Como Third Grade Student taking an Accelerated Reader test. Our Teachers: Mrs. Munion Mrs. Thor Mrs. Thurber Welcome to 3rd grade at Como Park Elementary School. We have three busy classrooms full of students. In third grade we prepare our students for the major transition from being “a little kid” to being “a big kid”. We work hard to develop self-confidence and social skills through classroom community building activities. We strive to develop the independence and organizational skills necessary for success in the intermediate grades. Our curricular themes include maps and globes, solar system, healthy habits and decision making, and St. Paul history. Our field trips bring to life things we are learning in class. All students receive both large and small group reading instruction St. Paul History quilt each day. We use a variety of materials such as picture books, chapter books, fiction and non-fiction, news magazines, and our basal text. Students practice their skills by reading independently for 30 minutes daily using the Accelerated Reader program. We write each day using the Writer’s Workshop model. Our math curriculum, Everyday Math, stresses problem solving in concepts including place value to the millions, adding and subtracting  up to 4-digit numbers, multiplication, geometry, fractions and decimals. It provides many opportunities to use manipulatives and practice skills through partner work and games. We collaborate between classes and in the community to provide enrichment activities to challenge students. We have three Spelling Bees per year, enrichment math classes, and other special projects.