Writing

Third Grade utilizes the Teachers College Writing Curriculum, which includes these units of study: personal narrative/small moments (fall), non-fiction/informational (winter), and opinion/persuasive (spring).

During Writers Workshop, students will be taken through the writing process, which includes the pre-write, multiple drafts, evaluate (self edit, peer edit, teacher edit), re-write, and publishing final drafts.

Teachers will provide teaching points, mini-lessons, conferences, and small group time to teach a comprehensive workshop curriculum. Students will build writing independence and fluency through daily practice. We celebrate our accomplishments at the end of writing units with publishing parties! Throughout the year, we will also practice poetry and letter writing.

By the end of third grade, students are working on writing multiple paragraphs as well as typing their written work on a computer.

Cursive is taught throughout the school year. Students use the Handwriting Without Tears workbook to practice as they learn. The lowercase letters are taught first since they are used with greater frequency. Then the uppercase letters are taught as the students use cursive while writing complete sentences.

Third Grade uses the Rebecca Sitton Spelling program for weekly word study. There are 5 words of focus and 5 challenge/review words every week. The words have a similar spelling pattern that is taught then practiced using the corresponding workbook.