CURRICULUM
Language Arts
For Language Arts, we use the brand new McGraw Hill - Wonders Series. Through the series, students are exposed to a variety of reading and writing skills, along with the phonics and grammar instruction needed to attain these skills. Reading instruction is differentiated to meet each child's educational needs through small-group guided reading instruction according to skill needs, and small group and individual Daily 5 activities structured around student needs in comprehension, reading word accuracy, fluency, and expanded vocabulary (the CAFE model). In our language arts instruction we also use the 6-trait writing model to teach writing skills. We also work on eZ Write handwriting during our writing instruction time.
Math
For math we use the McGraw-Hill's My Math Series. During math instruction time, we learn a new concept/skill as a whole group. We then break up into small groups to differentiate and work on skills as students' needs require. During this time students will practice the new skill by playing a math game or doing a math activity, while others work with the teacher to extend the skill or to reteach the skill. In Third Grade students will be leveled for math according to a pretest at the beginning of each math unit. One math classroom will go quickly through skills and push ahead to learn more difficult (sometimes above grade level) skills. Another classroom will do the regular math curriculum as prescribed in the text. A final classroom will go through skills at a slower pace, and will get extra time to practice and review the skills as necessary.
Health
This year we will continue the new Health Curriculum for our school called The Great Body Shop! Look for health magazines to go home monthly.
Science
For science instruction we use a combination of FOSS Kit materials and materials from the St. John's Arboretum. In third grade we have three science units. In the fall we will study Structures of Life/Seeds. In the winter we will learn about the Sun, Moon and Stars and will start the unit Physics of Sound. In the spring we will finish the Physics of Sound unit, and will study Structures of Life/Crayfish. We usually take a field trip to St. John's Arboretum sometime during the fall to learn more about and to experience activities with seeds.
Social Studies
For social studies we study Ancient Civilizations - Ancient China, Ancient Egypt, and Ancient Maya. We will also get an introduction to archaeology through our social studies units.