Third Grade
Religion - We will be using the textbook series This Is Our Faith by Silver, Burdett and Ginn Publishers. The theme of third grade curriculum will be on the Church as a loving community of believing friends of the Risen Jesus. The focus will be on the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Bible. All the sacraments will be reviewed. We will study the parts of the Mass and we will have the opportunity to attend Mass with both the school and parish community during the year. The students will be expected to participate in the Morning Prayer assembly, daily classroom prayer, liturgies, and prayer services throughout the year.
Safe Environment for Children
The Diocese of Oakland’s Safe Environment for Children Project was developed using the Guidelines for Safe Environment Programs from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop’s Office of Child Youth Protection. These guidelines state that: “Training programs for children and young people should include age appropriate materials pertaining to personal safety. This includes information about improper touching and relationships. Children are not expected to be fully knowledgeable about child abuse or of the laws governing care of children but they need to know when they should seek assistance from a trusted adult.”
The Safe Environment for Children Project requires that a personal safety curriculum implemented for students in grades K through 12, in both Catholic schools and parish religious education programs.
Learning Objectives:
Prekindergarten – Grade Three
To raise children’s awareness that they are valued by God.
To raise children’s awareness around the issue of child safety and child abuse
To empower children so that they may feel comfortable saying “no” in a potentially abusive situation
To help children see God as a source of comfort in their lives.
To help children understand child sexual abuse.
To help children identify trusted adults they can go to disclose situations in their lives that make them feel unsafe.
Language Arts - Students will be using Good Thinking by Macmillan McGraw-Hill Publishers. The focus will be on reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. We will examine words through spelling, phonics, vocabulary building and grammar. Students will continue using the VOWAC phonics series. We will continue to refine student-writing abilities through a writing workshop format. Reading will be supplemented by literature based titles. Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater and The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh are two of the titles. Both of these books are Newberry Honor winners.
It is expected that each child will bring a book suitable for silent reading and homework each Monday morning. This will be recorded in the homework notebook. After the first two weeks, and with guidance from the teacher, each child will be expected to complete a book report on Friday of each week. (except 4 day ones). The format for this report will be given to each student. A copy will be sent home so the parents will be informed about the expectations. These reports will change during the school year so that the child has opportunity to read various genres of literature. A few library books are kept in the classroom for additional reading. Each student is strongly encouraged to have a public library card and to use it weekly. Students of St. Leander School can use the San Leandro Public Library regardless of where they reside.
Handwriting - We will continue to study and practice the D’Nealian cursive letters. Children are expected to use cursive handwriting for all written work.
Mathematics - We will be using the textbook series, California Mathematics, by Scott Foresman. This text has been designed specifically to correlate to the California Content Standards of Math for grade 3 as well as the diocesan standards for grade 3. We will continue building on the basic skills the students learned in second grade math of addition, subtraction, patterns and graphs, measurement,place value, number relationships, time and money, two and three digit addition and subtraction. These strengthened skills will be refined on 2, 3, and 4 digit multiplication and division with and without remainders. Word problems, geometric and algebraic concepts will be taught. Students will be introduced to beginning simple fractions and decimals at the end of the year if time permits.
Science – We will be using the textbook series Science by Harcourt School Publishers. We will be studying life sciences, earth sciences and the physical sciences. Students will be using the scientific methods of investigation and experimentation. Skills reinforced will include predicting, observing, recording data, communicating and categorizing.
Technology - The third grade will learn to start and shut down a computer. The students will begin to format text documents for a simple book report and will begin learning home row placement in keyboarding. They will also learn to plan and storyboard ideas for presentations. They will learn to create simple spreadsheets. Their Internet skills will be developed by the use of the back button on the web browser’s toolbar, natural language searches and website evaluations. Technology will be integrated into all areas of curriculum.
Social Studies-Students will gain familiarity with US history and maps. We will be using the Houghton Mifflin series, From Sea to Shining Sea. Students will learn about land formation and ecology. Geography skills will be taught using a variety of physical maps, line graph, grids and charts. Selected literature readings will enhance the curriculum. Special projects will be assigned throughout the year. Students will follow the founding of the colonies and the migration westward. They will study various cultures and persons who have affected our history.
