Third Grade Curriculum
Readers Workshop
Reader's Workshop uses the following format:
• Mini-lessons on some aspect of literature or a reading strategy.
• Independent Reading Time, where students keep a journal and respond to the literature in terms of what they think or how they feel about what they are reading.
• Sharing Time where students share with another person their journal entries and the other person gives feedback.
During Independent Reading Time, the teacher engages in student conferences on an individual or group basis. Teachers can also engage in guided reading with groups of students who need additional support.
It supports the vast range of comprehension skills third graders need to utilize. It also serves to increase student vocabulary. It will be coordinated with various writing activities and discussions. A variety of trade books will be utilized as well, allowing for integration of curriculum areas.
Graphic Organizers
Graphic organizers are concrete, visual ways to focus our attention before, during, and after reading. To view a site full of different graphic organizers which can help improve your reading comprehension, please click on the link below. Simply print out one of the graphic organizers (depending on the strategy you want to practice,) and complete.
http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/
• Mini-lessons on some aspect of literature or a reading strategy.
• Independent Reading Time, where students keep a journal and respond to the literature in terms of what they think or how they feel about what they are reading.
• Sharing Time where students share with another person their journal entries and the other person gives feedback.
During Independent Reading Time, the teacher engages in student conferences on an individual or group basis. Teachers can also engage in guided reading with groups of students who need additional support.
It supports the vast range of comprehension skills third graders need to utilize. It also serves to increase student vocabulary. It will be coordinated with various writing activities and discussions. A variety of trade books will be utilized as well, allowing for integration of curriculum areas.
Graphic Organizers
Graphic organizers are concrete, visual ways to focus our attention before, during, and after reading. To view a site full of different graphic organizers which can help improve your reading comprehension, please click on the link below. Simply print out one of the graphic organizers (depending on the strategy you want to practice,) and complete.
http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/
Word Study
"Word study" is an alternative to traditional spelling instruction. It is based on learning word patterns rather than memorizing words. Children will not be expected to memorize words for a weekly spelling test. They will rather learn spelling rules and concepts that teach them the structure of the English language. With this knowledge, they are able to spell many more words than they would if they were exposed to a memorized list. Because they learn why the words are spelled the way they are, they are able to better apply this knowledge to daily written work. They will TRULY learn how to spell.
Also included in our work is high frequency words – those words that are most commonly used and do not follow the rules.
Also included in our work is high frequency words – those words that are most commonly used and do not follow the rules.
Mathematics
We will be using the Math in Focus Mathematics Program.
Throughout the series, concepts are taught moving through a sequence of concrete to pictorial to abstract. Concrete learning happens through hands-on activities with manipulatives such as counters, coins, number lines, or Base Ten Blocks™. Pictorial learning uses pictures in student books, drawings, or other forms that illustrate the concept with something more than abstract numbers. The abstract stage is the more familiar way most math problems are taught and practiced with numbers and symbols.
Throughout the series, concepts are taught moving through a sequence of concrete to pictorial to abstract. Concrete learning happens through hands-on activities with manipulatives such as counters, coins, number lines, or Base Ten Blocks™. Pictorial learning uses pictures in student books, drawings, or other forms that illustrate the concept with something more than abstract numbers. The abstract stage is the more familiar way most math problems are taught and practiced with numbers and symbols.
Writers' Workshop
Writing Workshop begins with a series of strategies that the children can use as inspiration for their ideas. Once seeds have been planted, writing becomes an ongoing process in which students follow a given set of procedures for planning, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing their writing. It allows students to be at various stages of the writing process at one time. Collaboration with peers and teacher is inherent in this model. Children choose what they want to communicate.
New York State 3rd Grade Exams
Please note that the format of the State tests has recently changed in accordance with the new Standards. Each test is now shorter and the students complete it over a three day period, with as much time as necessary to complete. Students do not receive scores for several weeks after school has ended.
Click here to view prior NYS exams for the English Language Arts
Click here to view prior NYS exams for the Math
New York State 3rd Grade Exams
Please note that the format of the State tests has recently changed in accordance with the new Standards. Each test is now shorter and the students complete it over a three day period, with as much time as necessary to complete. Students do not receive scores for several weeks after school has ended.
Click here to view prior NYS exams for the English Language Arts
Click here to view prior NYS exams for the Math