Mystery Readers

We have many dates still available for mystery readers this year! We would like to invite all of our students' families to visit our classroom as a mystery reader. The children LOVE when parents, siblings, grandparents, and other special family members visit and share stories with the class. It's something that the third graders always remember! Readers visit our classroom on Fridays at 2:30. The reader will share a book (you can bring one or I will select one for you) and then the third graders will ask you a few questions about yourself as a reader. Please see the list of available dates and let me know if you are interested:

Oct. 28

Nov. 4
Dec. 2

Dec. 9

Jan. 6

Jan. 13

Jan. 20
Jan. 27
Feb. 3
Feb. 24
Mar. 2

Thank you to the parents that have already signed up. You are welcome to be a mystery reader more than once if you'd like! :)

Cliff Hanger

This week, we will be enjoying the story Cliff Hanger together as a class. We will use this story to learn new vocabulary, practice comprehension strategies and learn about cause/effect. By clicking on the picture of the story below, you will be able to learn about the story and the author. Your child will also be able to practice this week's vocabulary by playing the E-Word Game.

Apples to Apples

We love to use board games in our classroom to boost motivation and build skills at the same time! Our ACT teacher, Mrs. Messerschmitt, recently taught our class how to play the game "Apples to Apples". This game is an awesome tool to expand vocabulary and grammar skills! The game involves comparing one adjective to several nouns. Each player chooses a noun that best matches the given adjective. One player is the "judge" and decides which noun the adjective describes best. This a fun game for the whole family!

To order this game online ($10.56 + $4.95 shipping), please follow this link.

Reading Logs

The third graders will read A LOT of books this year! Each day, the children will keep track of the books that they are reading on their Reading Log. Every student will have a reading log and will use it to record books and set individual goals. At the end of each month, we will analyze the kinds of books (mystery, realistic fiction, fantasy, etc.) that the readers are selecting. Each time I meet with a reader, we will look over his/her reading log to make sure they are choosing "just right" books from a variety of genres. Here are some of our readers in action...

Book Nooks

During independent reading, the third graders love to curl up with a good book in our "book nooks" around the classroom. We usually have soft, classical music playing while the students read. Check out a few of our students enjoying our reader's workshop...

Reader's Workshop

This week, the third graders learned the routines and expectations for our Reader's Workshop. We will read every day! Each workshop will begin with a whole-group reading strategy lesson on the carpet area of our classroom. The students will then go to their quiet places around the room, book nooks, for independent reading. While the children are independently reading, I will meet with readers individually and in small groups. 

Books we've read together the first two weeks of school: