Welcome to Third Grade!
Teachers
Mrs. Annie Lobo - Homeroom Teacher
Mrs. Christine Wolf - Ecology/Instructional Assistant
Mrs. Cathy Harvey- Instructional Assistant
Welcome to Third Grade!
Curriculum and Grade Level Expectations:
Third grade students will study topics and themes that fulfill diocesan and California State Standards. These topics will be organized and integrated throughout the course of the year, making them meaningful and challenging learning opportunities for the students. All of our learning will have foundations in the subject areas listed below. Students are to work to their fullest potential; they will be graded on their mastery and knowledge in concepts that are taught as well as effort, work habits, and citizenship.
How Parents Can Help:
- Praise efforts, not just achievements.
- Read daily as a family. Read aloud to your children; also let them read to you.
- Provide a nutritious breakfast, snack, lunch, and dinner.
- Demonstrate the value you place upon school and reinforce learning by examining your child’s class work.
- Communication is vital to our relationship as a team in the education of your student. If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, please email me and we can schedule an appointment to meet.
Housekeeping
Positive Discipline/Classroom Guidelines:
Assumption School will continue to implement a discipline curriculum. The teachers and students will work on a social-emotional curriculum together. This program seeks to establish strong and meaningful connections between students, families and school staff. It views mistakes as opportunities to learn and misbehaviors as opportunities to practice critical life skills. In the beginning of the year, the 3rd Graders will work collaboratively to create their own classroom guidelines. These will be shared with parents/families once they have been created.
Vacations:
As much as possible, please plan for vacations during school breaks. As per the handbook, students receive their work after they come back from a vacation absence, not before. Students are responsible for assignments missed during absences. Please remember that much of the work in 3rd grade cannot be made up.
Absences/Tardies:
If your child will be absent please email [email protected] to notify us. Students who are tardy need to go to the office to get a tardy slip before they can be admitted into the classroom. Students are considered tardy if they are not in their assigned place in line when the second bell rings at 8:00 am in the morning.
Homework:
Students will receive a planner at the beginning of the year. Students will be responsible for writing down homework and announcements every afternoon before packup. Most assignments are to be completed on the assigned day and turned in on the following day. Projects which require more time will be assigned with a due date. Parents should encourage responsibility and good study skills, allowing students to complete assignments independently and then checking work for accuracy and completion.
Grading:
A folder of completed papers will be sent home periodically. Please look over the work and sign the cover sheet. A signature shows that you have looked at every paper and know how your child is doing in 3rd grade. The folder should be returned to school the following day.
Students will be assessed using a standards-based system.
Birthdays:
The preferable way to celebrate a birthday in third grade is by donating a gift to the classroom, such as a game for rainy day recess or a book to our class library. A gift will be a treat for many days, months and years to come. Thank you for understanding!
Curriculum
Religion/Family Life:
Text: We Are the Church, Sadlier & Family Life, Benziger
Subject Matter: Religious study focus in third grade involves exploring their individual relationships with Jesus and others in their lives. Family Life curriculum studies the importance of God’s gifts of family, self, life, love, and community.
Expectations: Students are expected to participate in all religious discussions and Bible studies. Students are to learn and exhibit what it is to be Christ-like in all actions. Assignments and presentations are to be completed.
Grading: Students will be graded on participation in group religious activities and lessons, as well as their completion of all assignments.
Reading: Students are encouraged to read on their own (or with a parent/sibling) every night.
Text:
- Reading Street, Scott Foresman
- The Tale of Despereaux, Kate DiCamillo
- Because of Winn-Dixie, Kate DiCamillo
- As well as a variety of short stories, poems, and novels.
Other Resources: Lexia & Learning A-Z (RazKids)
Subject Matter: Literature readings include contemporary and realistic fiction, biographies, autobiographies, and nonfiction.
Expectations: Students will be expected to read, understand, and critically analyze the stories read in class. They will retell the stories in sequence and utilize the highlighted vocabulary.
Grading: Students will be graded on their ability to read and understand the stories assigned, test scores, weekly assignments, oral participation, and completion of written tasks involving the story content.
Writing:
Text: Writing Pathways, Lucy Calkins
Subject Matter: Assumption School has adopted Writing Pathways across all grade levels. These learning units are aligned to the Common Core State Standards and will assist our knowledge of the teaching of writing. In the Units of Study, students will be able to synthesize, analyze, compare and contrast information and ideas. This program will give students the skills to write narratives, arguments, and informational texts.
Expectations: Students will demonstrate proficiency in oral and written language including correct principles of grammar. Students will actively engage in “Writer’s Workshop”.
Grading: Students will be graded on achievement of the above listed expectations.
Math:
Text: Envision Math Common Core Grade 3, Pearson
Other Resources: IXL.com
Subject Matter: Skills covered will include addition and subtraction of 2, 3, and 4 digit numbers, measurement, multiplication, division, geometry, fractions and problem solving activities. Manipulative work will be used to teach and reinforce concepts.
Expectations: Students are expected to understand the mathematical concepts presented as they participate in hands-on and written learning tasks.
Grading: Students will be graded on accuracy and completion of assigned work, observation of group work and test scores.
Spelling/Phonics:
Subject Matter: Included in the study of phonics are alphabetical order, synonyms and antonyms, homographs, syllabication, blends, digraphs, and diphthongs.
Expectations: Students will be expected to participate in group lessons and complete written assignments as they work to learn the skills of word analysis.
Grading: Students will be graded on accuracy and completion of assigned written work, oral participation, and weekly spelling test scores.
Social Studies:
Text: Communities, Houghton-Mifflin & Simple Solutions Social Studies Gr. 3 Workbook
Subject Matter: Topics covered will include communities and geography, America’s early communities, community government, making economic choices, and celebrating people and cultures. There will be two large projects in Social Studies including a Native American studies project and a personal heritage project.
Expectations: Students will be expected to participate in all group discussions and written assignments. They will need to work cooperatively and independently to complete projects and other assigned tasks. In addition, they will demonstrate their knowledge in both oral and written forms.
Grading: Students will be graded based on observation of cooperative group participation and behavior, written assignments, test scores, and projects
Computer Science:
Subject Matter: Coding, keyboarding, word processing, math and word skills will all be presented in this subject area.
Expectations: Students will be expected to participate fully and be able to demonstrate the computer skills presented.
Grading: Students will be graded on participation and assessment of knowledge attained.
Art: Mrs. Maureen Keeler
Please have your child bring an old t-shirt to school that can be worn over their uniform shirt as needed.
Subject Matter: The art curriculum for transitional kindergarten (TK) through 3rd grade is designed to nurture creativity, develop fundamental artistic skills, and encourage self-expression. The activities are designed to be age-appropriate and engaging, helping students to develop confidence in their artistic abilities while having fun. Here’s an overview of what you might expect in an art curriculum for these early grades:
- Learning about famous artists and imitating various art styles
- Appreciating diversity in art and understanding different perspectives
- Encouraging students to express their own ideas and emotions through their artwork
- Understanding and applying the elements of art such as line, shape, color, texture, and space
- Using art tools effectively
- Creating projects with mixed media and using materials like watercolor, oil pastels, and washable tempera paint
- Focusing on process, not perfection
Science: Mrs. Maureen Keeler
Curriculum: Foss [hands-on program aligned to the new NGSS standards], Mystery Science, Generation Genius
Subject matter: Throughout TK-3, the focus of science is on fostering curiosity, developing basic scientific skills, and encouraging a love for exploration and discovery. Students will learn what science is and what scientists do. They will engage in engineering design. Concepts, subject matter, and expectations advance throughout the grades.
Here's an overview of subject matter in 3rd grade: Explain changes in organisms' traits & environments that affect survival, explain effects of balanced/unbalanced forces on motion, quantify and predict weather conditions.
Spanish: Mrs. Andrea Contreras
Subject Matter
Student will:
New vocabulary, books, games, and music will be introduced around the theme of activities and personal traits.
Grammar: Students will learn vowels, adjectives, gender, cognates, infinitives, negatives, structures to express agreement and disagreement.
Cultural Perspectives: Students will learn about several Spanish-speaking Countries and cultural differences. They will also learn about Holidays (Independence Day, Day Of The Dead, Christmas, Cesar Chavez Day and Cinco De Mayo, Children’s Day, Three Kings Day).
Expectations: Students are encouraged to participate in classroom activities and projects, and communicate with other students and I in Spanish.
Grading: Grades will be based on class participation as well as completion of homework.
Library:
Breathtaking religious stained glass windows provide the perfect backdrop for an enriching library experience. Grades T/K – 3 check out books for [1] week; grades 4 and 5 get to check out books for [2] weeks.
In addition to providing students with a variety of reading adventures, the library hosts an annual book fair through Scholastic in the spring. This event sparks a lot of excitement and enthusiasm—it’s like having our very own bookstore for a week!
Expectations:
Students will be expected to adhere to the usual rules you would have in any other public library. Additionally, sometimes books do get lost or damaged. The policy for this school library is that in the event that this happens, the book would either need to be replaced with another book [in excellent condition] of equal value or remit a check made out to Assumption School that covers the cost of the book.
Music Class: Bill Vaughan
Subject Matter: In music class, we sing, sing and sing. We prepare music for weekly Masses, the Fall Festival, and the Advent/Christmas and Spring Concerts. In the midst of all this singing, I train every student to become a cantor (if he or she wishes). We learn how to read music, learn about instruments and a bit about the story of music.
Expectations: Active participation through singing and memorization of the musical score in class is primary. In order to do this, good behavior in the classroom and church is a must. Attendance with an animated spirit at all school-sponsored Masses, Christmas and Spring Concerts is mandatory.
Grading: Grading (a letter or number grade) will be based on assessments made at the time of a ‘performance.’ Along with these assessments, I also review behavior in the classroom and church, active class participation, and attendance at mandatory liturgies/concerts.
Materials: I will supply the students with musical scores and worship leaflets to learn music. Let’s get started!!
Physical Education: Mike Shimabukuro
Subject Matter: Students will learn the basic fundamentals of sports (football, baseball, kickball, basketball, soccer, hockey, Lacrosse, volleyball) along with team building activities in which they will be working in small and large groups. Students will also learn many life lessons that are created during class activities.
Expectations: Students will be expected to participate to the best of their ability while showing respect to their classmates as well as their teacher. They are also expected to have as much fun as possible during physical education!
Grading: Students will be graded based on effort, participation, and how they treat others during their physical education classes.
Exceptional Needs Program
To ensure that the needs of all learners are met, Assumption School supports both students and their teachers. Student services include both individual and small group pullout or push in instruction. If you believe your student has special needs please discuss your concerns with their homeroom teacher.
