Third Grade - Jen Lee

I went to Concordia University, Irvine and graduated with a B.A. in Liberal Studies in December of 2000, and earned a California Teaching Credential in July of 2001.  I am currently working on a Master’s Degree in Children’s Literature from Hollins University in Roanoke, VA.  I just have to finish my thesis to finish the degree.  This is my seventh year of teaching overall.  I taught for four years at Hope Lutheran School in Daly City, CA and this is my third year of teaching at Shepherd of the Desert.  I have taught 3rd grade for all of those years, but one year in Daly City was a 3rd and 4th grade combination class.  My hobbies are singing, reading, writing, spending time with friends, and talking to my fiancée who lives in Fort Collins, Colorado.  I have many favorite Bible verses, but the one that has meant the most to me over the years is my confirmation verse. Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and of good courage, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  I have traveled many places, and moved several times, and this constant reminder that it is God who is sending me, so He will give me the needed strength to do the job set before me, has been a constant comfort.

Curriculum:
In Reading, we read stories with the themes Adventure, Traditions, Incredible Stories, Animal Habitats, Voyagers, and Smart Solutions.  We also read the trade books, The Courage of Sarah Noble, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, Stone Fox, and Ben and Me.  We work on many comprehension skills like cause and effect, fact and opinion, and main idea and details.

In English, we continue with the Shurley English curriculum, which focuses on memorizing English rules using jingles and labeling words and parts of speech in a variety of sentences.

In Math, we continue to make our basic facts fluent and automatic.  We add the skills of multiplication and division, and are multiplying a single-digit number by a two-digit number and beginning long division by the end of the year.  We also cover a variety of word problems, fractions, measurements, calendar, and time skills.

In Science, we learn about animals and their habitats, including a Food Web project.  We learn about matter and its properties, and force and motion. 
In Social Studies, we focus on communities.  This includes the basic definition of a community and what it provides for its population, but we also cover how communities change over time and in relation to their location and geography.  We learn about some different cultures, and about our own government and economy.

In Bible Study, we begin with Creation and the stories of early Genesis, then study Moses and the Israelites in detail.  We spend the season of Advent learning about the events before Jesus’ birth, and the season of Lent learning about the week before Easter Sunday.  We end the year learning about Paul and his journeys.

3rd graders also learn cursive handwriting, both lower- and upper-case.

Edline

Schoolnotes

The thing I love most about Shepherd of the Desert is the people.  The parents and families are supportive and generous with their time and talents.  The staff is amazing.  I have never had the opportunity to work with such a great group of people.  I not only greatly respect them as colleagues and educators, but truly like them as people.