Academic Syllabus

Academic Syllabus 2015-2016

Course: 3rd Grade
Teachers: Mrs. Carver, Mrs. Campfield,
Miss Lorich, and Mr. Turner
Teacher e-mail: samanthaj.champion@cms.k12.nc.us

Welcome to MGLA:

kimberlya.white@cms.k12.nc.us
stacir.lorich@cms.k12.nc
shawndell.turner@cms.k12.nc.us

Welcome to 3rd grade!

We are very excited to have you as part of our 3rd grade MGLA family this year! We have many fun and
exciting learning opportunities planned this year. Below are the concepts your child will be expected to master
this school year. We look forward to working with you and your child during this 2015-2016 school year.

Class content:
Literacy
In grade three, students continue to grow in their reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. As stated on
the PARCC website, "Helping students understand what they read is a crucial element of grade 3." Students will
use skills learned in K-2 to help them decode multisyllabic words, improve their fluency, and begin to read
more complex text that require higher level thinking skills. In addition, students will begin to set goals to
improve their reading stamina, while reading chapter books. In their writing, students will write with increasing
sophistication to present and organize their information more effectively. Furthermore, they are expected to
meet the grammar conventions and skills for third grade.
Math
In grade three, students will continue to build on skills and strategies previously learned, with a focus on: (1)
adding and subtracting numbers to 10,000, (2) analyzing and solving multiplication and division problems, (3)
telling time to the nearest minute, (4) working with simple and equivalent fractions, (5) using tools to calculate
volume, area, length, and height, and (6) analyzing graphs and shapes.
Science
In grade thee, students will learn through hands-on experiments about the following topics: forces and motion,
matter - properties and change, energy - conservation and transfer, Earth in the universe, Earth systems and
processes, structures and functions of living organisms, and ecosystems.
Social Studies
In grade three, students draw upon knowledge learned in previous grades to develop more sophisticated
understandings of how communities are linked to form larger units, and how there are cultural, geographic, and
economic connections. Students will understand the importance of being a citizen and identify the contributions

Academic Syllabus
of elected individuals in the local community. Using both primary and secondary sources, students will
understand the role of the individual in shaping history and explore changes in communities and regions over
time
Global connections:
*Students in grade three will have EPals (electronic pen pals) with students from another country. Through this
writing opportunity students will have the opportunity to learn about the life and culture of a student in another
country.
*Third grade will complete a book study on the book, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. This is a story
is of a young girl from Hiroshima, Japan who suffers from cancer acquired from radiation due to the war. In her
culture, it is believed that if you make a 1,000 paper cranes you will be cured.
*The third grade team has decided to subscribe to the Scholastics News: Weekly Reader. Each child will get
their very own copy each week! The purpose of the weekly reader is to build and reinforce science and social
studies skills, teach new vocabulary, and make learning fun. Every issue is filled with vibrant photos and
nonfiction text to support what your child will be learning in class. The subscription costs $7 per child, which
will cover 32 issues.
Required materials:

4 Composition Notebooks
4 Folders with Prongs
2 1 1/2 3 Ring Binder
2 Boxes of Tissues
2 Packs of Pencils
1 Box of crayons and colored pencils
1 Pack of Wide-Ruled Notebook Paper
2 Large Pink Erasers
1 Four Pack of glue sticks
2 Pack of eight dividers
1 Pair of Scissors
2 Highlighters
Band-Aids
1 Ream of Copy of Paper
Duct Tape
Optional: Pencil Box, gallon and quart size bags, 1 roll of paper towels, 1 box of page protectors

Daily preparation and communication:

Students should bring their agenda, reading log, and take-home folder to class daily. It is expected that student
come to school wearing appropriate school uniform attire ready to learn.
We will communicate with parents through email, agenda, text message, phone calls, and monthly newsletters.

Academic Syllabus
Grading:
Grades can be checked online via Powerschool. If you do not have your childs passcode please contact the
school office. Additionally, check your childs Data Binder.

Tutoring schedule:
The tutoring schedule detailed below will be available for third grade students. This is not a before school
program. Tutoring will be for students who are committed to improving their reading or mathematical skills.
Mrs. Carver will tutor on Tuesday mornings from 7:45 8:45.
Mrs. Campfield will tutor on Tuesday mornings from 7:45 - 8:45.
Miss Lorich will tutor on Tuesday morning from 7:45 8:45.
Mr. Turner will tutor on Tuesday afternoons from 4:30 5:30.

Please sign below indicating you have read and understand the expectations of this course. Please do not detach
signature from page. Thank you.

Student Name:______________________________ Homeroom Teacher:___________________________

Student Signature: __________________________________________Date:_________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature: ____________________________________Date:________________________
Parent/Guardian contact information: _________________________________________________________