Third grade is considered to be a transitional year.  The third grade students are expected to become more independent throughout the year and take on more responsibilities.  They will be required to write the daily homework in their planner, make sure they are bringing all of the necessary materials home, get their planners signed nightly and make sure everything makes it back to school the following day.  They will also have to make sure they bring in their P.E. uniforms on the correct days. 

Besides the regular curriculum of Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies and Religion, there are many new things that the students will do.  They will they will be learning cursive, multiplication, division, and they will have weekly vocabulary words, in addition to their weekly spelling words.  They will work independently, with partners, in small groups, and as a large group.  They will also participate in Eco Rangers and BrainWare Safari.

BrainWare Safari is a software computer program that involves 168 levels that are based on the best practices of multiple clinical disciplines and incorporates engaging and motivating video-game technology. In published research, individuals who used BrainWare Safari for 12 weeks improved an average their cognitive skills by over four years and their academic performance increased by almost two years. BrainWare Safari looks like a video game and children love playing it. Unlike video games, it is founded in science and decades of clinical experience and develops 41 cognitive skills in six areas. Eco Rangers is a school developed program to teach the students to conserve and recycle. The third graders have the responsibility of checking that the entire school is not wasting electricity or water and that everyone is recycling paper. Throughout the week they will go around to all the classrooms and offices and make sure no lights are being left on when no one is in the room, the water in the sinks are not dripping, and paper garbage is being placed in the recycling containers. The students really enjoy this and look forward to their chance to investigate. I am looking forward to a wonderful year with your children!