Ms. Doherty's Site - Curriculum Information

Reading and Writing Workshop

The reading curriculum focuses on building knowledge through an essential question that anchors the weekly text, increases connections, and elevates understanding
Students will read a variety of texts this year including traditional tales, folktales, realistic fiction, informational texts, myths, poetry, biographies, and historical fiction

The writing curriculum directly connects with our reading curriculum
Mentor texts guide and support writing
The writing program is broken down into daily steps to help students draft, edit, and revise their published piece
Students will publish personal narratives, how-to articles, historical fiction pieces, opinion essays, and poems

The ELA curriculum is called Savvas MyView

Overall, there is a heavy focus on reading comprehension. Students will learn how to discuss their reading in meaningful ways, as well as note taking strategies to organize their thinking. They will also learn how to write essays using elaboration in the form of details and evidence to support their thinking.

WIN- reading intervention block

What I Need (WIN) is our school wide reading intervention block.

Students receive targeted reading support in their area of need for 30 minutes, four times a week. Groups are formed based around the five components of reading: phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, or comprehension. Half way through the year, groups are reassessed and students are may be moved to a group that better fits their needs.

Spelling

*Students will learn and practice a new spelling words each week and take a spelling quiz every Friday (unless noted in their planner otherwise).

*The Everyday Math curriculum is a spiraled curriculum. This means that concepts will reappear throughout the year, reinforcing important skills.

3rd Grade Math Concepts:

Time

Rounding to the nearest ten and hundred

Data Analysis (bar graphs, pictographs, line plots)

Multiplication

Basic Division

Two/three digit addition and subtraction with regrouping

MultiStep word problems involving the four operations

Shape attributes

Fractions

Science Units:

Weather

Animal Habitats and Adaptations

Force & Motion

Social Studies Units:

Geography

Natural Resources

Michigan history through statehood

Government (field trip to the state Capitol and history museum on March 19th)

Economics

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Third Grade READING and MATH Homework Expectations

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Reading

At least 20 minutes each night with a focus on comprehension.
- They can read independently or out loud to you, a sibling, a pet, or a friend!
- Give them opportunities as often as possible to talk about what they are reading to increase their comprehension. This could be asking about the characters or the plot, or asking them to make predictions.
- In addition to reading picture or chapter books, they can do Lexia at home as often as you would like them to. Lexia is linked through Google Classroom, and that login information is in their planner. Just make sure they are logged into their Google account on the home computer to access Google classroom.

Math

Homework sent home every Wednesday that is due by Friday.
- If your child can't turn it in by Friday, let me know via email.
- Homework should take around 30 minutes or less.
- The weekly homework is usually double sided and serves as a way to review concepts taught in class.
- If your child is struggling with the homework, please have them circle which problems are a challenge for them. Then please write a note on the top of the homework explaining what was difficult for your child. Either you or your child can write the note. Please have them turn that in and I will work with them on the problems they circled. I want homework to be low stress!
- In addition to the weekly math homework, I post extra practice worksheets under the math tab that can be printed or viewed. I also list the skills being taught under the math tab so you have an idea of what we are working on in class.
- For even more practice opportunities, your child has access to online math sites that they can use at home. They will posted to Google Classroom as the year progresses. Just make sure they are logged into their Google account on the home computer to access Google Classroom. Their login information is in their planner.

Planner and Take Home Folder

These should always be in your child's backpack.
For the planner- your child will write a word or phrase for each subject area in their planner daily. This can keep you in the loop on what we are doing in class.
They will also write if there is homework being sent home on Wednesday and if they have spelling words that week.
Lastly, they will write any upcoming dates that are important such as spirit days or popcorn days.
I recommend checking their planner at least twice a week, and for sure on Wednesday's to make sure you know if they have homework and spelling words.
For their take home folder- they will mostly bring home notes and assignments on Friday's. Please check their folder weekly!