Homeroom Teachers
Staff
ART: Mr. Mark Randall
SPANISH: Mrs. Kara Sall
MUSIC: Mrs. Carmen Kruyf
PHYS. ED: Mr. Dan Los
LIBRARY: Miss MaryJo Staal
NATURE SPECIALIST: Mr. Mike Hoekstra
TECHNOLOGY: Mr. Steve Schynders
ED. SUPPORT SERVICES: Mrs. Jenny Gorter
SPEECH: Mrs. Sue Courson
GIFTED STUDENTS: Mrs. Lisi Remy
Bible
The third grade uses the CSI Bible curriculum which focuses on the study of God and His people, describing the way God acts and talks with His people. The stories, covering Genesis-Judges, are presented to make each student feel a part of God’s people, experiencing the love and concern of God and other people. The students also will recite Bible passages from memory throughout the year. In addition to our curriculum, we spend time focusing on the season of Lent and especially Ash Wednesday.
- Spiritual Portfolio – The third grade spiritual portfolio focuses on the statement “God stories from third grade that I will always tell.” The students will reflect on the Bible stories learned throughout the year and how they apply in their life.
- Capstone Project – The third grade capstone project focuses on the season of Lent. The children learn the importance of how the Lenten season is a time to reflect on our relationship with God, spend more time in Bible reading and prayer, and find ways of serving others. On Ash Wednesday we place ashes on our foreheads to remind us of our dependence on God. Students are challenged to sacrifice something important in their own lives to help them grasp the importance of Christ being a sacrifice.
Language Arts
In third grade, our goal is for students to see themselves as readers and writers. We work to accomplish this goal through Reading and Writing workshop times each day. Teachers use mini-lessons to teach a variety of skills needed for students to become independent readers and writers who take ownership and responsibility for their learning. The units taught in reading provide mentor texts and lessons for the students’ writing. Students practice writing Narrative, Essay and Information texts. Additional spelling lessons and word skills are taught using the Sitton Spelling Curriculum and include weekly spelling tests.
Math
Our math curriculum teaches the students concepts necessary to function in today’s world as God’s servants. The mathematics program is Math Expressions. In this program children “do mathematics.” Some of the major concepts we will cover include problem solving, multiplication, division, measurement, and geometry, all of which will be taught in a real world context.
Science
Third graders explore weather in different parts of the world and different times of the year. They collect and analyze data to use patterns to predict future weather events and seasons. Students continue to explore the balance in an ecosystem and the dependency of organisms within the system that has been taught in previous years. In their physical science unit they explore the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on the motion of objects.
Social Studies
Students will be using the ‘Meet Michigan’ by Hillsdale textbooks to learn more about Michigan’s history, people past and present, and the government of Michigan. We will be talking about core democratic values and economic issues relating to Michigan.
Art
Third graders are interested not only in the creative and expressive aspects of Art, but also are interested in the mechanics and disciplines of art. During this time, more direction can be given and followed, along with working in various media (including some 3-dimensional work). Third graders memorize Psalm 100 in their classrooms; their visual expressions of this Psalm are a wonderful response to God’s promises and His world.
Library
Appreciation of literature is taught as the children listen to books read aloud by the librarian and as they are aided in selecting books to read for enjoyment. Children hear stories from the various genres: realistic fiction, historical fiction, traditional literature, fantasy, poetry, non-fiction and biographies. They become adept at locating materials in the library through the use of the Dewey Decimal system and the computer. Students learn to search by title, author, subject, and keyword. They become familiar with reference materials.
Music
In third grade music children learn that music is fun and is a gift from God. This gift will continue to be developed and discovered through tuneful, beatful, and artful activities. Tuneful activities focus on being able to think a tune and coordinate his/her voice to sing that tune. Beatful activities focus on feeling the pulse of the music and how it can be grouped into twos or threes. Artful activities give the student the opportunity to feel and be moved by the music. Students will continue to read music in duple meter but will also learn how to read music in triple meter.
Physical Education
In third grade physical education we review throwing, catching, kicking and hitting skills, and begin incorporating them into soccer, basketball, and softball games. We also begin formal fitness testing. Overall, we are learning to become responsible young Christians in the way we participate in physical activity.
Spanish
Third graders will continue to learn Spanish and gain a better understanding of the diverse world that God created. Spanish is a gift that we an use to further His Kingdom. Students will use songs, books, vocabulary words and other interactive activities such as skits and role playing to learn Spanish words. For more information, please refer to the HCS Spanish webpage.
Daily Schedule
Schedule
7:50 Bell
7:55 Devotions
8:10 Bible
8:40 Math
9:50 Snack/Recess
10:10 Spelling
10:40 Specials
11:30 Social Studies/Science
12:00 Noon Recess
12:22 Lunch
12:50 Reading
1:50 Writing
2:30 Read Aloud
2:40 Dismissal
Helpful Suggestions for Third Graders
- Start each day with a good breakfast.
- Get to bed on time.
- Read every day at home.
- Establish a daily routine for organizing school needs (having homefolders ready).
- Review any papers that come home as soon as possible with your child.
- Help your child find a quiet study corner in your home.
- Monitor T.V. viewing and limit it if necessary.
- Pray with your child about school and learning to find our place in God’s Kingdom.