Third Grade

In Third Grade, our core subjects are Math, Language Arts, Reading, Spelling, Religion, Science and Social Studies.  Our students also have weekly classes in Art, Computer, Library, Music, PE and Spanish. ​
​

Our third grade has two homeroom classes, each with a lead teacher and an assistant. We have 20 students in each class, creating a student-teacher ratio of 10:1.  Mrs. Katie Howard is assisted by Mrs. Robin Edmison, and Mrs. Elaina Wingfield is assisted by Mrs. Betsy Godwin.

Math

Students in Kindergarten through Fifth Grade learn math using the GO Math! program and curriculum. 
Third grade skills include:

• Operations and place value
• Multiplication and division within 144
• Fractions
• Arrays and area
• Geometry (polygons, space figures, perimeter, area, volume)​
  

 Our faculty selected GO Math! after researching several options because the program's ability to deepen understanding of math concepts, develop real world applications and connections, and develop math vocabulary.  Read more about GO Math! here.
​
Timed fact tests for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division will be given weekly. 

Reading/English/Spelling 

Third graders focus on using story elements to understand a story.  Using both fiction and nonfiction, they learn strategies to decode words, comprehend literature, read with fluency and expand vocabulary. 
Stories are read in class, and comprehension and vocabulary are tested.  Novels are read aloud to the class each day.

Students will work to read 500 pages or more each quarter of the school year.  We also use the Accelerate Reading program to help students strengthen their reading skills and develop of love of reading. Our library is home 14,000 titles, and our librarians are skilled at helping students find books interesting to them. 

Third graders work on grammar, specifically in sentence structure and the use of nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs.  We use the 6+1 Trait Writing Program.  Our students will write a personal narrative, a how-to article, a research paper and opinion pieces. 

Religion

Celebrating our faith is integrated into everything we do at Saint Peter Catholic School. Religion is taught by Mrs. Tulis for 30 minutes Monday through Thursday.  However, all of our teachers keep Jesus at the center of their classroom. 
In Religion Class, Third Grade students will:

• Grow in faith
• Learn stories from the Bible, understand God's laws, serve Jesus and others, learn about the saints, pray the Rosary, and participate in Mass.
• Have 5th grade prayer partners and attend weekly Mass with them

Third Grade is a year of emphasizing growing student independence.  Part of this is bringing canned goods to make soup for the JOY Soup Kitchen in Greenville each Thursday, a tradition going back 25 years.  

Beyond the Classroom

Students in Second Grade have outdoor recess each morning and afternoon.  Physical activity is so important!  We also supplement learning through special projects and field trips.  The fall field trip is to A Time for Science in Grifton.  In March, we visit Sylvan Heights Bird Park.  In May, we visit Beaufort (also known as "the best field trip ever").   

​We also have several celebrations through the year, including a Happy Birthday Jesus Party, Valentine's Day Party,  and End of the Year Party.  We do not have a Halloween Party because of our school's massive and fabulous Halloween Carnival.  

Second Grade students get to participate in what we call NUT Days (No Uniform Today) each month during the year.  Students also get to have an extra NUT Day during their birthday month.  

Other activities the students get to enjoy include service projects, ​the Scholastic Book Fair in the fall and spring, Veteran's Day Mass, Grandparents and Special Friends Day, Catholic Schools Week, Pastor's Day Prayer Service and Breakfast, Spirit Week in February and Field Day in May.