Instruction
The Daily 5This is a 5 component program that fosters literacy independence as students develop the daily habits of reading, writing, and working with peers through modeling, practice and reflection. The 5 components are: Read to Self, Partner Read, Work on Writing, Listen to Reading and Word Study. These 5 components are integrated into the daily Reading Workshop and Writing Workshop. Guided teacher instruction is also provided during the workshop time.
Read to Self time is an opportunity for your child to establish good reading habits, make good book selections and reflect on reading choices and preferences. Students are provided time to interact with text to improve fluency, acquire new vocabulary and content knowledge. Read to Self time also builds reading stamina, competence, confidence and most importantly it’s fun. Partner Read time focuses on working with peers as students build fluency (word accuracy, speed, intonation, and phrasing), build vocabulary and understanding through meaningful conversations about the text. This would include connections, reactions, opinions, character analysis, author’s purpose, summarizing…. Listen to Reading provides students with an opportunity to listen to and interact with text that is more challenging. Students can listen to RAZ kids, Tumble Books, Book Flix (on class website), classroom audio recordings and teacher read aloud. Teacher Read Aloud time is especially used to model reading strategies and how readers interact with text. Guided Reading & WritingGuided Reading and Writing takes place during Daily 5 Instructional time. Focus is on helping children develop as individual readers and writers within the context of a small group of 4-6 students. Emphasis is on practicing strategies with teacher support that will enable students to successfully read and write text independently.
WritingWork on Writing time is used to teach students the writing process (pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing) through focus lessons and practice on writing narrative, expository and persuasive pieces. Lessons on focus, organization, support and elaboration, conventions (mechanics) and style are taught.
Word StudyWord Study plays an important role in reading and writing. Classroom instruction provides students with an opportunity to analyze word patterns, sound patterns, and build vocabulary.
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MathMath Expressions incorporates the best practices of both traditional and reform mathematics curricula. Objects, drawings, conceptual language and real world situations strengthen mathematical ideas and understanding. In third grade students will study the mathematical strands: number and operations, measurement, geometry, data collection and analysis, and simple algebra. Students will also work on building fluency of math facts (speed and accuracy). Third grade concepts are on multiplication, division, estimation, elapsed time, fractions and simple algebra.
Social StudiesThe social studies curriculum introduces history, geography, economy, culture & society and government & civics.
ScienceScience focus is on identifying systems and patterns in systems by observation, and investigation. Students will study: soil properties, plant growth and development, objects in the sky, the human body and matter.
TechnologyWe will be working on various computer programs and applications throughout the year. Students will work on word processing/publishing, keyboarding skills, online programs (Discovery Streaming, Scholastic News, Scoot Pad, Sum Dog, Tumblebooks, Book Flix). Students will also use the class website and IPADS for content learning, skill review, publishing and collaboration.
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