Reading Fair

You probably already know by now that students have a reading project due in January. It is the student's job to read a book and create the project in their own time. Please let me know if you need help. To get some great ideas, google "reading fair". Look at the images that come up. You will see some great ideas. The more creative the better!

Fluency

An important part of reading is fluency. Not only are students tested regularaly on their fluency, it is important to comprehension that students are able to read in a fluent manner. Because of this, we practice fluency in the classroom. To practice at home have your child read aloud a paragraph a couple of times a week. If they are having trouble, do an echo read. You read a sentence first, then they read it. Or you can read at the same time, together. This is called a choral read. Here is a picture of students reading poetry chorally.

RED RIBBON WEEK

This week we celebrated Red Ribbon Week. This is a D.A.R.E. activity that celebrates being drug and alcohol free. Students were encouraged to sign a pledge against drugs and alcohol. One of the activities was to create a drug free door decoration. This is ours!

Drawing Conclusions

A big focus in third grade reading, is drawing conclusions. This means using clues that they have read to determine something untold in the story. For example if I read, "After Melanie took a bite of the fruit, she squinched her eyes and pursed her lips". What fruit did Melanie read? How do you know? The answer: Melanie ate a lemon. I know because when you eat a lemon you squinch your eyes and purse your lips because it is sour. Today I gave each group of students a old cell phone and a script. Students read the script and their classmates had to determine what they were "talking" about. Then explain how they know.

Reader's Theater

To increase fluency, I am using a research-based strategy called Reader's Theater. Students each get a short play to read out loud. They practice several times before performing in front of the group. The increased practice helps students become more confident in their reading and more fluent. They are better able to read with expression and fluency.

In all fairness

One of the things I pride myself on is fairness. I think it is important to be fair with students. This does not mean all students will be treated the same. They are all different, and I treat them as such. But I know that I am human. I can not be everywhere, and I can not see everything. Sometimes I make mistakes. I admit it. One of the things I tell students is if they have a question, or feel I have made a mistake; they are to calmly speak to me about it. Tell me what happened. I am not afraid to admit my mistakes, even to a child. Even to you. I spoke recently to a parent and child about this. I just wanted to share.

Strategic Grouping

While students are completing their daily 5 routines, this frees my time up. I am able to pull small groups of students to my table to work on skills they need. Students work independently or in pairs to focus on select skills. When the skill has been retaught, they are able to retake tests to hopefully replace their low scores. Other students recieve small group enrichment to keep their grades and interest high. Students are also able to meet with me individually so that I can listen to them read and monitor their progress, high or low.

Daily 5

I am so excited to say that Daily 5 is underway. We have all five dailies introduced. During reading, students choose between five reading activities we call "dailies". They may choose to Read to Self, Read to Someone, Listen to Reading, Word Work, and Work on Writing. Students are responsible for doing two dailies each day and each daily twice a week. For accountability, students must complete the word work activity and show what they have done independently in work on writing. Here's a picture of what we do.

Testing

This week we took our first test. We have been working hard on drawing conclusions and story mapping. Students get the concepts but have a hard time writing their thoughts down. I am increasing the daily practice so that students are better able to express themselves. At home, do the same. Have them write more. Pay special attention to the writing they do in their homework. Make sure they can express themselves completely and accurately. This will help increase their scores.

Homework

I have spent the weekend grading homework packets. While the grades are not recorded, I think it is a good practice to inform you and your student the range of their effort. Homework is an important extension of school learning. If your student is recieving good effort grades on the homework, then you know they are able to recieve good grades in the classroom. With that being said, I have a few notes. Please make sure your child is reading and following directions. Many times, all the information they need is included in the packet. For example, this week I noticed that when asked to put a suffix on root words, many students added a prefix instead. When students were asked to write the new word and its meaning, many students only wrote the new word NOT the meaning. Also for the writing portion of the packet a specific writing prompt is posed. Students should not just write what they wish, or copy from a book they enjoy. When the story planner asks for a reflection, this does not mean a definition of the word. I would instead like them to reflect on what they felt after the events in the story had taken place. Be sure you are carefully looking at their homework, especially now at the beginning of the year. As the year goes on, I expect they will be able to do it independently, but this independence needs to be built. Thank you for all your help in your child's education. Be sure to call if you have any questions before the second packet is due on Friday.

First Week

What a wonderful first week. It was hard at first getting to know the names of students in all three classes, but I finally think I have a handle on it. I am so excited to say that the second grade teachers did a bang up job. These third graders are well-trained in Daily 5. They have hall basics down pat, and they know how to listen and read for stretches of time. In fact, the students are so advanced at Daily 5 that I have had to adjust my reading plans. Instead of slowly introducing the parts of daily 5 and building stamina, I am able to fast track. This coming week I will be introducing two new parts of daily 5, Work on Writing and Word Work. I had planned to spend a week on each of the five components of Daily 5, but I won't need to! It is also important to note, that I will need to move thier first reading test up from August 28 to the 26th. The test didn't change, only the date. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. The included picture is sideways, but shows students practicing Read to Self.