Language Arts

Harcourt Publisher-(Reading, Spelling, Phonics)

Story Town is a research-based, developmental reading and language arts program. The foundation of the program is its high-quality children's literature, as well as informational texts. Through the Student Editions, students are exposed to a variety of genres, including Readers Theater. Story Town features an organized, direct approach to teaching reading. The program emphasizes explicit, systematic instruction in the areas of phonemic awareness, phonics, spelling, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension and writing.

The tests will consist of multiple choice and short response comprehension questions, along with robust vocabulary. The parent will be notified of the test, by a parent letter, the day before a test. The student will need to reread the story to an adult and review the vocabulary. The student will also write it in their assignment notebook.

The spelling words will come from the Story Town program. The students will receive a tic-tac-toe grid. They will complete three activities with their spelling words. They have three days to complete the work. If the homework is not completed by the fifth day the student will stay in at recess to complete the missing assignment. The spelling test will be on the fifth day. The spelling test will not always be on a Friday. It will be rotating. Please check their assignment notebooks for the test dates.

Harcourt Language-(English, Writing)

English will include grammar, sentence structure, and parts of speech. Writing, speaking and listening skills are also covered. Language is the means by which people tell their thoughts, ideas and feelings to others. One language lesson from the Harcourt Language textbook is usually covered per day. Students learn to write well-developed sentences and paragraphs. They are given the opportunity to write personal narratives, how-to essays, persuasive paragraphs and comparison/contrast paragraphs over the course of the year.

Zaner-Bloser Handwriting

The goal of Zaner-Bloser Handwriting is to teach students to write legibly. As the students work through the pages of the book, they will learn to write letters, words, and sentences that are legible to both writers and readers. By learning and applying the four Keys to Legibility-shape, size, space, and slant-the students will evaluate their writing and discover techniques to help them improve and refine their writing skills.  Manuscript needs to be mastered before cursive is used for assignments. This will usually begin after Christmas.

Math

 • understand number patterns

• read and write whole numbers

• count money and make change

• compare, order, and round whole numbers and money

• use the properties of addition

• identify fact families

• add using mental math strategies

• estimate sums including money amounts

• find the sums of whole numbers

• relate addition and subtraction

• use subtraction patterns

• subtract whole numbers

• estimate differences

• tell, write, and convert time and find elapsed time

• multiply facts through twelve

• relate multiplication and division

• estimate products

• divide using facts through twelve

• estimate and measure length

• identify and classify 2- and 3-dimensional figures

• identify congruent, similar, and symmetrical figures

• find perimeter, area, and volume

• identify, read, and write fractions

• compare and order fractions and find equivalent fractions

• use skills and strategies to solve word problems

Additional Math information

• at the beginning of each chapter students will receive a Math at Home Family Guide. This is a preview of what we will be taking in class. The new vocabulary for the chapter is on this worksheet.

• vocabulary and math fact mastery will be part of the student’s math grade

• fact mastery quizzes will be given once a week

Religion

The third grade program of the Christ Our Life series, We Believe presents the main truths Catholics believe and express in the Apostles’ Creed. Throughout this year the children will become familiar with the mysteries of faith professed in that creed. By the end of the year all students should be able to recite the creed from memory and understand the words they recite.

In addition to learning the creed third graders will

• learn the mysteries of the rosary

• review procedures for celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation

• become familiar with the lives of many saints

• attend weekly Mass

Here are some additional features of our text which I would like to call your attention to:

• There is a letter home to begin every unit of our book. This letter explains what the focus of the unit is.

• Building Family Faith, which appears on the Chapter Review page, offers ideas and activities to reinforce learning and involves the family. A parent signature will be required before the test is given on the Chapter. This request for your signature alerts you to that test.

• ChristOurLife.org offers online support, including chapter reviews for the children to test their knowledge.

Science and Social Studies

Mrs. Olson will be teaching the Science and Social Studies curriculum. Each subject is taught everyday throughout the mornings and afternoons. I will give at least 3-4 days notice on tests. We review in class, and have many discussions about the material being presented. Studying should only be a review at home.

 In Science, the focus will be on four main parts: Life, Earth, Physical, and Space Exploration. We will mainly focus on plants and animals, how they grow and live. For Earth Science, we will focus on water, the water cycle, weather, and clouds. For Physical Science, we will focus on properties of matter, changes in matter, and forces. For Space Exploration, we will focus on the planets and how we use science in our lives.

In Social Studies, we will focus on communities, people in communities, how communities change, citizenship, and government. We will also be learning about the history of our country as well as important people from that time. Geography will also be a main focus throughout the year. We will be studying a wide variety of maps, charts, graphs, diagrams, timelines, and biographies.

For both subjects, we will do vocabulary in the spiral. We have been working on how to write the definitions in an organized fashion. Also, for both subjects, we do have workbooks that are used for reinforcement.