Welcome to St. John's Third Grade.

Math
Our text is the Silver Burdett and Ginn, Book 3.

In the third grade level math class, our first goal is mastery of addition and subtraction facts through 18. After working on place value, counting and estimation, we will begin addition and subtraction of two, three, and four digit numbers with regrouping. Time will be spent on counting adding and subtracting money, as well as making change. We will also study telling time to the minute.

During the second semester, we will focus on multiplication facts through 12, and provide an introduction to geometric figuures , ns
Our text for reading is the Harcourt Brace.

Our basal reader is a challenging one, with award-winning literature to pique the varied interests of the children. As students learn to read by reading, these enjoyable works of fiction and non-fiction keep them coming back for more!

One of the goals in this class is to encourage development of comprehension skills such as: main idea and details, elements of a story, character traits, sequence of events, cause and effect, fact and opinion, and reading for meaning. Another, even more important goal, is to read for enjoyment.

English
Through our reading series and supplemental materials, we will provide students with a strong foundation in basic language skills in grammar, usage, and mechanics. An understanding of the structure of the English language (parts of speech) will be developed. Journal writing is used to help students succeed in expressing ideas, thoughts and feelings clearly and effectively.

Phonics
Third grade is the school year in which the children quite amazingly, begin the transition from "learning to read" to "reading to learn." This transition is easier with a good, strong phonics background. Our goal is mastery of word attack skills begun in earlier grades, (consonants, blends, digraphs, closed and open vowels), and learning additional, more difficult vowel patterns.

Students are introduced to syllables, accents, root words, prefixes, and suffixes. Synonyms, antonyms, homophones, and homographs are covered as well.

We incorporate the Orton-Gillingham Method of instruction, which is a visual, auditory, and tactile process for sequentially presenting sound/letter combinations, spelling rules, and "red words" (words that do not follow these rules).

Spelling
Spelling and Phonics are linked closely as we study the same skill each week. For example, when the students study closed "e" (short e) in Spelling, we study it in Phonics as well. For this reason, we are not using a Spelling text. Our teacher-developed materials use this combination to help students understand how word parts come together to make a word. Memorization is only used for the "red words."

Handwriting
There is a transition this year from manuscript to cursive writing. Special attention will be given to letter formation, size, the joining of letters, slant, and spacing. We ask that children and parents wait to use cursive until all the strokes and letter formation have been taught.

Social Studies
The text we use for Social Studies is Harcourt Brace.

In this class, the students will develop an understanding as to how they are linked to people in the community, state, region, nation, and world. We will learn about the United States as a country of varying geographical regions and climates, especially as we study the ways of life of our Native American and pioneer ancestors.

The students will be introduced to using maps and globes, and be asked to master the continents and oceans of the Earth.

Religion
The text we use for Religion is We Believe by Loyola.

In third grade, our goal is to grow in friendship and love for Jesus, our Brother and saving Lord, with His Family, the Church. We strive to acquire a deeper understanding and love for the liturgy of the Eucharist. We also study in depth the Rosary to appreciate and grow closer to the Blessed Mother, the Apostles' Creed, and other basic prayers.

Activities
During the school year we take a trip to Lansing planetarium.