I want to welcome you to third grade. I am excited to begin this new school year. I am looking forward to working with you and your child!
Our Brighton Area School’s curriculum is aligned with the the Common Core Standards.
Our curriculum will consist of the following subject areas:
Reading: We will be using the Lucy Calkins Workshop model to teach reading. Comprehension, decoding, visualizing, making connections, questioning, fluency, inferencing, context clues and predicting are some of the many areas we will focus on. We will be exploring different genres and characters in our literature. We will be stressing fiction, non-fiction reading and test-taking strategies also.
Writing: We will be using the Lucy Calkins Writing Workshop for narratives, essays, and opinion writing. We will also work on poetry and research. The writing process of drafting, editing, revising and publishing will be focused on this year. We are always emphasizing good grammar. Cursive handwriting and keyboarding will also be part of our curriculum.
Spelling/Word Study: We will be using the CR Success spelling and word study program. We will be incorporating the F.A.S.T. model within this program. Students will apply the basic phonetic code to learning an advanced phonetic code. Watch for spelling words to come home. Our tests will be on Monday.
Math: The district recently adopted the newest version of Everyday Mathematics. Teachers and children will be using this research-based curriculum, developed as part of the University of Chicago School Mathematics Project (UCSMP). Everyday Mathematics reflects the state and national goals for mathematics and includes these features: *A curriculum that explores mathematical content beyond basic arithmetic *A problem-solving approach based on everyday situations. *Frequent, varied practice of basic skills *An instructional approach that revisits concepts regularly *An emphasis on communication and teamwork *A commitment to home/school partnerships
In the past few decades, there has been a tremendous increase in the importance of mathematics in the workplace and daily life. In order to succeed in this information and technology-oriented environment, our children need to learn a range of sophisticated mathematical knowledge that extends far beyond basic calculation skills. Everyday Mathematics is a program that will prepare children for the future and enable them to achieve at high levels. We will be studying adding and subtracting whole numbers, linear measures and area, multiplication and division, place value in whole numbers and decimals, geometry, fractions, measurement and data, and probability.
Math fact fluency is the quick and effortless (automatic) recall of basic math facts. When students achieve automaticity with these facts, they have attained a level of mastery that enables them to retrieve them from long-term memory without conscious effort or attention. It is very important that your child memorize these multiplication facts. This will make math much easier for them in the future.
Extensive research has demonstrated the critical role of fact fluency in elementary school level mathematics and beyond and is underscored by studies that show it is a significant predictor of performance on standardized tests. I encourage students to practice by playing online games, practicing with paper and pencil, using flashcards, etc. I suggest that students practice their facts a few nights a week.
Science: Our science curriculum includes Weather/Climate, Force/Motion, Plants/Animals and Adaptations. Phenomenal Science is a regional collaboration between the Science, Mathematics, Technology center at CMU and the Great Lakes Bay ISDs to develop K-5 Science Units through professional learning. The units will:
Include a complete curriculum for K-5 three-dimensional science instruction
Meet the Michigan Science Standards
Integrate science and engineering practices, and English Language Arts and Mathematics
Phenomenal Science is sponsored by Michigan Virtual University®, Michigan STEM Partnership and is supported by the Great Lakes Bay ISDs. We will be “hands-on” in as many areas as possible. We are so excited to be using the Phenomenal Science Curriculum this year! Social Studies: The purpose of the third grade Social Studies Curriculum is to focus primarily on the study of Michigan in the Great Lakes Region as it relates to other regions in the United States. Students will learn information and skills that are useful to them so that they can become active, productive and responsible citizens in a state, national and world setting. Your child will also be introduced to the Core Democratic Values and economics in Mini-Society.
Health: We are using the Michigan Model School Health Education Series adopted by Brighton Schools. We discuss responsibility, friendship, nutrition, physical activity, and safety,
Lifeskills: Our goal is to teach our students those behaviors that are positive and productive. We will be discussing each of the skills by reading stories, doing activities, singing the songs and practicing the particular lifeskill. Some of the lifeskills include: responsibility, perseverance, integrity, truthfulness, caring, patience and effort.