Communication Arts

Assessment/Implementation Statement

Grade Three

 

IMPLEMENTATION

Every student must read and write everyday!!!

 

Basic materials:  The Board of Trustees adopted the Harcourt Trophies materials for the purpose of implementing the Communication Arts curriculum.  This program is designed to be taught sequentially and generally takes 6 weeks per unit. The Daily Oral Language program, the D’Nealian penmanship program and the Keyboarding Program will continue to be used in conjunction with the Harcourt materials.  The Harcourt Intervention Program will be used in the Literacy Program.  The use of these materials across the District will assure that students receive a well-balanced and consistent Communication Arts program, which is critical to the overall success of our students.

 

The assessment guidelines that follow indicate which Harcourt themes need to be covered to assure a complete program.  Daily Oral Language and D'Nealian penmanship programs will be used as designed.  Harcourt Intervention Program is an intervention program used by the literacy teachers

 

Supplemental materials:  Teachers, principals and building staffs are encouraged to make necessary professional judgments as to the supplemental materials and instructional strategies that best meet the needs of the students in their classrooms/schools as well as their individual teaching styles.  To this end, Great Falls Public Schools has provided a number of training opportunities and/or materials.  These include:  computer software, strategies for literature, writing, Successmaker, and skill instruction as well as other communication arts topics.  It is important to note these additional materials are not to replace the Harcourt materials but to support them. 

 

 ASSESSMENT

 

The assessment components for third grade include the use of MAP Assessment, Harcourt oral fluency, spelling review tests, holistic theme based tests and skills based End-of-Year test.  These assessments are aligned with state standards and the benchmarks found in the Great Falls Public Schools Curriculum. 

 

Students will complete one piece of writing per quarter that will be rated using the District rubric.  In grade three, students will participate in the District Writing Assessment held each year in the spring.  The goal is that students will perform at the proficient level when rated using the District Intermediate Writing Rubric. 

 

 

 

 

THEMES NEEDED TO COVER THE CURRICULUM:

Grade 3          Book 1 Changing Patterns

Theme 3 Friends to Grow With

Grade 3          Book 2 On Your Mark

                                    Theme 1Tell Me a Story

                        Theme 2 Good Neighbors

Theme 3 Celebrate Our World

The following themes will be utilizing 4th grade text and materials.

 

Grade 4          Lead the Way

                                   

                                     Theme 1 You Can Do It

*"My Name is Maria Isabel" is to be replaced with "Shi Shi Etko" to support Indian Education For All. These books can be checked out from the District Curriculum Library.

                                                                              Background

                                                                              Vocabulary

                                                                              Grammar

                                                                              Comprehension

                                                                              Writing

                                                                              Lesson Planner

                                   

                                     Theme 2 Side By Side

 

*Supplemental materials may change as curriculum committee completes its work.