Students’ becoming responsible, independent learners is the goal of Third Grade. Third graders for the most part have learned the basic skills of reading, writing and math. At this point in their education, they begin to use those skills to learn. Instead of learning “how to read” they begin reading to “learn” and applying the skills they have to enhance their own thinking. Students continue to refine their comprehension skills and higher level thinking skills using analysis, synthesis and evaluation. They continue their work as writers through developing their stories using the Units of Study Program http://www.unitsofstudy.com/toc_home.asp while also learning about non-fiction writing as in their science journals. Art, Music, Poetry and Literature continue to play an important part of each child’s school day. Music is taught twice weekly for a half an hour and art is woven into the curriculum in reading, social studies and science. Students attend physical education classes in the gym two times a week and also go to the library for a lesson one day a week and to check out books. Third grade has two traditional field trips. One is a fall visit to the University of Washington to see an internationally known dance group (this varies from year to year) as well as 8 days (2 hours a day) of swimming lessons in the spring at the Redmond Pool. They also do several walking fieldtrips to local businesses such as Petco.
Reading
Children continue to refine their reading skills with the Houghton Mifflin Reading Series. Students are grouped by reading level and skills knowledge. The emphasis of teaching reading begins to move from phonics to comprehension and analysis. Teachers use powerful read-aloud books that teach rich vocabulary. http://www.schooldirect.com/store/ProductCatalogController?cmd=Browse&subcmd=LoadDetail&ID=1000000000000261&level1Code=1&frontOrBack=F&sortEntriesBy=SEQ&division=S01
Math
Our classes use the state approved standards in math. http://www.k12.wa.us/CurriculumInstruct/Mathematics/RevisedStandards/k-8-washingon-08april28.pdf Students are grouped by skills levels in flexible classes. Parent and community volunteers assist teachers during math times. Students solidify and formalize important concepts and skills related to addition and subtraction. In particular, students extend critical concepts of the base ten number system to include large numbers and they learn algorithms for adding and subtracting large numbers, and they apply these procedures in problem solving. They begin to learn multiplication and division and also fractions. The foundation for success in the intermediate grade levels (4-6) takes place in third grade in the form of study habits, foundations in reading and memorizing math facts. We use the district adopted math curriculum “Investigations “and the units taught are listed on the following website. http://www.lwsd.org/Parents/Teaching-Curriculum/Math-Resources/Third-Grade-Math/Pages/default.aspx
Science
In science third graders study three units. The first is “Sound and Energy”, the second, “Rocks and Minerals”, and third “Living Things: Structures and Life Cycles”. http://www.fossweb.com/modules3-6/index.html
Technology
Our third graders increase their technology skills by continuing keyboarding practice, using Word for publishing written stories and use computerized math programs for help in memorizing math facts. Students use technology to produce products such as PowerPoint presentations
Social Studies
New Social Studies Curriculum will be adopted for the 2009-2010 school year.