Third Grade Highlights
Response to Intervention:
All third grade students participate in Math and Communication Arts Response to
Intervention Groups (RTI). During RTI, students are grouped according to enrichment,
progressing or re-teaching needs based on pre-assessment data collected by
classroom teachers. Common formative assessments are administered frequently
throughout the unit of study in order to monitor student progress. Students remain in the
same RTI group or shift groups based on these test results. A common summative
assessment is given at the end of each unit to chart and compare student, class, and
grade level growth. After the summative assessment, RTI groups are reorganized and
arranged based on student need.
Standards Based Grading:
During the 2012-2013 school year, the third grade team transitioned from a letter grade
scale to a standards based method of assessment. Reporting topics in each subject
area were derived from state Grade Level Expectations and Common Core Standards.
In order to ensure consistency, the third grade team created and selected common
formative and summative assessments and assignments to be used in each classroom.
Various rubrics were also created for long term writing publications and projects.
Students’ scores on these activities were placed in an excel spread sheet used for
student data tracking and quarterly grade reporting. Because of standards based
grading teachers and parents are given a consistently updated and detailed record of
how students are performing in different areas across each subject.
Assessment Binders:
This school year, each third grade student is required to update and maintain an
assessment binder. This binder houses assessments given to students throughout the
school year across all subject areas. It also includes students’ writing pieces and
scoring rubrics as well as monthly reading fluency progress. Assessment binders have
proven to be a great way for students to set goals for themselves and track their
progress. The binders also serve as a wonderful reference tool for teachers.
Consistent and Concise Planning:
Collaboration is a top priority among third grade teachers. Weekly, all teachers gather
together in order to determine curricular objectives that are to be taught in the
upcoming week. During planning periods, teachers brainstorm and share lessons and
teaching strategies to use in their classrooms. The “3rd Grade Share Drive”, an
accessible common hard drive for all teachers, contains lesson plans, activities and
assessments that can be utilized and shared by any teacher at any time.
Thanks to Professional Learning Communities, the Third Grade Team has seen significant
gains in our grade level’s student Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) scores. Below is
data highlighting “The Fab Four” GLE’s most assessed on the MAP test. These GLE’s
drove RTI instruction and SMART goal development.
MATH
MAP Test Grade Level Proficiency
D1C:
N3C:
M1D:
A2A:
Represent/Interpret Data
Compute Problems
Count and Compute Money
Represent and analyze math situations using algebraic symbols
COMMUNICATION ARTS
MAP Test Grade Level Proficiency
RIH: Develop and apply skills/strategies to the reading process
R2C: Literacy Elements –Fiction, poetry, and drama
R3C: Text Structure – Evaluate nonfiction
W2E: Conventions