CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT CURRICULUM

Third grade students learn lots of wonderful things: reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. If you would like to know more about the grade level expectancies, there are several curriculum documents available for you to review. Here are links to the third grade standards:

• Curriculum Overview
  The Curriculum Overview was developed by the Clark County School District to help parents understand what is expected of students at each grade level in the core subject areas of Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. The Curriculum Overview lists Nevada Content Standards and specific skills and concepts taught at each grade level.

• Power Standards
  Power Standards are the most critical standards that students are held accountable for mastering. Power Standards are highly focused, specific areas of instructional emphasis and are essential for student proficiency. Standards that are not designated as Power Standards are embedded in instruction throughout the year.
  

• Benchmarks
  Benchmarks are aligned with the Power Standards and clearly outline student proficiency expectations for specific skills and concepts during each twelve-week period. Shaded boxes indicate the end of the trimester when students are expected to demonstrate mastery for a standard. The arrows following the skill indicate the need for on-going instructional review. It is acknowledged that with individual differences in student learning, some students will be ready to go beyond a particular benchmark, and others may need additional instructional support or remediation.
  
  

At Beatty Elementary we use the Harcourt Trophies reading series, enVision math (new for 2008-2009), FOSS science and the Houghton Mifflin Social Studies series. For remediation and intervention, we utilize Voyager Passport Reading, FastForWord Language, and Imagine Learning Language programs.

back to top

GRADING & REPORT CARDS

The Clark County School District uses a standards-based report card. You will receive a report card three times during the year (November, March, and July). I will send home progress reports about every three weeks.

All Clark County students receive letter grades for core academic subjects (reading, language arts, math, science, and social studies). The grading scale used by our school district is:

A- 90-100% mastery of grade level benchmark
B- 80-89% mastery of grade level benchmark
C- 70-79% mastery of grade level benchmark
D- 60-69% mastery of grade level benchmark
F- Below 60% mastery of grade level benchmark
W- Working on standards below grade level

Each core subject is comprised of several elements or strands. Grades earned in individual strands are either "meets standards" or "does not meet standards".

Please remember that a “C” is good news and your child is meeting state & district standards.

back to top

TEXTBOOKS

The Clark County School District has adopted several textbook series for our use. The Southeast Region requires these books:

• Harcourt Trophies Reading Series [website]
• enVision Math [website]- password required
• FOSS Science [website]
• Houghton Mifflin Social Studies[website]

In Clark County, each school can supplement and enrich their programs as needed. At Beatty, we use the Voyager Passport Reading Intervention Program. In my classroom, I also use a variety of materials for remediation and re-teaching, including previously adopted textbook series and materials.

ACCELERATED READER

Accelerated Reader is a reading program that is used schoolwide at Beatty.  Accelerated Reader is available in every classroom, the computer lab, and the library.  As Beatty students develop their reading skills, we encourage them to read selections from our Accelerated Reader list. These books can be found in our classroom, our school library, and the Enterprise Library on Las Vegas Blvd.

After students read an Accelerated Reader book, they take a computerized comprehension test. Points are awarded for each test passed.  Students earn certificates and rewards according to the number of points they earn. I hope you will support and encourage your child as they become an Accelerated Reader!

Here are some helpful links for our Accelerated Reader program:

• Accelerated Reader books by title
• Accelerated Reader books by author
• Accelerated Reader books by reading level
• Accelerated Reader Rewards and Incentives Chart
• Chart of the reading levels (color dots)

  back to top

SIGHT WORDS

Sight words are words that a reader can recognize and read without sounding out each individual letter.  Many sight words are hard to sound out phonetically and must be memorized.  I suggest printing a copy of the sight word list and practicing. It is expected that second grade students can read most of the 1,200 words on the list without hesitation. Spelling the sight words correctly would be an added bonus since these words are used frequently in students' writing.

Here are a few suggestions for how to practice learning sight words. 

1. PRACTICE!  PRACTICE!  PRACTICE!  The more a beginning reader sees words and practices reading them, the easier reading becomes. 
   

2. MAKE FLASHCARDS  Flashcards work well for many students.  Each word should be written neatly on an index card.  Write large enough so the reader can touch each letter as they are saying the sounds.  In the lower right corner of each card, write the list number that the word is from.  Keep the cards for review.
   

3. WRITE THE WORDS THAT ARE TRICKY Although learning to read sight words IS NOT a spelling activity, some people memorize things by repeatedly writing them down.
   

4. USE COLORS With a colored marker or crayon, outline the shape of the word.  Pay close attention to blends, such as th, wh, sh, tr…  Blends should be underlined or boxed together so the reader has a visual cue to remember to say the sounds as one, not choppy as two.
   

5. VOWELS Usually, when two vowels are together the first one does the talking, the last one does the walking. In the word coat, the o makes a long o sound and the a is silent (the first one does the talking, the last one does the walking.) An e at the end of the word is silent because it is tired from helping the other vowel say its name.  For example: In the word TAPE, the a says its name (a) and the e is silent.

MATH FACTS

To be successful in math, students should be able to recall basic math facts quickly and accurately. Fact practice is introduced in first grade and continues each year after that. Second grade students are expected to know addition and subtraction facts, zero to ten. Third grade students should know multiplication and division facts through tens.

There is no single, best way to learn math facts, except for practice. Flashcards work well. Some students learn by writing things down. Other kids do better working on the computer. Try different ways and go with what works for you.

Here are some websites that will help reinforce speedy and accurate recall of basic math facts:

• Alien Addition
• Minus Mission
• Meteor Multiplication
• Demolition Division

Every day we do a "Two Minute Drill". Students have two minutes to solve 50 math facts. Everyone begins with +1 facts. In order to move to the next quiz, students can only miss two questions. If a student misses more than two questions on a drill, they will have the same paper the next day. As facts are mastered, students move from +1 to +2, to +3... all the way up to +10. Then we do subtraction facts, -1 through -10, followed by mixed addition facts, then mixed subtraction facts, mulitiplication, and division.

The purpose of the Two Minute Drill is to help students rapidly recall addition and subtraction facts. Since math facts were introduced in first grade, third grade students should not count on their fingers to solve addition or subtraction problems.

To help prepare for the Two Minute Drill, you can practice with the actual sheets we use in class. These pages can be printed and cut down the middle for two practice sheets. Good luck!

back to top