Welcome to Third Grade!
We’re off and running with LOTS of energy! The first week of school we organized, completed lots of fun activities, and organized some more. Now we’re getting down to business.
In Religion, the children are led to realize they are called to belong to a faith community, the Church. They are encouraged to develop a wholesome respect for themselves and others and to strengthen their trust in God. They will increase their knowledge of the sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, and the Eucharist, and study the basic truths of the Creed. The Paschal Mysteries will be studied along with the communion of saints. Mary’s Assumption and her role as Queen of Heaven and Earth are also introduced.
The Reading program consists of various short stories, non-fiction, drama, and poetry arranged in themes and literary genre. In addition to the basal text, students are reading their own books daily along with an occasional class “favorite” chapter book as a group. Our first “class” chapter book we just completed was, Horrible Harry Moves up to Grade Three by Suzy Kline. We had lots of laughs and the children were kept on the edge of their seats all the way through!
Math topics this year include: addition/subtraction, multiplication/division, time, money, geometry, measurement, fractions, decimals, graphing, and an introduction to statistics and probability. Special attention is given to critical thinking, problem solving and uses of technology.
Spelling: each word list focuses on dependable spelling patterns so students get repeated practice with each pattern.
Phonics will consist of more advanced phonics and word study skills, including vowel digraphs and diphthongs, inflectual endings, prefixes and suffixes. Emphasis will be on building fluency as the children read harder and bigger words.
Life in communities, Communities of the past, Living and working in Communities, How Government works, Becoming a Good Citizen, Many Cultures-One Country and Community=2 0Celebrations are the topics we will be covering in Social Studies.
In Science, students will have many opportunities to use science process skills and the methods of science through hands-on activities. The curriculum begins with the Life Cycles of Plants and Animals. The students are already excited about observing the inside of an egg and its shell with a hand lens. They will also be watching a caterpillar turn into a beautiful butterfly and observe mealworms for three weeks to measure their change in size.
I am very blessed to have such motivated and excited students with big smiles on their faces everyday!
Till next time,
Mrs. Shugrue
