Third Grade
Click here for the supply list for students entering grade 3
Third Grade at Beecher Road School represents the transition to the Intermediate Grades and all that implies. Most obviously, the geographic center of the school shifts, with classrooms and most Specials now in the South area of the school. In addition to increased expectations for student independence, Third Grade marks the beginning of a student’s adventures in the world of standardized testing.
In the Language Arts, Writers’ Workshop is the vehicle for delivering the writing and speaking curricula. Students are exposed to a variety of genres in both reading and writing.
Third graders work in mathematics using a variety of resources to deliver the curriculum. Common Core State Standards are the basis of lessons. Students engage in the workshop model. After the mini lesson students will work with partners and in small groups to investigate math concepts and work to mastery of the standards.
Science and social studies have rich content. The early history of Woodbridge and compare it to the New Haven area present day in four major areas: geography, civics, economics and history. Also, students engage in multiple explorations of maps and their use from our town to the world help students to broaden their horizons. In science, the major units include: forces/motion/magnets, weather/climate, and an interdisciplinary unit on the adaptation, hereditary of organisms, and ecosystems.
The Responsive Classroom approach to teaching and learning is a core of third grade classrooms. Social skill development is taught as well.. Efforts are made to develop and enhance individual classroom communities and the grade as a whole. Recess is important for all.
About the teachers
The third grade team is a veteran team of teachers who enjoy working together. Each person brings significant strengths to the team. The teachers work hard to make sure your child is comfortable and safe at school
We are always happy to communicate with parents. Feel free to email your child’s teacher at any time.
Curriculum
WRITING WORKSHOP
Our goal in teaching writing is to help students see themselves as real writers. In the third grade classroom, Writer’s Workshop is a time for students to study and practice the craft of writing. Their writer’s notebooks, with their beautiful personalized covers, are a place for students to jot down seed ideas and draft writing pieces. In Writer’s Workshop, students have an opportunity to study and practice writing different genres. Students become familiar with the different steps in the writing process, including brainstorming, drafting, revising, editing, conferencing, and publishing. The children share written work with their peers, with the whole class, and conference with teachers. We use expert texts as well as examples from our own writing and student pieces as models of good writing techniques.
Much like our reading program, we follow the Writer’s Workshop model of mini-lesson, independent practice, and share. We start with a mini-lesson which focuses on a particular writing skill or strategy. Students then work on that skill in their independent practice. During this time, the teacher works with students both on an individual and group basis to target specific needs. At the end of the lesson, there is time for students to share their work either in partnerships or with the whole class.
UNITS OF STUDY
We follow the Teacher’s College Project units of study as the framework for our writing curriculum. These units include:
Crafting True Stories
Changing the World: Opinion essays
The Art of Information Writing
Literary Essay
Fairy Tales
HOW CAN YOU HELP YOUR CHILD
The more practice students get with independent writing, the better! If possible, get a blank journal for your child and give them free rein to write what interests them. Talk about their writing and celebrate particularly good writing tools that you notice. Tell stories to one another. Encourage your child to elaborate on his/her ideas by including details and descriptive words.
SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES
Science and Social Studies have rich content. In social studies, we study the early history of Woodbridge and as well as present day Woodbridge and Connecticut.
In science, we follow the NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards). The major units include: forces/motion/magnets, weather/climate, and an interdisciplinary unit on the adaptation, hereditary of organisms, and ecosystems.
SPECIALS SCHEDULES
Specials run on a 6-day cycle (Days A-F) and are held for one hour. If you see two specials under a letter day, it indicates that the time is divided between the two specials. Example: 30 minutes of technology and then 30 minutes of Physical Education.