Reading
This will be my second year using the Wonders reading curriculum in third grade. Wonders is designed to help all students enjoy reading. Through many different stories, students learn comprehension skills, phonics, vocabulary, grammar, and writing. We will have a large focus on phonics, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and reading fluency. It is important that your child reads at home for at least 10 minutes a night to help them become a better reader. I encourage you to read with them, if you would like, because when your child follows along they will become a better reader and get exposure to new vocabulary! I am excited to use Wonders in class again this year and I hope the students like it too!
Novels
Novels are a great way to engage students in chapter books. Often times chapter books can be intimidating for young readers. Chapter books are a great way to teach reading strategies, skills, and build vocabulary. By reading them together and using them as tools to learn, students become more familiar with them. The goal is that they become better readers and develop a joy for reading! We will read a few novels together in class this year.
Mr. Popper's Penguins
Mr. Popper's Penguin's was originally written back in 1938. It is a timeless classic that is full of fun and adventure. The book is also packed full of penguins, so third graders really enjoy reading it! Students learn a lot of new vocabulary throughout the story. At the end of the book we will compare and contrast the book and the movie. The book and the movie are nothing alike, so this is a great book to start the year, even for those who have seen the movie.
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane was written in 2006 and it is about a china rabbit who does not know how to love and finds himself lost at sea. This story is the opposite of our first novel. The first novel we read is fun and playful, but the story of Edward Tulane is a bit more serious. Students learn a lot about character traits in this story as Edward moves from one owner to another. There is not a movie that goes with this book, but there is lots to learn from each owner that cares for Edward along his journey to self-discovery.