Welcome to Curriculum Night Mrs. Denues Third Grade August 26, 2015

CA and Common Core Curriculum is based on State Standards and Common Core State Standards Shift from teacher-directed learning to teacher- facilitated (student-centered) with an increase in use of technology and the 4C’s (collaboration, communication, critical thinking and creativity) Goal: College and Career Ready Nationwide (adopted by 45 states)

Common Core & Assessments Shift from one-time “summative” assessments (STAR) to multiple “formative” assessments (SBAC) at multiple points in the year Grades 3-5 piloted SBAC in April 2014 –Technology based –Adaptive –Multiple choice, short answer, essay and multi-day performance tasks

Language Arts Daily Language/Grammar lessons Text Books– Houghton/Mifflin – spelling words come from this series to follow stories (common misspelled words and patterns) Literature Books – various chapter books such as Muggie Maggie and Charlotte’s Web. Book Reports – About one a trimester – each focusing on a different genre

Language Arts - Writing Writing – focus on narratives (stories) and expository (paragraphs and report writing) Journal Writing – On demand writing Cursive Handwriting –learning all lower case letters, followed by capitals, after all cursive is taught, most writing should be in cursive

Math Math 4 Today – spirals math skills in all areas every week – geometry, place value, time, money etc. Math textbook– GoMath– big concepts of multiplication and division, fractions, geometry, probability, decimals, place value Problem Solving – be able to explain how to solve something

Science Creek Studies – learn about our creek system Structures of Life – Plants/seeds and Crayfish Sun, Moon and Stars – learn about solar system Matter, Energy and Light – learn about energy sources, forms of energy and forms of matter Science textbook to supplement the units

Social Studies Consumable Textbook- Government, Native Americans, Geography and natural resources Santa Clara County – Then and Now

Specials P.E. Wednesdays 10: :50 A.M. and Fridays 1:05 - 1:35 P.M. Library Monday 10:20 -10:50 A.M. Art Weeks Wednesdays 11: :50 A.M. Weeks Wednesdays 12:35 -2:05 P.M. Weeks Wednesdays 11: :50 A.M. Computer Lab Tuesdays 12:35- 1:20 P.M.

Communication Thursday Folders – please look through over the weekend, sign and return on Monday Monthly Newsletters – telling about what is happening in class Website – updated at least once a month , phone call, notes or just stop by- I am always happy to chat with you.

Communication - Phone number (408) x Class Site Third Grade Site