Third grade is an exciting
time of change!
In this transition from primary to intermediate grades, we will guide the children to develop independence and take responsibility for their learning.
What’s new in third grade?
• Memorization of multiplication facts, 0-10
• Learning how to write in cursive
• Emphasis on completing class work and homework
neatly, accurately, and when it is due
• Learning to use a variety of resources
• Explaining answers to questions and expressing
thinking through writing in all subject areas
• Selecting and reading level-appropriate chapter
books of many different genres
• Studying for weekly and/or unit tests
• Transition to letter grades (now at the beginning of the year!)
• Preparation for the third grade New Mexico Standards-Based Assessment (NMSBA)
Homework:
• 30 minutes per night, Mon. through Thurs.
• Homework is due the day after it is
assigned
• 15 minutes of reading, 5 nights per
week
Assessments Used:
• Observation and anecdotal records
• Textbook and teacher-made tests
• Timed tests for math facts
• NWEA Assessment for reading and math
Home and School Communication:
• Curriculum night
• School and class newsletters/websites
• Phone calls, messages
• Parent conferences
How can you help your child prepare for third grade over the summer?
• Use estimation in daily activities.
• Find geometric shapes in the world.
• Play board games and card games.
• Practice using a ruler to measure to the nearest half inch and half centimeter.
• Discuss and use fractions in cooking.
• Do comparison shopping.
• Read analog clocks and determine elapsed time.
• Read with your child and have conversations about books you read together and separately.
• Write messages to your child in a writing notebook and have your child respond back in writing. Ask and answer questions to help your child elaborate.
• Practice map reading skills on trips.
• Discuss current events using the newspaper or television news programs.
• Discuss science/social studies topics.
• Visit public museums and tourist attractions in our area. Talk with your child about what you see.
• Purchase a grade-appropriate set of reference materials such as dictionary, thesaurus, atlas, and almanac.
How can you support your child in his/her learning once school starts?
• Continue the activities listed above.
• Check homework every day. Emphasize neatness and accuracy. Help your child establish a routine for completing homework and packing his/her backpack.
• Talk with your child about events at school on a daily basis.
• Practice basic facts including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division tables.
• Seek out school and community resources to provide extra practice and/or enrichment.
• Read the school’s newsletters and visit the teacher’s website monthly.
• Join the PTA!
• Serve as a parent volunteer.
What will your child be learning in third grade?
Math: Everyday Math
Numbers and Operations
Addition and subtraction facts through 18
Multiplication facts 0-10
Three-digit addition and subtraction with regrouping
Solve multi-step word problems and provide written explanations for solution strategies
Read and write whole numbers, fractions, and decimals
Make reasonable estimates
Identify fractional parts of regions, sets, and number lines
Algebra
Write equations to solve number stories
Describe number patterns and rules to solve problems
Geometry
Draw points, lines, rays, segments, and right angles
Identify and describe two– and three-dimensional shapes
Identify and draw symmetric shapes and their lines of symmetry
Measurement
Measure to the nearest half-inch and half-centimeter
Find the perimeter and area of rectangles
Describe relationships among units and systems of measurement
Tell time to the nearest minute on an analog clock
Data Analysis & Probability
Collect, display, and interpret data
Apply the basic concepts of probability
Reading: Treasures Reading (new program!)
• Use decoding strategies to read fluently and with expression
• Explore various genres
• Use comprehension strategies to gain a deeper understanding of what is read, such as: recalling details to support opinions; questioning; forming mental images; making connections; drawing conclusions; making predictions; and comparing and contrasting characters, plots, and themes
• Find evidence from the text to support answers in verbal and written form
• Summarize stories using story elements (setting, characters, plot, and theme)
Social Studies: Houghton-Mifflin
Students will explore topics in geography, community and government, history, and economics. The unit topics are listed below:
Unit 1: Communities and Their Geography
Unit 2: America’s Early Communities
Unit 3: People Move from Place to Place
Unit 4: How We Govern Our Communities
Unit 5: Making Economic Choices
Unit 6: Celebrating People and Cultures
Science: “CHOL” Science Kits
The students will employ the scientific method to explore through "hands-on" investigations and activities. Emphasis will be placed on the development of science process skills such as measuring, observing, collecting data, forming hypotheses, and drawing conclusions. Our units will include:
Structure and Function: animal and plant adaptations
Healthy Science: keeping food safe, and healthy diets/habits
Space, Our Planet: planets, constellations, fossils, and earth’s geologic processes and cycles
Scientific Thinking: magnetism, energy and motion, chemical reactions, and light energy
