1. 3rd Grade 2013-2014 Carl A. Furr Elementary
Curriculum Night
3rd Grade
Carl A. Furr Elementary

2. Standard Course of Study
North Carolina adopted the National Common Core Standards for ELA and Math.
This is the second year of full implementation throughout the entire state.
These standards match the global shift in education to college readiness by deepening students’ knowledge.

3. Essential Standards-Science
The units that are covered in 3rd grade science now include:
Forces and Motion
Properties of Matter
Conservation and Transfer of Energy
Earth in the Universe
Earth Systems
Living Organisms
Ecosystems

4. Essential Standards- Social Studies
The units in social studies this year include:
History of Local and Regional Communities
5 Themes of Geography
Entrepreneurship in a market economy
Local Government
Responsible Citizenship
Diverse Cultures in local and regional communities
Social studies will be integrated into the ELA curriculum through Reader’s Workshop studies through informational text.

5. Math Common Core Operations and Algebraic Thinking
Multiplication and Division
Solving word problems using all four operations
Number and Operations in Base Ten
Using place value to understand how to add, subtract, multiply and divide multi- digit numbers
Fractions
Develop Understanding of fractions as numbers
Measurement and Data
Intervals of time, liquid volumes and masses of objects
Present & Interpret Data
Geometric measurement (area & perimeter)
Geometry
Shapes and their attributes

6. Reading Common Core Emphasis on informational text and literature
Reader’s Workshop aligns to the Common Core by allowing students to go deeper with a self-selected text.
Students are expected to be able to answer the following questions for all texts:
What is the author saying? Cite evidence.
How did the author say it? Examine author’s craft.
How do I evaluate what the author has told me and how can I go beyond that?
Emphasize the necessity to provide text evidence! Explain that this is something they can push at home as well!

7. Writing Students will integrate writing across the curriculum.
There are four types of writing taught this year:
Argument/Opinion-based
Informative/Explanatory
Narratives
Short research projects

8. Listening and Speaking
This will be met by partner discussions and book clubs during Reader’s Workshop.
Students will be expected to justify their thinking in all subjects.
Students should be able to independently follow oral and written directions.

9. Reading Goals Grade Level Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 Quarter 4
3rd Grade M N O P
4th Grade Q R
R/S
5th Grade S T U V
Discuss how if students start at a lower level, it will be easier to move goals. When students typically get to higher levels, it is harder for them to move past that letter goal quickly.
Individual reading levels will be discussed at Parent Teacher conferences.

10. Grading with Reader’s Workshop
Reader’s Workshop notebooks and reading logs will be graded based on a rubric.
Sometimes you will simply receive the rubric rather than the work because it is located in students’ reading journals.
There will be quiz grades as well.
Provide example of rubrics under Doc camera. Have parents view reader’s workshop notebooks.

11. Assessments and Progress Reports
Benchmark assessments will be completed three times a year using Discovery Ed. (Math and Reading) and Reading 3D (Fluency, Comprehension, and Running Records).
First quarter progress reports will reflect benchmark scores only. The following progress reports will be based on classroom grades.

12. What is “Read to Achieve”?
Read to Achieve is a part of the Excellent Public Schools Act which became law in July of It becomes effective this school year.
“The goal is to ensure that every student read at or above grade level by the end of third grade.”

13. How will Read to Achieve affect my child?
Your child will be assessed in reading at the beginning, middle, and end of the year. Those assessments will give information to the teacher about the instructional needs of your child. We have just finished the beginning assessment. The results will be included in the Progress Reports going home tomorrow. Your child will take the North Carolina End of Grade Test at the end of the third grade.

14. What if my third grader is not reading at or above grade level by the end of third grade?
If your child does not pass the End of Grade test:
Your child will receive reading intervention and will take the test again.
If your child passes the retest, he/she will be promoted to 4th Grade.

15. If your child does not pass the second test:
Your child will attend the Summer Reading Camp and take another test or complete a reading portfolio to determine proficiency at the end of the Reading Camp.
If you choose not to enroll your child in the Summer Reading Camp, your child will be retained in a regular third grade classroom.
If your child does not show proficiency at the end of the Summer Reading Camp:
Your child will be retained in third grade and placed in a 3rd/4th reading intensive classroom or a reading instruction support class. Your child will be given another opportunity for promotion in November.

16. What can I do to help my child?
Find some time for reading every day.
Read books that your child enjoys.
15 minutes a day will make a big difference in your child’s achievement.
Take books everywhere you go.
Talk about the books being read. Help your child understand and interpret what they read.
Make reading together fun!