In Third Grade, students participate in independent, whole class, and cooperative group activities. There are many opportunities for collaboration to help encourage growth socially and academically. Students complete various projects and become responsible for developing and maintaining organizational skills and using consistent study habits. Students are asked to think abstractly and to develop deeper meanings of concepts explored in earlier grades and they will begin to analyze what they learn. Third Graders become more advanced readers, writers, mathematicians and thinkers.
Language Arts
Third Grade reading instruction builds comprehension across fiction and nonfiction: main idea, sequencing, details, author’s purpose, prediction, inference, vocabulary, and cause-and-effect. Students cite the text, make text-to-self connections, and strengthen fluency, decoding, and word recognition. Writing instruction walks students through the writing process while emphasizing grammar, spelling, and mechanics. They expand their writing with rich details and descriptions and continue to refine their cursive handwriting.
Math
Math is differentiated at either an on-level or above-level pace beginning in Third Grade. The class focuses on learning fact families in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Additionally, Third Grade utilizes other mathematical skills including understanding equivalent fractions, decimals, geometry, telling time, units of measurement, graphing, predicting outcomes, problem solving, and analyzing data.
Science
Science curriculum focuses on life, earth, and physical sciences. Students learn the scientific method of data collection and experimentation.
Social Studies
The Social Studies curriculum reviews the concept of community in urban, suburban and rural areas. Students also learn about geography,economics, civics, and government.
Religion
In Religion, the students continue to learn about their Catholic faith, the Blessed Trinity, Creed, Scripture, conscience, Christian living, prayer, the life and teachings of Jesus, and the Sacraments.
Enrichment classes include Physical Education, Art, Music, Technology, Library, and Spanish
Teacher: Lori Kellam
Mrs. Lori Kellam joined the faculty as the Third Grade teacher in 2024 after serving as a para-educator at Holy Cross School for several years. Mrs. Kellam holds a B.S. from The Catholic University of America and a Certificate of Teaching from Notre Dame of Maryland University. She is passionate about guiding our Third Graders through an enriching and exciting school year.
Para-educator: Liesl Ament
Ms. Liesl Ament joined our faculty in 2024 as Third Grade Para-educator and Religion teacher. Ms. Ament holds a B.A. from The Catholic University of America in History, Psychology, and Theology. She brings significant teaching experience within the Archdiocese of Washington and abroad. Ms. Ament is eager to share her love of our faith with our students.