Third graders are both playful in their work and serious about their accomplishments. They strive for individual achievement, yet treasure a sense of belonging. Creativity, courage, and developing positive relationships are hallmarks of the third grade year.

Third Grade: Developing Skills, Self-reliance, and Character
This year, students practice more sophisticated decoding and comprehension strategies to become skilled and fluent readers. They extend and refine their spelling, grammar, and handwriting skills. Through the Six Traits Program of Effective Writing, third graders explore the phases of writing—drafting, revising, proofreading, and publishing—as well as different writing genres including descriptive, persuasive, and expository writing, personal narrative, research reports, and poetry.

Third grade mathematics focuses on multi-digit addition and subtraction, multiplication, measurement, geometry, symmetry, and data collection and interpretation. In science, students complete in-depth studies of weather, plants, and powders and crystals. Social studies topics include geography, notable African-Americans, regions of the United States and St. Louis, and Biblical patriarchs. Art, music, P.E., and Spanish classes round out the third grade curriculum and are integral to the students’ development of creativity and confidence.

Throughout the school day, in every subject, third graders focus on developing good character expressed through mutual respect, moral courage, obedience, honesty, responsibility, selflessness, and teamwork. Nurturing healthy, positive relationships with other students and adults is a daily goal.