DeKalb County School District

Elementary Standards & Grading Procedures

3rd Grade
Teacher: Anna Henderson, Mary Hogan, Dominique Latour Hopkins, Jennifer Pope, Stephanie Stephens, Glyndis White

School Phone Number: 678-874-2802

Email Address: see Hawthorne website

School Website Link: http://hawthornees.dekalb.k12.ga.us/

Third Grade students will receive instruction in Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE) for ELA and Math. Science, Social
Studies, Music, Health and Physical Education instruction will be based on the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS.) The
GSE and GPS standards can be found at www.ga.doe.org By the end of Third Grade students will:

GSE Reading Standards for Literature and Informational Text

Literature
Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a
text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
Recount stories, including fables, folktales & myths from
diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or
moral & explain how it is conveyed through key details.
Describe characters in a story and explain how their actions
contribute to the sequence of events.
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used
in a text, distinguishing literal from non-literal language.
Refer to parts of stories, dramas, & poems when writing or
speaking, using terms such as chapter, scene & stanza; describe
how each successive part builds on earlier sections.
Distinguish their own point of view from the narrator or
characters.
Explain how specific aspects of a texts illustrations contribute
to what is conveyed by the words in a story.
(Not applicable to literature)
Compare & contrast themes, settings, & plots of stories written
by the same author about the same or similar characters.
Read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and
poetry, at the high end of the grades 23 text complexity band
independently and proficiently.
Informational Text
Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a
text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and
explain how they support the main idea.
Describe the relationship between a series of historical events,
scientific concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text,
using language that pertains to time, sequence, & cause/effect.
Determine the meaning of general academic words and phrases
in a text relevant to a grade 3 topic or subject area.
Use text features and search tools to locate information relevant
to a given topic efficiently
Distinguish their own point of view from that of the author of a
text.
Use information gained from illustrations & the words in a text
to demonstrate understanding of the text
Describe the logical connection between particular sentences
and paragraphs in a text.
Compare and contrast the most important points and key details
presented in two texts on the same topic
Read & comprehend informational texts, including social
studies, science & technical texts, at the high end of the grades
23 text complexity band independently and proficiently.

GSE Reading Standards: Foundational Skills

Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.

Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

GSE Writing Standards

Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons.
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 DeKalb County School District

Elementary Standards & Grading Procedures

3rd Grade

Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.

Write narratives to develop real or imagined events with effective technique, descriptive details & clear sequences.

With guidance and support, produce writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task and
purpose.

With guidance and support, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, and editing.

With guidance and support, use technology to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with
others.

Conduct short research projects that build knowledge about a topic.

Recall information or gather information; take brief notes on sources and sort evidence into provided categories.

Write routinely over extended and shorter time frames for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.

GSE Speaking and Listening Standards

Engage effectively in collaborative discussions with diverse partners, building on others ideas and expressing their own.

Determine the main ideas and supporting details of a text read aloud or information presented in diverse media and
formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.

Ask and answer questions about information from a speaker, offering appropriate elaboration and detail

Report on a topic, tell a story, or recount an experience with facts & relevant details, speaking clearly at an acceptable
pace.

Create engaging audio recordings of stories or poems that demonstrate fluid reading at an understandable pace; add
visual displays when appropriate to emphasize or enhance certain facts or details.

Speak in complete sentences when appropriate to task and situation in order to provide requested detail or clarification.

GSE Language Standards

Demonstrate command of the conventions of English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

Demonstrate command of the conventions of English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.

Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning word and phrases based on grade 3 reading and
content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.

Demonstrate understanding of word relationships and nuances in word meanings.

Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate conversational, general academic, and domain specific words and phrases,
including those that signal spatial and temporal relationships

GSE for Mathematics:

Represent and solve problems involving multiplication and division.

Understand properties of multiplication and the relationship between multiplication and division.

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 DeKalb County School District

Elementary Standards & Grading Procedures

3rd Grade

Multiply and divide within 100.

Solve problems involving the four operations, and identify and explain patterns in arithmetic.

Use place value understanding and properties of operations to perform multi-digit arithmetic.

Develop understanding of fractions as numbers.

Solve problems involving measurement & estimation of intervals of time, liquid volumes & masses of objects.

Represent and interpret data.

Understand concepts of area and relate area to multiplication and to addition.

Recognize perimeter as an attribute of plane figures and distinguish between linear and area measures.

Reason with shapes and their attributes.

GSE for Science:

Investigate how heat is produced and the effects of heating and cooling

Investigate magnets

Observe things with many parts and describe the ways in which the parts influence or interact with one another

Represent objects in the real world with geometric figures, number sequences, graphs, diagrams, maps, and stories; and
compare/contrast these representations to their objects

Observe and compare objects, record findings accurately, and analyze data in order to answer their own questions

Use information about the relationship between the form and shape of an object and that objects use, operation, or
function to explain fossils, rock cycles, and features of plants and animals

Differentiate between habitants in Georgia and the organisms that live in our state

Recognize the effects of pollution and humans on the environment

GSE for Social Studies:

Describe early American Indian cultures and their development in North America.

Describe European exploration in North America.

Explain the factors that shaped British Colonial America.

Locate major topographical features on a physical map of the United States.

Locate and describe the equator, prime meridian, and lines of latitude and longitude on a globe.

