Welcome to Third Grade

Curriculum Night

Language Arts:A Balanced Reading

Program Phonemic AwarenessPhonemic awareness is the understanding that spoken words are made of individual sounds (syllables, rimes, onsets, and

larger units of sound).

PhonicsDecoding is the process of translating written words into

speech (word blending, word building).

FluencyFluency is reading with speed accuracy and expression at an

appropriate rate. When reading is oral, it reflects a speech like pace.

VocabularyThe more words a student acquires, the better chance they will

have success in reading, writing and spelling.

ComprehensionComprehension is the complex process of constructing meaning from texts. Most students need instruction in comprehension

strategies.

This is the year that students move from learning to read to reading to learn.

 LiteratureUnderstand the key ideas and details, determine the meaning of words, distinguish point of view, refer to parts of stories, plays, poetry when writing or speaking about text, compare and contrast literature Informational Text (includes science, social studies)Understand the main idea, determine domain specific words and phrases, use text features, distinguish own point of view, use information from maps and photos to demonstrate understanding, compare contrast important points in two texts on same topic Foundational SkillsPhonics and word recognition, fluency to support comprehension

The Writing Process

PrewritingPrewriting involves using strategies to generate, plan and organize ideas for a specific purpose.

DraftingDrafting incorporates prewriting activities to create a first draft containing necessary elements for a specific purpose.

Revising Revising includes evaluating and refining the rough draft for clarity and effectiveness. Does the draft say what it is supposed to say?

EditingEditing includes proofreading and correcting the draft for conventions (spelling, capital letters, punctuation, etc.)

PublishingPublishing includes formatting and presenting a final product for the intended audience.

Components of Our Writing Program

The Writing ProcessDaily 5: Work on Writing

Writer’s WorkshopJournals

Writing Across the Curriculum

Writing Applications

Text Types and PurposesWrite opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons.Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.

Production and Distribution of Writing (W)With guidance and support from adults,

• produce writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task and purpose.

• produce functional writing (e.g., friendly and formal letters, recipes experiments, notes/messages, labels, graph/tables, procedures, invitations, envelopes) in which the development and organization are appropriate to task and purpose.

• develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, and editing. • use technology to produce and publish writing (using keyboarding skills) as

well as to interact and collaborate with others.

Writing Applications

Research to Build and Present Knowledge (W)With guidance and support from adults produce:• writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task

and purpose. • functional writing (e.g., friendly and formal letters, recipes experiments,

notes/messages, labels, graph/tables, procedures, invitations, envelopes) in which the development and organization are appropriate to task and purpose.

Range of Writing (W)• Conduct short research projects that build knowledge about a topic.• Recall information from experiences or gather information from print and

digital sources; take brief notes on sources and sort evidence into provided categories.

• Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.

Spelling and Word Study

Sight and 3rd grade Core Spelling Words

Students will be responsible for knowing how to read and spell third grade core/sight spelling words (in Curriculum Packet). Mastery of these sight words will be useful in reading and writing activities. Please help your child practice reading these words until your child can read each word automatically and without hesitation.  

Words Their Way

Word Study is a hands process that contrasts/compares word features while discovering similarities and differences between categories. Word sorting helps students to learn many of the reliable patterns that will improve their spelling ability. As students investigate words each week they will learn to examine words for speech sounds, vowel patterns, word structures, endings, syllables, meanings etc.

Cursive HandwritingWe will begin learning cursive at the end of the year. By the end of the year your child will have been exposed to D’Nealian cursive. They will learn upper and lowercase letters, proper connections between letters and how to form words and sentences.

Math

In this class our mathematical approach is

as follows: Concrete - Pictorial - Algorithm/Equation

• Concrete fashion using manipulatives; students then use words and pictures; finally we learn several algorithms, standard and otherwise.

• Math is taught through whole group instruction, small group reinforcement, and cooperative learning groups.

• Students are encouraged to make connections between math concepts and real world applications.

• If it doesn’t look familiar to you, it may not be incorrect. They are going to be learning many different ways to solve ONE problem this year.

Math facts are an important part of number

sense. Many math concepts spiral and it is

important for your child to have a solid understanding

of their math facts. We will be reviewing/learning addition and subtraction facts. If your child does

not know these facts automatically please

practice them on a regular basis…the more they

practice the better they will get. During first quarter we will begin

learning multiplication facts. It will be important to practice and learn those

facts automatically as well.

