Examples

Here are two examples of the work done in Math and Language Arts prior to entering the Third Grade. Please note that our curriculum is broader than this. These are just two examples.

More examples can be found in our Sample Curricula (draft) document.

Language Arts

GRADE THREE

LITERATURE

Genres: Folktales, Biography, Mystery, Realistic fiction, Nonfiction
Texts: Beverly Cleary novels, Mr. Popper's Penguin, Skinnybones (series)

READING

1. Decoding: Uses picture clues, context clues, letter sounds (consonants, vowels, blends), syllabication, base words, Prefixes, suffixes, compound words.
2. Word Meaning: distinguishes multiple meanings, contextual clues, identifies synonyms, antonyms, homonyms.
3. Oral Fluency: Reads smoothly with few errors, pauses for commas and periods, uses expression, appropriate pronunciation, reading rate & volume, monitors reading and self corrects.
4. Summarizing skills: retells story, paraphrases, states main & subordinate ideas, gives sequence of events.
5. Story elements: comprehends plot, character, setting, and moral.
6. Interpretations Skills: Distinguishes reality and fantasy, identifies cause and effect.

WRITING

1. Genre conventions: paragraphs (descriptive and persuasive), personal narrative, comparisons & contrasts, stories, letters, research report.
2. Composition
1. Writing process steps: pre-writes, drafts, revises, & publishes.
2. Uses logical sequences.

GRAMMAR, SPELLING, VOCABULARY, PUNCTUATION, HANDWRITING

1. Capitalization rules
2. Punctuation: Uses comma, apostrophe, indentation, quotation and ending marks correctly.
3. Spelling rules: Uses logical invented spellings, base words, prefixes and suffixes, identifies misspelled words, uses dictionary to correct.
4. Grammar: Writes complete sentences and coherent paragraphs, identifies parts of speech, verb tenses, writes correct verb forms, pronouns & plural nouns, subject-verb agreement, contractions, possessives, comparatives, and superlatives.
5. Vocabulary: Independent working out of new words and understanding of simple compound words, sight and concept vocabulary growth, increased utilization of context clues, prefixes, suffixes, synonyms & antonyms.
6. Handwriting: Writes legibly using appropriate spacing and size, Prints letters in upper and lower case, forms letters in cursive, has beginning keyboard skills.

Math

GRADE THREE

A. Number and Numeration

1. Read and write numerals through one thousand
2. Place value: ones, tens, hundreds, thousands
3. Recognize and use odd/even numbers
4. Compare and order numbers
1. Introduction to < and > symbols

B. Operations and Computation

1. Commutative property of addition
2. Addition and subtraction with renaming
3. Estimate sums and differences
4. Problem solving involving addition and subtraction
5. Introduction to the commutative property of multiplication
6. Introduction to multiplication: basic facts - twos, threes, fives, tens
7. Model and compare fractions: 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/10
8. Mental computation - Basic addition and subtraction fact

C. Geometry and Measurement

1. Use customary and metric units of measure
1. Estimate, compare, and measure objects
2. Tangram activities
3. Time concepts
1. Explore the monthly calendar
2. Tell time: 1/2 hour, 1/4 hour, 5 minute intervals
3. Introduction to calculating time with minutes and seconds
4. Solve time problems

D. Problem Solving

1. Word problems
2. Critical thinking activities
3. Cooperative problem-solving projects