the "BIG" shift to "reading to learn"...

A shift in the area of reading occurs when students move from grade 2 to grade 3.  Students move from "learning to read" to "reading to learn".  This means that the students will be reading more non-fiction passages and using strategies to find information in the text.  Some girls love reading informational text (or non-fiction) and for others it can be difficult.  As with any area of reading, it is important to read, read, read to expose yourself to new vocabulary and different types of writing.

Here are some links to online resources that are already on my "READING" tab at the top of my blog that I wanted to point out to you (these sites have both articles and activities):

Time for Kids
Highlights
NWF

You may also want to consider checking out some non-fiction books from either our school library on Tuesday mornings this summer or a public library.

Building Reading Oral Fluency

 I can't believe how much has happened since I last posted on this blog - the 2013-14 school year ended, I traveled to Australia with my husband, celebrated a birthday, and began construction on a screened-in back porch!  It has all been wonderful and I will post some pictures another day.

Today I wanted to remind you to remember to read accurately when you read as well as fluidly and quickly.  Several students throughout the year came to the Think Tank and worked on building their oral reading fluency.  They did this by reading short passages aloud and timing and recording them.  They then went back and listened to them marking the words that they either changed or said incorrectly.  The girls then re-read and recorded the passages.  They did this several times and marked their progress on a chart to show their improvement.  Please don't hesitate to email me if you would like additional help with this process.

This is something that can be done easily without marking the errors - just read a page from any book aloud and record it and then go back and listen to it while silently reading along.  Sometimes we read through things so quickly we don't even realize the mistakes we make!

Something for my older students...

Here is a link to a great list of books for readers who are approximately 9-14 from National Public Radio.  Although many of our students can read books on higher levels than some of the books written for students their age, the content of these books may not be appropriate.  Please have your parents approve any title you choose to read and I can't wait to hear about them when we return to school!

P.S. Rising 4th graders can also put a comment on the "LS Book Club wiki" - Click here for a link to the Lower School Book Club Wiki

NPR's 100 must-reads

Since you already have gotten "started"...

 Why don't you create a "story" out of your "story starter" and make a little book?

Story Creator App

My Story App

Story Kit

Book Press - a book making app

Picturebook app

Story Robe

Getting ready for summer:)

     As we are winding down our days for this 2013/14 school year we are looking forward to the fun activities of summer.  Hopefully your summer (and mine!) will be filled with relaxing days doing what we would like to do, like swim, go to movies, play with friends, and just be plain lazy!  It is important that we also keep up our academic skills and I am going to write several posts with suggestions of things that your child (or you) can do over the summer.
     This focus of this post is on writing.  I am traveling to Australia in a couple of weeks and I bought a blank journal to take with me so that I can document our travels.  Journals or diaries can be lots of fun, but some folks just don't want to write daily.  Story starters are a great way to "kickstart" writing by giving you a topic sentence or idea to get you going.  I have included a google document with 42 Story Starters as well as several links below which have great ideas to get your thoughts flowing (one is a game that helps with building word fluency).

Scholastic

The Story Starter Jr.

Scribble - a word game

Story Starters from The Teacher Spot website (google document)

Final 3rd Grade Book Club 2013/14

I can't believe that this year has flown by so quickly!  Last week some of the 3rd graders and I got to enjoy two lunch breaks on the front lawn of Moss Hall.  On Wednesday our cafeteria served our lunch out front and on Thursday our book club gathered for the last time of this school year (with Mrs. Stephens as our special guest).  We shared book title suggestions for summer reads which I will add to our book club wiki (soon, I promise!!) - Lower School Book Club wiki link  (remember to use your full St. Mary's email address and your St. Mary's email password to log-in).  If you have any trouble accessing the wiki let me know.  Thanks to Mrs. Moore for the delicious cookies and her support all year!  We have LOVED hearing about the great books that you have read this year and look forward to hearing about your new finds next fall:)

Spring Fun Activities

Here are some fun websites for Springtime activities:

Blooming Gardens

Spring Match Game

Mother's Day Rush (like the Rush Hour Puzzle game)

Spring Slide Puzzle

Spring Word Search