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 Program
Components
Each year Alabama Christian Academy accepts 48 students into the third grade program. There are two teachers with 24 students in each classroom.
Our academic program includes reading, language, spelling, handwriting, math, science, social studies, and Bible. Also, each day students visit centers used to reinforce social and academic skills. Our third graders receive physical education for 30 minutes every day, as well as enjoy a recess period each Friday. In addition, they receive art, music, and library instruction once a week. |
Language
Arts
The third grade classes at ACA utilize the Harcourt Reading Series. A variety of stories are given in the basal reader. Trade books such as the following are included throughout the year: The Chalk Box Kid, Chocolate Fever, Polar Express, Striped Ice Cream, Ramona Quimby Age Eight, and The Shoeshine Girl, which are read in class with many related activities to enhance the comprehension. In addition, third grade uses the Accelerated Reader program in order to encourage reading.
Language is taught with the Harcourt Reading Series. Students study basic sentence structure and parts of speech. Included in this study are the importance of correct paragraph form and the use of punctuation. Students apply these skills in many creative-writing activities.
Third grade spelling is taught using the Harcourt Program. Fifteen spelling words are given each week, and an additional five are also included. Spelling patterns and phonics are emphasized in this program.
In Handwriting, the Zaner-Bloser Program is used. Cursive script is taught throughout the year. |
Math
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's Math Expressions program is used in third grade. This program focuses on basic computation skills with an emphasis on problem-solving activities. This series incorporates many manipulatives and hands-on activities. Third grade math topics include basic and advanced addition, basic and advanced subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, geometry, and graphing. Third grade students are required to memorize the multiplication tables from 0-12.
Science
In science, the third grade uses the A-Beka series, Exploring God's World, along with hands-on experiments and at-home projects. This science series teaches science from a Christian perspective. Third grade science topics include vertebrates, invertebrates, ocean life, plants, the 5 senses, weather, machines, states of matter, and the solar system.
Social Studies
Social studies is taught using the MacMillian/McGraw-Hill text. Communities in the United States, past and present, are the focus of the curriculum. Within each lesson is a mini-lesson with information highlighting foreign communities. As an application of topics studied in social studies, students will complete many projects throughout the year. |
Technology
Third graders are exposed each week to many aspects of technology through a twelve-computer, wireless lab. They receive 40 minutes of technology instruction each week. In addition to learning basic Spanish words, core subjects are enhanced with the use of programs such as Reading Blaster and Math Blaster. They also receive beginning training in the use of MS PowerPoint. Additionally, 3rd graders use the computers in their classrooms for Accelerated Reader, a school-wide reading education program which encourages students to read novels independently. |
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