3rd Grade

I grew up in Southwest Missouri in a family of six.  I have a bachelor's degree in History from the University of Missouri and a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Benedictine College.  This will be my 4th year teaching at Holy Family.  Prior to teaching, I was in the Army and spent several years living on the East Coast.  Since coming to Topeka, I have enjoyed living in this uniquely wonderful community.  

Stephanie Finder
3rd Grade Teacher
Holy Family Catholic School
JMJ

Portrait of a Mustang-3rd Grade
As 3rd Graders, students reach important milestones in their education. 3rd Grade is a wonderful year as students start to become more independent while they learn new things about the world around them and their role in it. The year starts with a basic question: What is our purpose? Throughout the year we return to this question to better understand that we are made to know, love, and serve God so that we may be happy with Him in Heaven. 

English Language Arts is a chance for students to make exciting discoveries about the world that God created. Students will become scientists to observe animals in their habitats so they may classify them. They will work with anatomy models to learn how the human body is an amazing set of systems working together. They will become historians and take a virtual field trip to Italy to learn about Ancient Rome and the early Church. The year culminates in the annual 3rd Grade Roman invasion of the school in which students construct catapults and conquer other classrooms. 

Their social and emotional growth will be fostered through the Religion curriculum and they will be challenged to connect Christian virtues with daily actions in their community. Students are encouraged to think about their values, strengths and interests, and how they can use these to guide them later in life. Using a skills explorer, they are given the opportunity to explore different careers that might interest them. Third grade is a big leap in students’ growth. All the while, we return to the beginning theme of discovering what purpose God has given us.