Describe how physical systems affect human systems.

Describe the elements of representative democracy/republic in the United States.

Explain the importance of Americans sharing certain central democratic beliefs and principles, both personal and civic.

Define and give examples of the four types of productive resources.

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 DeKalb County School District

Elementary Standards & Grading Procedures

3rd Grade

Explain that governments provide certain types of goods and services in a market economy (schools, libraries, roads,
police/fire protection, and military) and pay for these through taxes.

Give examples of interdependence and trade and explain the benefits of voluntary exchange.

Explain the concept of opportunity cost as it relates to making a saving or spending choice.

GPS for Music

Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music

Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music

Reading and notating music

Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments

Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines

Listening to, analyzing, and describing music

Evaluating music and music performances

Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts Understanding music
in relation to history and culture

GPS for Physical Education:

Demonstrates competency in motor skills and movement patterns needed to perform a variety of physical activities.

Demonstrates understanding of movement concepts, principles, strategies, and tactics as they apply to the learning and
performance of physical activities.

Participates regularly in physical activity.

Achieves and maintains a health-enhancing level of physical fitness

Exhibits responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others in physical activity settings.

Values physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self expression, and/or social-interaction.

GPS for Health Education

Comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention to enhance health.

Analyze the influence of family, peers, culture, media, technology, and other factors on health behaviors.

Demonstrate the ability to access valid information and products and services to enhance health.

Demonstrate the ability to use interpersonal communication skills to enhance health and avoid or reduce health risks.

Demonstrate the ability to use decision-making skills to enhance health.

Demonstrate the ability to use goal-setting skills to enhance health.

Demonstrate the ability to practice health-enhancing behaviors & avoid or reduce health risks.

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Elementary Standards & Grading Procedures

3rd Grade

Demonstrate the ability to advocate for personal, family, and community health.

Core Instructional Materials and Resources (Textbook/Publisher/web links):

English Language Arts: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt StoryTown
Mathematics: Houghton Mifflin: Math Expressions & Math Georgia
Science: Harcourt Wild About Science
Social Studies: Houghton Mifflin Social Studies: Georgia

Passwords for Student Textbooks

1. Listed below are the websites, usernames, and access codes to retrieve online textbook resources per grade-level and
content area for grades K-5.
2. The same username and pass code can be utilized to access the Math, Science, and Social Studies online textbook.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS MATH, SCIENCE, AND SOCIAL STUDIES
Grade 3 www-k6.thinkcentral.com Username: http://www.eduplace.com/eservices Username:
3classdekalb 3classdekalb
Password: dekalbstudent3 Password: dekalbstudent3
Web Links for Parental Support

CompassLearning & Odyseey http://www.compasslearning.com

NetTrekker classic & Netrekker di (Differentiated Instruction) http://www.nettrekker.com

Information on standards-based education http://edinformatics.com/parents.htm

Resources, research tools, and grade-specific activities http://lightspan.com

Educational games for students and advice for parents http://school.discovery.com

English language Arts Web Links for Parental Support

Family Education http://school.familyeducation.com/reading/cognitive-development/38329.html

Web English Teacher http://www.webenglishteacher.com/readingmain.html

Websites http://kisdwebs.katyisd.org/campuses/PE/parentresources/Documents/Reading_Websites_For_Parents.pdf

Mathematics Web Links for Parental Support:

U.S. Dept. of ED. www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/Math/index.html
Bi-Lingual Math Ed. http://www.aaamath.com/
Math Education http://www.math.com/parents.html
Online Math Games http://www.coolmath4kids.com/

Science Web Links for Parental Support

Released test items from state testing program http://www.edinformatics.com/testing/testing.htm Ask-a-
scientist. http://www.madsci.org/

Genetics Resources written at the Elementary Level http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/

Volcanoes http://volcano.und.edu/

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 DeKalb County School District

Elementary Standards & Grading Procedures

3rd Grade

Web Site Associated with Textbook: www. thinkcentral.com and www.hspscience.com

Social Studies Web Links for Parental Support

Social Studies Sites for Elementary Students http://www.ortegaelementary.org/socialstudiessites.htm

National Geographic http://www.nationalgeographic.com/kids/

World Almanac for Kids http://www.worldalmanacforkids.com/explore/timeline.html

Statistical data for countries that are a part of the United Nations
http://www.un.org/Pubs/CyberSchoolBus/infonation/e_infonation.htm

Learn about everyday habits and customs from various cultures around the world. http://www.netlaputa.ne.jp/~tokyo3/e/

How to register to vote in the United States http://www.registervote.com/

Physical Education and Health Web Links for Parental Support

http://www.cdc.gov/NCCDPHP/DNPA/physical/recommendations/young.htm

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=2155

https://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/hl/fit/star/kfphyact.jsp

Grading Scale: Weighted Averages (Board Policy)

A = 90% 100% Excellent D = 70 Passing
B = 80% - 89% Good F = below 70 Failing
C = 71% - 79% Fair

Grading Policy:
Classwork/Participation - 40 % Projects 25%
Tests & Quizzes 30% Homework 5%

Homework Times for Grade 3:

Third Grade students should receive between 30 minutes to 45 minutes of content area homework per night and reading for
practice and/or pleasure can be beyond this time.