SUBJECT AREAS:
· Reading: Students will read one story a week in the reading text and work on specific reading, vocabulary and comprehension skills. Students will be tested over the weekly story and above skills each Friday. Students are allowed to use their reading textbook during the test. At the end of each unit, approximately six weeks, the students will complete a more comprehensive test that covers all the skills we have studied during that unit. In addition to the reading text, we will be reading many chapter books and doing related activities. Students are required to have a book on their desks at all times to read in their “free time”. The students are given the opportunity and encouraged to take accelerated reader tests in the library.
· Spelling: Spelling tests are each Thursday. Spelling lists for the next week are sent home each Friday in the F.Y.I. For 3Y newsletter. Students may use print to complete their spelling tests until Christmas vacation. When we return to school in January, students will be required to complete spelling tests in cursive as they should have perfected their cursive handwriting enough as it should not interfere with the spelling of the words.
· English: We will work on how to form sentences, use punctuation, and write paragraphs. We will complete many writing projects using narrative, descriptive, expository, and persuasive genres. English tests are given approximately every four weeks.
· Math: We will begin the school year with place value. We will review addition and subtraction with and without regrouping. We will then work on counting money, making change, and telling time. We will learn multiplication tables 0-12, division, geometry, fractions, decimals, customary and metric measurement, organizing data, graphs, and probability. Math tests are given about every week and a half.
· Social Studies: We will be learning about communities around the world and how they are alike and how they are different. There will be projects that compliment our studies. Social Studies tests are given approximately every three weeks. Mrs. Key will be teaching Social Studies to both third grade classes.
· Science: The topics we will cover include: plant and animal life, habitats, space, weather, matter, energy, and force. There will be projects to complete at home that go along with our studies. Science tests are given approximately every two to three weeks.
· Religion: This year in religion class we will be learning that the Church is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. We will learn about the sacraments of initiation, healing, and commitment. We will learn about the Church’s mission in the world and that as Christians we are called to serve. Religion tests are usually given every week and a half. Three weeks of each month we attend Mass as a whole school on Thursdays at 8:05. One week of the month we attend Mass with grades K-2. Each student will have an opportunity to participate in some way when it is our turn to prepare the Liturgy.
· Handwriting: We will review cursive by using cursive. It is a new skill and some students may have forgotten how to form or connect letters. Please see the attached cursive alphabet. You may assume any homework done on lined handwriting paper should be done in cursive. Assignments done on other paper may be done in cursive or print.