lcronshaw@scsnh.com

Curriculum and Homework Expectations

Language Arts

Our reading series, Journeys, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is a well-balanced, comprehensive approach to skills that will help your child become a fluent reader. Exploring literature (including a variety of genre), oral language, word identification, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing development are the goals of this series.

The children are placed in flexible reading groups. At times, they are with students at their ability level and at other times, they are with children of differing ability levels. We also do a variety of whole group reading activities. The children are also paired up and have partner reading.

Each week your child will be given new spelling words. Our phonics lessons for the week reinforce these words. Students will participate in various activities during the week to practice the spelling words as well as the phonics skill. New vocabulary words from the story are introduced each week. The words are in a vocabulary notebook and will go home throughout the week. Children are expected to be able to read the word and the definition. They also need to be able to give a definition on their own. It does not need to be word for word. Please help your child practice these words each week. Making flashcards is a great way to make it more fun. On Fridays, students will have a spelling test, as well as a phonics and vocabulary test. Reading comprehension tests will be given on Tuesdays after reading the week’s story and group discussion.

The students write throughout the day across the curriculum. Students learn to write clear and coherent sentences and paragraphs with topic and supporting sentences.

The children will learn many different forms of writing- stories, personal narratives, friendly letters, summarizing, reports, and poems. We will be working on the writing process this year - prewriting, drafting, revising, proofreading, and publishing.

Math

Children will be expected to recall addition and subtraction facts from last year. They will need to recall them quickly so we can move on to multiplication and division facts. We practice math facts every day through games, worksheets, and “minute math”. The children are given math problems and must complete as many as they can in a timed period. We start with easy problems. It really makes them feel great each time they improve. Parents can help out by practicing with math flash cards. It only takes a few minutes.

In addition to learning math facts, the children will be learning to regroup with addition and subtraction, multiplication & division, telling time, money, measurements, fractions, geometry, and problem solving skills. You can really help your child by practicing with them.

Science and Social Studies

The science curriculum focuses on weather, zoology, amphibians & reptiles, geology, magnets, matter, and the Solar System. Social studies will focus on map skills, states, capitals, Native Americans, Christmas around the world, and regions. Tests and quizzes will be given throughout and at the end of units of study.

Religion

3rd grade is a big year for the children. We focus our studies around the sacraments, as they will be making their First Holy Communion and Confirmation during this year. There is also a large focus on the lives of the saints and how we can better live for Jesus.

Handwriting

In 3rd grade, the students are expected to complete assignments in cursive. We review and practice weekly so that the students feel more comfortable in their writing.

Homework

The students are expected to read for 15 minutes each night. They will write the title of the book and bring it to you to sign that they read. For Language Arts, Math, Religion, and Cursive, the students will have an assignment that is listed out in the corresponding box. The entire packet is due at the end of the week. Some assignments may need to be completed in a notebook, which they will be responsible for bringing back and forth each day.