Third-graders looking forward to fantastic year

The third-grade students are getting back into the swing of things, and we’re looking forward to a fantastic year!

This year, we are delving deeper into our reading program, Expeditionary Learning, or EL for short. We are exploring a variety of texts and focusing on the character traits of collaboration, integrity, compassion, craftsmanship, perseverance and initiative. With these traits in mind, we have been working on the correct way to act in all areas of our school while acting in ways that are responsible, respectful and safe. As part of the EL program, we are implementing “Crew,” which is part of the morning meeting where students will learn about and apply these character traits with their classmates.

Students are reading books about children in other countries, and how they are educated. Many of our social studies and science topics will be discussed within our reading program. In math, we’re working on strategies for basic addition and subtraction, as well as one-step story problems. Students are working toward mastery of the basic math facts. As time permits, students have begun to learn the lowercase cursive letters and can already write a few words containing undercurve letters.

We will work to become “Super Readers” and will soon begin to take tests on the computerized Accelerated Reader program available to us over the internet. This year we will be working hard to improve our reading stamina and comprehension skills.

There are many things that we are looking forward to doing this year. In a couple of weeks, we will be tie-dying T-shirts. Soon there will be new playground equipment to play on at recess time. We’re also looking forward to an author’s visit to our school and a trip to the school forest. It’s going to be an awesome year!

~Mrs. Farrell, Mrs. Payant, Mrs. Hintze