Welcome to Third Grade!
Welcome to Third Grade!
This is a year of major growth for your child! They will learn many new and exciting things. It is our goal to have students become independent, organized, and responsible to ensure success at the upper grades. Your cooperation by asking about homework, providing a quiet work environment, and praising their efforts is a great place to start.
Homework will generally be assigned nightly, Monday through Thursday. It should take approximately 20-30 minutes for students to complete assignments.
An integrated, thematic approach to teaching, which is in line with the state standards, is the general approach to instruction in grade three. Reading skills are taught through a wide range of literature as well as the basal reading program. The writing process is a five-step model which incorporates the six-traits of writing and the following steps:
1. Prewriting
2. Drafting
3. Revising
4. Editing
5. Publishing
Students participate in writer's workshop which teaches them the writing process using the six plus one traits of writing. They also write in math to prepare them for the state assessments. Written responses and writing small research papers occur in the content areas of social studies and science. Some of the writing will be done using word processing on the computer with research using the Internet, as well as using books from the library. The math program contains the basic operations, but has a major focus on the conceptual development of math concepts and problem solving strategies. The students writing is important because not only are they required to solve the problems, but they must explain, in writing, how they arrived at their answers. In addition to the traditional worksheets, you will see problem of the day papers coming home as well. Due to the comprehensiveness of the new math standards, if you can drill basic math facts at home it would be very beneficial for your child. Once again, literature is used not only in science and social studies, but also in math.
We hope this has helped to give you a basic understanding of what will be happening for your children as they spend this year in third grade. We look forward to working with you. We are hopeful that it will be a happy and successful school year for all!
If you ever have any questions, please feel free to contact us here at school at 568-6211.