Our multi-age second and third grades continue to foster skills in literacy and mathematics.  Reading texts become longer, and the font becomes smaller!  Our students gain proficiency in sight words and hone their decoding skills using many strategies (context clues, phonics, and subject matter knowledge).  A greater emphasis is placed on non-fiction texts.  

In mathematics the groundwork is laid for future mathematical skills.  The base-ten skills are more solid as children master addition and subtraction facts to 20 and use that knowledge for re-grouping to solve three-digit problems.  Students continue to develop strategies for word problems, and two- and three-step problems.

Our third graders take the New York State tests in English Language Arts and Mathematics.  We use these results to improve our curriculum and instruction approaches.  These tests occur in the spring of each year.  

Science continues to be a hands-on approach.  Literacy and Math become integrated into the Science lessons and experiences.  Our students make predictions in writing, and then write the conclusions. Using the scientific method at this young age promotes critical thinking.  

Social Studies lessons expand to build knowledge of local communities.  We continue to practice map skills.