Things –Light/Sound –Sun/Moon/Earth –Force and Motion (new unit)

Field Trips and Projects We usually attend 2-3 field trips a year that support the current units of study. Each month students will complete a creative project that also supports the current units of study.

Questions?