Numbers and Operations-Addition and SubtractionAdd and subtract whole numbers to four digits.Create and solve word problems based on addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.Addition & Subtraction ONLY

Numbers and Operations-Multiplication and DivisionApply commutative, identity, and zero properties to multiplication and apply the identity property to division.Demonstrate the concept of multiplication and division using multiple models (number line, repeated addition, array, etc)Demonstrate fluency of multiplication and division facts through 10.Represent all possibilities for a variety of counting problems using arrays, charts, tree diagrams, and systematic lists; draw conclusions from these representations Create and solve word problems based on addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.Solve a variety of problems based on the multiplication principle of counting.

Number and Operations-FractionsCompare and order benchmark fractions. Express benchmark fractions as fair sharing, parts of a whole, or parts of a setFractions on a number lineFraction equivalence

Number Sense Express whole numbers through six digits using and connecting multiple representations.Compare and order whole numbers through six digits by applying the concept of place value.Count and represent money using coins and bills to $100.00.Sort whole numbers into sets and justify the sort.Make estimates appropriate to a given situation or computation with whole numbers

Patterns, Functions, and RelationshipsRecognize and describe a relationship between two quantities, given by a chart, table or graph, in which the quantities change proportionally, using words, pictures, or expressions.Explain the rule for a given numerical sequence and verify that the rule works.Use a symbol to represent an unknown quantity in a given context.Use a symbol to represent an unknown quantity in a given context.

Pathways to Acceleration ProjectWhat is it?

The Pathways Acceleration Project, or Acceleration Project for short, is a new program being implemented in grades 3-6 Chandler Unified School District. The goal of

the project is to foster student’s mathematical talents and accelerate them in the areas in which they are ready.

Students will take pre-tests before units are taught to determine if they are ready for an accelerated curriculum

in particular topics. A student may be accelerated in only one area, or many.

Science• The inquiry process

• question, plan, conduct investigations and use appropriate tools to gather data, communicate the results of their investigations in a variety of ways.

• As a class, we will participate in the science fair in January.

• investigate through inquiry

• rocks/minerals• light and sound• life cycle of plants

• We will also learn about many scientists and scientific technologies.

Social Studies • Social studies

instruction will involve • research, • projects, • activities as well

frequently integrating reading and writing.

• This year your child will be learning about

• American History• Civics & Government • Geography • World History• Economics

• A variety of significant people in history will also be studied throughout the year.

Science and Social Studies

Character Counts!

C C F RRT

T R R F C CStudents can use this acronym to help them remember that people with good character

are terrific:Trustworthiness

RespectResponsibility

FairnessCaring

Citizenship

Our Classroom Agreements

~ Attentive Listening: We will listen with our whole body

~ Mutual Respect: We will treat people the way we want to be treated.

~ Appreciation/No Put-Downs: We will speak kindly to others and think of other people's feelings.

~ Personal Best: We will always do our personal best in class

Reading MinutesReading is crucial for academic success. Please model and encourage reading in your homes. Talk about a great story and model effective oral reading with your child. Take turns reading, or share a favorite book you remember reading as a child. Our reading homework will consist of 90 minutes per week. Students will be responsible for documenting their own reading minutes weekly. Parents, please make sure you initial their total documented minutes.

A = Excellent 100-90%B = Above Average 89-80%C = Average 79-70%D = Below Average 69-60%F = Failing 59% or Below

Writing Rubric4 = A3 = B2 = C1 = D0 = F

This year, your child will receive letter grades for reading, writing, and math. They will continue to receive meets standards (MS), progressing (P), or area of concern (AC) for science, social studies, music, and PE.

Please note that a child’s grade reflects his/her work at a third grade level. If a child is reading at a second grade reading level and getting C’s in the work related to that reading, he or she cannot receive a C in reading, since the reading fluency and comprehension is not at an average third grade level. Students will be evaluated by daily observations, listening to oral responses and discussions, writing and reading conferences, formal tests, informal tests, and class work I evaluate different types of work in different ways. Some work is for practice and may show a star or a smile, which means the student showed good effort or practice. Most work will be graded with a percentage, points or rubric.

Grading

Thank you!Thank you so much for coming. We can’t wait to work with your child this school year!

We look forward to seeing your child’s academic, social, and emotional growth this year. Thank you for sharing your child with us.

If you ever have any question, concerns, or comments, please feel free to call, set up a meeting, or email us.

Logan.mary@cusd80.com or Prince.tiffany@cusd80.com

480-883-4734 or 480-883-4742