Third Grade: AIR Class
Reading
The goal of the reading program in the third grade is for students to become flexible, resilient readers who read for pleasure as well as academic pursuits. AIR students are offered ample time to read high-interest books in their independent reading levels. Third graders focus on the meanings and spellings of roots and affixes in polysyllabic words. Additionally, they reinforce their knowledge of long and short vowels, other vowel spellings, digraphs, and rules when adding affixes to words. Through daily reading, they work on decoding polysyllabic words, take time to decode unfamiliar syllables, and build their reading fluency and comprehension.
Writing
In the AIR class, we teach writers, not writing. Students develop a sense of self as writers, their personal writing processes, and develop ways of reading the world like writers, collecting ideas with variety, volume, and thoughtfulness. Third graders establish a sense of thoughtful, deliberate purpose about their work as writers, and the stamina to stick with their pieces through the drafting process. As members of a responsive, literate community, students develop an appreciation of craft and genre in writing. AIR writers gain deeper awareness of audience and how to prepare their writing to go out into the world.
Mathematics
Math is seen as fluid, vibrant, creative, and relevant. The AIR class program emphasizes differentiated instruction techniques that provide many opportunities for all students to grow mathematically. Problems and investigations invite children to explore, make sense of mathematics while working individually, with peers, and with teachers. The curriculum incorporates use of visual models, arithmetic fluency, math for understanding as well as accuracy. Math is a social activity, enhancing student articulation and the connection to everyday life. Formal and informal assessments, including interviews, summative paper assessments, projects, worksheets, math journal work, and partner and small group work discussions, guide student learning and teacher lesson planning.
Social Studies
Using the theme of Values, the AIR class learns about the geography of the Bay Area, California, and the United States. Students explore the roles of a citizen through election studies and important documents, such as the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. They ask: How does where we live affect how we live? How does culture reflect values and vice versa? How do stories reflect our cultural values? In addition to developing an awareness and understanding of Native American cultures and how they have continued to shape our history, students develop a modern perspective, and appreciation of Native American Peoples. Through our Cesar Chavez study, students learn about human rights, labor laws, and how laws are made and changed.
Science
Science is taught through observations, experiments, hands-on discoveries, and critical thinking. Third graders use different variations of the scientific method in different contexts but the goal is always the same: to discover the world and relationships in it using questions, gathering and examining evidence, and analyzing findings to make a conclusion. Units include: weather, resources, birds and plants/farming. Students strengthen their fluency with scientific practices and deepen their understanding through the process of reflection.
Social Emotional Learning
In the AIR class, students get space for guided practice in using social emotional tools with friendships, issues in the classroom, in class meetings, and on the yard. The class is guided to intentionally use the tools in partner and group work. Third graders learn to value mistakes and hold a growth mindset, and every week students highlight who they notice using a growth mindset. Understanding that disequilibrium is necessary for learning, the class practices embracing this challenge and works to create a safe space and comfort with not knowing, mistake making, and struggle.
Social Justice
The AIR class incorporates social justice on a variety of levels. Starting at the basic level, students explore how they treat each other in the classroom, thinking about what they value in a learning community, how they show values to others, and how they want to be valued. Keeping this part of social justice close, third graders navigate conflicts in social and academic relationships. Students practice questioning information, ideas, and asking questions about fairness. Across the year, the class reads books which represent a variety of people from many backgrounds.
Specialist Classes
Specialist classes are part of the daily schedule for all students, including art, music, physical education, wood shop, and Latin. Our rich specialist program ensures a well-rounded daily experience for all students.
