How will we be learning this year?
Below, you can find a brief overview of how our class will be learning this year.
Reading
Note: We expect to get a new reading program midyear. Stay tuned for more information about this program.
Third grade is arguably the most important school year in a child's education. This is the year that students will make the jump from "learning to read" to "reading to learn". To help us accomplish this goal, we use a basil reading program Wonders. This program will expose students to various texts across multiple genres. We will use these stories to enhance the fluency and comprehension strategies learned in the primary grades while taking the next step forward in our literacy journey as learners. .
Our Reading block will begin with a whole group mini lesson on a phonics skills, comprehension strategy, or a writing strategy. From there we will split up into our groups for Reading Centers. During centers, students will be given time to practice concepts such as phonics skills, vocabulary words, writing, comprehension, and fluency.
Writing
This year students will learn how to write multiple types of literature including narratives (fictional pieces). expositories (non-fiction pieces), opinion/ persuasive writings, and research pieces. The majority of our writings will be based on texts we've read in class.
Students will write weekly in their Writing Journals as well as work on long-term writing projects. In the first half of the year, the vast majority of these writing projects will be kept in our writing folders and then in the second half of the year, we will mostly be typing our writings online. Our writing folders will be sent home at the end of the year, so we can share our work with our families.
Whether the pieces are hand-written or typed, students will be encouraged to create a hand written graphic organizer
(2-column notes) and a rough draft before they complete the final product.
Students will write weekly in their Writing Journals as well as work on long-term writing projects. In the first half of the year, the vast majority of these writing projects will be kept in our writing folders and then in the second half of the year, we will mostly be typing our writings online. Our writing folders will be sent home at the end of the year, so we can share our work with our families.
Whether the pieces are hand-written or typed, students will be encouraged to create a hand written graphic organizer
(2-column notes) and a rough draft before they complete the final product.
Math
Our school uses the Illustrative Mathematics program to teach math. Each lesson consists of an energizer (to get our brains thinking about numbers), time for students to engage with the new concept and notice patterns, direct instruction, and a cool-down activity to confirm what we learned that day.
After the lesson ends, students will participate in math centers where we review and build upon skills. This is the time where students will also work on ST Math, our school's computer based math program.
While many of our concepts will build upon skills that were taught in previous grades, students will also be exposed to new skills such as division, multiplication, and rounding.
After the lesson ends, students will participate in math centers where we review and build upon skills. This is the time where students will also work on ST Math, our school's computer based math program.
While many of our concepts will build upon skills that were taught in previous grades, students will also be exposed to new skills such as division, multiplication, and rounding.
Science
We will have Science class for thirty minutes, everyday. Some of the concepts we will be covering this year include the
scientific method, weather, climate, forces, animal traits, fossils, and life cycles.
Students will complete various activities and experiments on these concepts throughout the year. We will also spend some of our Science time this year, working on various engineering projects. These projects help students learn how to work together to solve problems and how to improve upon already existing solutions.
scientific method, weather, climate, forces, animal traits, fossils, and life cycles.
Students will complete various activities and experiments on these concepts throughout the year. We will also spend some of our Science time this year, working on various engineering projects. These projects help students learn how to work together to solve problems and how to improve upon already existing solutions.