Homework:  📂 comes home on Fridays 

What to expect for 3rd grade weekly homework:

✏️ One 2-sided math page. (Students may choose how to complete this. For example, they can do 4 problems a night, or perhaps choose two nights in which they'll complete one side or the other.  Please encourage whatever works best for your family.)

📝  Choose 4 spelling practice activities each week - 2 spelling activities must be written and stapled to the HW packet.

📚  Read for 20 minutes each weeknight (fill in their reading log) Students should write 1 sentence each night using a sentence starter. :)

 💭  Practice multiplication facts & the bible memory verse for the quizzes on Friday.

*HOMEWORK should take about 30 minutes each night (Monday-Thursday). This does not include the 20 minutes of reading. Please email me if it is taking much longer than this.

 *WEEKLY ASSESSMENTS* 

Every Friday all 3rd grade students will have a spelling test. They will also have a quick Math Fact Quiz and recite their Bible memory verse.

Curriculum

Academic Goals for Third Graders

The 3rd grade curriculum is based on the California State Common Core Standards.

Language Arts (Reading/Writing)

In third grade, students continue to develop strategies to effectively use language. Students learn to become strategic readers. More complex reading comprehension skills are learned. Third graders should be able to read to learn, rather than be learning to read. Students will be reading several novels as a class-including: Including The Cricket in Times Square, Mr. Popper's Penguins, and Charlotte's Web. A book report/project will be completed on one or more novels. Third graders continue to learn and practice the steps of the writing process. Proper grammar, spelling, and the mechanics of writing are taught to enable students to proofread and communicate more effectively. Third graders also learn to be authors of expository texts and fictional texts. In the informational unit, students will be creating Animal Research reports. In addition, students will be expected to have Accelerated Reader goals and track their progress. Accelerated Reader is a computer-based reading comprehension and incentive program.

Mathematics 

Third graders are expected to master fact families in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. They continue developing strategies for multi-digit addition and subtraction problems. Learning multiplication facts through the 12s is a goal this year. Mastering number sense and place value is a must. They must understand how to apply mathematics applications using larger numbers and numbers less than 1 (fractions). Students will learn a critical thinking and problem-solving approach to mathematics. Geometry is also a large unit of study as students complete area/perimeter projects, and we have a class field trip/Geometry lesson at the Giant's Stadium in SF.

Science

The third-grade curriculum focuses on the physical, earth, and life sciences. In the physical sciences, students study the interaction of forces and motion. We also take a field trip to the California Academy of Sciences in the Spring. Earth science focuses on landforms, climate, and weather.  In life sciences, students explore how plants and animals adapt to various habitats. Third graders at TLCS are also expected to participate in our school Science Fair. 

  Social Studies

The social studies curriculum in third grade reviews the concept of community. A unit on Santa Cruz gives students knowledge about our local city in the areas of geography, government, history, and business. This unit ends in a Scavenger Hunt field trip all around Santa Cruz. Students participate in activities that teach them skills in geography, maps, problem-solving, and study skills.

Students also study the regions of the United States and California. In their study of the regions of the U.S. and California, they learn how geography, climate, and natural resources have impacted the development and history of the areas. The regions are compared to one another. Students extend their skills in geography, problem-solving, and study skills.

Bible

This year, third-grade students will study the life of Christ and the early church. They will begin by learning about God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, who make up the Trinity. Students will also study the structure and purpose of the Bible, which is one book that contains 66 books--from Genesis to Revelation. Studying the whole Bible helps students learn what happened before Jesus came to earth as a human and what happened afterward. Some examples of themes and concepts taught: God tells his great story in the Bible, God's Word is truth, and God loves everyone. 

*Previous Learning Expectations - Archived

2020 Distance Learning Expectations

Students:

• In a quiet space, be prepared and on time!

• Turn on your video and mute yourself, don’t forget to raise your hand to share!

• Be an active listener who is kind and respectful to others!

• Always do your best work and be responsible with your materials!

• No eating during our class Zoom Meetings!

• Put your finished work in your Exchange Folder in the ‘Return to School’ pocket everyday!

Parents:

• Check that your child has finished their daily work using Google Classroom as a guide.

• Be sure their finished work is in their Exchange Folder at the end of each day.

• Pick up and Drop off student work and materials (in gallon bag) every Thursday or Friday.

  • • Some weeks students may not need a materials gallon bag.

• Regularly check Google Classroom and Bloomz for updates or instructions.

• Communicate with your child’s teacher with any questions or concerns.

• bkufchak@tlcs.us