Music - Students will be given opportunity to learn to identify simple music patterns and songs. They will learn how to play the recorder. They will have weekly practice as well as practice in class and school events.
Art - The opportunity for creative expression using a variety of mediums will be given throughout the curriculum in all subjects.
Personal Growth - in responsibility and self-esteem will be encouraged by weekly jobs in the classroom, positive rewards for conduct, and participation in plays and liturgies. Examples of excellent work will be displayed. Rubrics showing the grading methods and standards for third grade will be given to students and parents as needed.
Homework Policy - Homework is given to reinforce the concepts that have been covered in the school day. Homework is evaluated for completeness and is expected the next morning at school. The child will be given a homework assignment book to record daily assignments that should be signed each night by the parent. The book is labeled with the child’s name and family number. Exceptions for missed homework assignments are made on an individual basis for illness or (rarely) extenuating circumstances.
It is your CHILD’S work and your CHILD’S responsibility to finish homework and return it to school the next day.
The parent only need check for completed work and sign the homework book nightly. Students should have homework folder that is clearly labeled to bring papers back and forth to school. A few self-corrected or practice papers will come home daily but the majority will be graded and returned on Wednesday in the family folder. Students will self-correct some papers with green ink and I will check them with a purple ink. Any unsatisfactory papers will be sent home in this family folder and should be signed by the parent and returned the next day. I will be checking the homework notebook daily for about the first month to see if the assignments are written down correctly. After that, I will do spot checks. There will be AT LEAST THREE assignments nightly; one of which will be a 10-15 minute reading assignment, some of which can often be read aloud to the parent.
Students may use the “silent reading” time after lunch to start on this assignment.
As long as your child has done his/her best to complete the assignment and turned it in on time, credit will be given. We begin class each morning using the homework as a review for the previous day’s lesson. Homework is given Monday through Thursday. Students should spend about 20-30 minutes on homework, including reading each night. If your child is spending MUCH longer (or much less) on assigned homework or doesn’t seem to understand it, please write a note to me in your child’s homework notebook for the next day, call my voice mail (835-6363, ex 13), or use e-mail (mhall@csdo.org) and leave a message. The homework notebook is usually fastest as I will see this each morning. This way we can all be assured the child has the opportunity to master the subject.
Special Projects - Several times during the year I may ask that students complete long term projects. These will begin at school and be completed at home. Detailed descriptions of the project will be sent home before the project is started.
Parties – There are no birthday parties during school time. Please do not bring treats to school. Invitations for birthday parties should be mailed, not brought to school. Your child’s birthday will be acknowledged by allowing the child a special privilege for the day such as being line leader. We recognize birthdays at morning assemblies each day and a card notifying you of the free dess day will be given to the student. (usually it is the following school day)
We will have two small class celebrations at Christmas and Easter. These will stress the religious aspects of the holidays. They will have very simple refreshments and occur at the end of the school day.
Field Trips - It is a very important part of the curriculum this year to have students experience learning outside the classroom. Field trips are offered in the third grade with parental transportation and support. I will notify you about six weeks in advance so you can participate with us.
Communication Methods - It is very important that parents and teachers maintain strong communication. If you need to be in touch with me, please call the school office voice mail at (510) 835-6363, extension for Mrs. Maureen Hall, grade 3, or use e-mail (mhall@csdo.org), and leave me a message. I will get back to you as soon as I can but may often be the next school day. I usually check these before school (about 7 am) or after school (around 4 or 5pm). You may write me a note in your child’s homework notebook as I see this book every day. I will at times send notes to you through this notebook. I ask that you initial any notes that I send so I know that you have seen it.
Corrected papers (worksheets and tests) will be sent home on Wednesdays. Please take this opportunity to go through your child’s work with him or her and discuss what we are doing in class. Also remember any work which is not satisfactory or needs improvement needs to be reviewed, signed, and returned to school.
Grading Policy-The grading scale for third grade is as follows:
VG = Very Good
G = Good
S = Satisfactory
N = Needs Improvement
U = Unsatisfactory
Grades are compiled using class participation, quizzes, tests, homework and completed projects. We honor each child’s efforts at doing his/her personal best this year while still mastering the basic learning skills. Satisfactory is the most common grade, meaning the student has completed this lesson or subject at third grade level. Academic honors do not occur until fourth grade and higher.