SJA-EClass-G3

A Special Sneak Preview!

Third graders at St. Joan of Arc School can look forward to several major changes in the third grade curriculum for the 2010-2011 school year.

Reading
We will pilot a new reading program entitled Foundations and Frameworks. This program was created by Briarwood Christian School in Birmingham, Alabama. Both the best teaching practices and brain-based learning have been incorporated into Foundations and Frameworks. Schools that adopted this program saw student improvement in vocabulary, reading comprehension, critical thinking, problem solving, and written expression. Watch for a special invitation to visit St. Joan of Arc School and see the third graders in action!

Vocabulary
Vocabulary will be part of the reading program rather than from a separate vocabulary book. The children will study ten words per reading unit using a strategy unique to Foundations and Frameworks.

Spelling
A spelling book will not be used. Third graders will be given a word list consisting of twenty words taken from the learning for the week. A pretest will be given on Monday. Any words from the list that the children spell correctly on the pretest are considered "mastered" and will not be used on the Friday test. Instead, each child will study ten words from the spelling list that he still needs to master. This strategy eliminates the time a child spends practicing words he already knows.

Math
Third graders will be using Saxon Math, the same math program that was introduced in second grade last school year. Saxon Math will be supplemented with additional problem solving strategies and practice time.

The teachers, staff, and administration of St. Joan of Arc School continually look for ways to improve our students' academic achievements. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we begin the new school year.

Sue Schneider