Third grade classes will be exploring examples of author's use of language.  Students will learn about similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, rhyme, alliteration, and onomatopoeia.   Classes will also be learning about character point of view and theme.

    ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Some of the activities that your child will be involved with during reading time are: meeting with their teacher for guided reading, independent reading using  post-it notes, self-selected reading, reading responses (BCRs), poetry response questions, journal letters, guided reading work, and literature circle work.  

1)  Journal Letters:

       Students are self-selecting a book to read each morning.  One day a week (or every other week), they will write a letter to the teacher reflecting on this book.  The book does not have to be finished in order to write the letter.  These letters will be graded with a rubric (4,3,2,1).  The letters must include thoughtful reflections about the book and not just summaries.  Keep in mind that thoughtful reflections need to incorporate information from the book to support the reflection being made (it also helps for students to look at the "Thoughtful/Personal Reflections" page, that is pasted into their reading spiral, if they are having difficulty making reflections).  Students should also keep in mind that a summary is not a description about everything that happened in the book.  Instead they are choosing the main ideas about what has been read so far and supporting only those main ideas.  Teachers have been modeling how to write a thoughtful journal letter and how to earn a 4 on the rubric.  Teachers will continue to write letters to their students so they will constantly be exposed to good journal letters and will know what their teacher's expectations are.  These letters receive two grades.  One for content (this counts toward their reading grade) and one for mechanics.      

Click Here for a list of Thoughtful/Personal Reflections questions

2) Brief Constructed Responses:

  When your child answers a brief constructed response (BCR) they will be expected to:  

·         Answer the question (students should not turn the question around since the amount of space they have to write their answer doesn't permit it).

·         Include the topic/main idea stated in the question.

·         Include details and examples from the text to support the answer.

·         Make meaning of the facts and details by restating them in their own words (paraphrasing).

·         Use specific vocabulary related to the topic (key words from the text)

Sample BCR Questions

BCR Format

BCR Samples

Writing: Writing to Inform

Students will continue researching Mexican celebrations, music, and dance. Once they have found a sufficient amount of information, they will begin writing their informative paragraphs.  Students will be expected to include hooks, transitions, supporting details, and voice in their paragraphs.  After writing their first paragraph, students will then research their next topic: food or clothing.

Mrs. Tabor's Math Class:

Ms. Higginbotham's Math Class:

Ms. Higginbotham's class will review for the unit test by playing Jeopardy on Tuesday and Wednesday.  The test will be given on Thursday and Friday.

Mrs. Wolfe & Mrs. Paschall's Math Class:

Return to Top of Page