Third Grade
April Rosscup
arosscup@my.bdms.org
"The wonder of being a teacher is watching caterpillars become butterflies." -Unknown
My name is April Rosscup and this is my second year teaching third grade here at Bishop Dunn Memorial School. I have a BA in Social Sciences from MSMC and am currently pursuing my MSEd with a certification in Literacy. Before my time at Bishop Dunn, I worked in the Arlington School District and was the Wild Reader instructor at the Newburgh Armory. Growing up I loved school and knew I wanted to spend my life inside the classroom. Being a teacher allows me to instill a love for learning in children and give them the tools they need to succeed in third grade and beyond.
Teaching Philosophy
“Take chances, make mistakes, and get messy!” -Mrs. Frizzle
I believe that in order for students to learn to their full potential they must feel safe and comfortable. That is why my number one goal as an educator is to create a safe and welcoming environment that feels like a second home. Once students are comfortable they feel safe to make mistakes and get messy! I teach my students that it's okay to make mistakes and that real learning takes place when things are hard. I strive to inspire my students with my enthusiasm for all topics covered and relate these topics to life outside of the classroom. I make sure students feel seen and heard by including their interests in our daily lessons. Ultimately I strive for my classroom to be a place where students come in every day excited to learn.
Welcome to Third Grade
A Day in the Life of a 3rd Grader
Word Study
This year we will be using the 180 Days of Spelling & Word Study book to guide our word study lessons. Each week students will study 15 words that follow spelling patterns and will build a deeper understanding of the words. Every Friday students will have a spelling test on those 15 words.
ELA
Students will read and analyze fiction and non-fiction texts, identifying main ideas, themes, and supporting details. They will develop writing skills in various formats, such as narratives, opinion pieces, and informative essays. We will build a broader vocabulary, and use context clues and inferences to find meaning in unknown words. They will learn about different types of sentences, and figurative language, and continue their understanding of parts of speech. Students will practice effective communication and active listening skills in a variety of ways, including literature circles and classroom discussions. For more information on the 3rd Grade ELA Curriculum please visit EngageNY.
Math
Following New York State Curriculum students will practice addition and subtraction of whole numbers within 1000 and fluency in multiplication and division. They will be introduced to area and perimeter as well as fractions. Students will classify polygons and relate fractions to geometry. Students will also learn how to interpret and analyze measurement data and understand the difference between volume and mass. Students will develop the skills necessary to complete a variety of multi-step word problems. For more information on the 3rd Grade Math Curriculum please visit EngageNY.
Science/Social Studies
In science, we have four main units: forces and interactions, interdependent relationships in ecosystems, life cycles and traits, and weather and climate. Students will learn about these topics in a variety of ways including but not limited to hands-on activities and direct instruction.
The theme of social studies in third grade is “Communities around the World”. Students will learn about various communities around the globe as well as make comparisons across time for different cultures and communities. The cultures studied will include social organizations, customs and traditions, language, arts and literature, religion, forms of government, and economic systems. Students are also introduced to the concepts of prejudice, discrimination, human rights, and social action.
In addition, the classroom will also have a subscription to Scholastic News where students will have access to a variety of different science and social studies topics. For more information please visit EngageNY.
Religion
The theme for third grade is “Jesus continues his life work through His Church”. The objective for third grade is for students to experience the Church as a Christian Community and deepen their understanding of the Church. The values being taught are enthusiasm, respecting all life, initiative, hospitality, prudence, compassion, service, wellness, humility, and temperance. Students will also study the lives of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. Juan Diego.
Testing
Beginning in 3rd Grade, students are required to participate in two New York State standardized tests. The New York State English Language Arts Test is given in May to assess skills in reading, writing, and listening. The New York State Mathematics Test is also administered in May to assess a variety of mathematical skills including graphing, fractions, computation, and reasoning. Students are also required to take an Archdiocese Religion test in June. All skills and strategies learned throughout the year will help to prepare students to take these tests.
Archdioceses' Resources for Parents:
http://buildboldfutures.org/elementary/resources-for-parents/
Dear Parents,
Listed below are some reading recommendations for the summer:
Recommended Summer Selections:
Magic Tree House Series (Mary Pope Osborne)
Horrible Harry Series (Suzy Kline)
Roald Dahl Series (Roald Dahl) - advanced
A to Z Mysteries (Ron Roy)
The Boxcar Children (Gertrude C. Warner)
Judy Moody Series (Megan McDonald)
Beverly Cleary Series
Flat Stanley Series (Jeff Brown)
The Littles Series (John Peterson)
A Series of Unfortunate Events - advanced
Shel Silverstein Poems - entertaining
Mrs. Piggle Wiggle (Betty MacDonald)
I would also like to recommend subscribing to "Scholastic News" for summer reading. Passages include a wide range of informational and non-fiction text, supporting the Common Core Standards, all presented in an engaging and fun format for children to explore.
Lastly, please have your child spend just 10 minutes a day reviewing basic addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts through 6 (7-9 if possible). This will surely build the confidence and fluency needed and give them a great "jumpstart" in September, as we begin the math curriculum with multiplication. Thank you for your support!
