The day begins with a classroom “Morning Meeting,” structured after the Responsive Classroom model. Students gather together for a personal greeting, share thoughts and ideas, and participate in team-building activities. It is always a favorite part of the day!

Formal language arts follow, and include reading and discussing stories while incorporating the development and mastery of skills. Small group instruction is woven throughout, especially in our monthly “Book Clubs” where students enjoy a variety of literature.

Daily writing is also incorporated in the Language Arts curriculum. Journal Writing, Reader’s Response, as well as a variety of creative and formal writing assignments are included. Topics relate to content covered in all subject areas. The Writing Process is reinforced by way of an individual student “Writing Binder.” Utilizing this method, students use such tools as graphic organizers, peer conferences, and partner editing to hone writing skills.

Math in third grade is a challenging and exciting experience. Critical thinking and problem solving skills are developed as students explore a variety of topics including place value, fractions, measurement, and geometry. Hands-on learning is encouraged through the use of manipulatives. Smart Board technology gives students the added advantage of limitless interactive resources. Multiplication and division are the new challenges of third grade. Mastering times tables is a critical component to becoming proficient in these areas. Multiplication Rap is a fun method used to accomplish this goal along with a variety of learning games.

Social Studies in third grade begins with an exploration of communities. As part of that exploration, students examine citizenship and various branches of government. They apply this knowledge by developing a classroom constitution and electing classroom representatives. It culminates in an economics unit where as producers and consumers they hold a market day.

A “hands-on” approach is used in Science with weekly visits to our Science Lab. As “The Magic School Bus” guides the third grade through the solar system, the children work together as they unroll bathroom tissue to help them understand the differences in distance between the inner and outer planets. Examining and experimenting with animal bones teaches the children about the wonders of their own skeletal system. This unit culminates with the student production of the musical play “Bones,” a toe-tapping revue about the human skeletal system.

In order to develop a sense of community, each year the third grade befriends a local Head Start class. After writing letters to them, we follow up by giving gifts at Christmas and sponsoring a picnic in the Spring. Anticipation builds in the classroom prior to our visits. The third graders leave their Head Start buddies with feelings of great satisfaction.

The third grade assistant is an asset in helping meet individual needs. She provides support for students as needed. These sessions cover everything from tutoring to enrichment.