1. THIRD GRADE CURRICULUM OVERVIEW TEACHERS: JULIE BERNHARDT AND CATHY SILBERHORN

2. SPELLING Required spelling homework pages and a spelling dictation/word list (study sheet for home) come home in your child’s Thursday folder. Spelling pages are to be completed, corrected at home, and returned in your child’s weekly folder no later than the following Tuesday. Thank you for studying with your child and helping him/her do the very best he/she can do. Spelling pretest is every Monday. (If your child gets 100% on Monday, he/she doesn’t have to take the final spelling test.) Final spelling test is on Thursday.

3. What are F.C.A.s? FCAs stand for Focus Correction Areas A FCA list may look like the following: FCAs 1. All sentences must have capitals and periods. 2. All word wall words must be spelled correctly. 3. The story must have a topic sentence. These are the only areas that will be corrected.

4. READING AND LANGUAGE ARTS The Houghton Mifflin reading anthology (text) is set up in themes. Each theme includes different genres (fantasy, non-fiction, fiction, mystery, etc.). We will be reading 2 trade books in class each month that are designed to go along with each theme in the reading series. Practice pages that go along with the text are designed to encourage creative thoughts/writing ---spelling will NOT ALWAYS be corrected with the exception of the “NO EXCUSE” and word wall words that have been introduced. We will be looking at creative ideas and the assigned FCAs.

5. MATHEMATICS In math we are using a new math series published by Scott Foresman. Attached you will find third grade’s math skills’ list which is aligned with state standards and benchmarks. Homework assignments are required to be done at home. The assignments serve three purposes: 1) to promote follow-up to a skill taught, 2) to provide enrichment for a skill taught, 3) to provide a means of involving parents in their child’s math education.

6. HOMEWORK REQUIREMENTS Homework is an important part of school because: 1) the assignments encourage students to take responsibility for completing and returning assignments, 2) the activities help reinforce newly learned skills and concepts, and 3) the assignments communicate to parents what is taking place in the classroom. Please check your child’s work carefully. If a mistake has been made, have him/her make the correction at home before handing the assignment in. Make sure that the paper has been signed by a parent and turned in on time. HOMEWORK REQUIREMENTS Weekly spelling and math homework, studying weekly spelling words, completing monthly reading calendars, and reading assigned books/book reports. (January through May) REMEMBER: YOU ARE YOUR CHILD’S BEST TEACHER!REMEMBER: YOU ARE YOUR CHILD’S BEST TEACHER!

7. REQUIRED MONTHLY HOME READING CALENDARS AND BOOK REPORTS Each month a home reading calendar IS REQUIRED to be completed at home with parental involvement. Students are asked to read a minimum of 15 days each month. Students failing to turn in their monthly calendars, research projects, or book reports will miss recesses and/or other fun activities and may result in RTC visits. We will be doing book reports in class for the months of September through December. Then during January and February, each student will be asked to complete a solar system research project. In March and April we will be focusing on the author Beverly Cleary. One of her chapter books will be sent home for a book report. Extra creative and/or written book reports are strongly encouraged but not required. Extra credit points will be given for individuals who take this challenge. (See attached creative book report list.)

8. Hands-on Stations For science and social studies, you and other volunteers would be responsible for teaching/carrying out a mini-lesson with a group of about 10 students, and we would also ask you to attend a short after-school meeting about one week before the stations are about to begin. Michigan Studies/Marvelous Me Rocks/Fossils (Sept.-Dec.) Solar System (Jan. through Mar.) Simple Machines (April and May.)

9. THIRD GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES AND SCIENCE SEPTEMBER THROUGH DECEMBER Social Studies: Michigan Studies Science: Earth Beneath Your Feet Rocks, Minerals, and Fossils Visit Cemex (amateur paleontologists) Visit Brumm’s Studio Polish Petoskey Stones Introduction to plant parts and their functions Visit North Point Conservancy (Ready, Set, Rot!--Decomposition)

10. SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES CONTINUED JANUARY-FEBRUARY-MARCH Social Studies: Continue with Michigan Studies Science: A System in the Sky Our Solar System APRIL-MAY Social Studies: Continue with Michigan Studies Science: Pushes and Pulls Simple Machines Beaver Island Studies and Trip -- review plant parts and their functions ALL YEAR PROJECTS Marvelous Me (3rd grade scrapbook) Scholastic Magazine (informational reading) Cursive Handwriting School Social Skills **Science/Social Studies Stations will begin late September or early October. Please see one of us if you can help.

11. WEEKLY FOLDERS Please sign and date your child’s weekly folder and return all homework by Tuesday of each week. Students are rewarded on Tuesdays for turning in all weekly work, including gold Thursday folders and blue homework folders.

12. REPORT CARDS Report cards are shared with parents 4 times a year.

13. Web site for: Bernhardt’s Bees Silberhorn’s Slugbugs If you have internet access you may want to check out our web page. The address is: www.rayder.net click on Elementary School click on Third Grade click on Miss Bernhardt or Mrs. Silberhorn We try to keep this updated monthly.

14. SPECIALS’ SCHEDULE (1:35-2:35) SILBERHORN BERNHARDT Monday--Computer Monday—Art Tuesday--Gym Tuesday--Computer Wednesday--Library Wednesday--Music Thursday--Art Thursday--Library Friday--Music Friday--Gym

15. Show and Tell: Current Events and Extra Credit Show and tell is a little different in third grade. Instead of bringing in items to share, your child is encouraged to read and summarize newspaper articles or books, research a topic that we are currently studying, or do any other type of extra credit that is of interest to him/her. Each child will be given an opportunity to share the extra credit with the class. Thank you for your cooperation.

16. BEAVER ISLAND DATES May 31 & June 1 June 2 & 3