Helping Your Child with Reading

Setting the Atmosphere

Help you child find a quiet, comfortable place to read.
Have your child see you as a reading model by reading often.
Read aloud to your child.
Discuss the stories that you read together.
Stop and talk about parts of the story that may surprise you, remind you of something that has happened to you, or reminds you of another book.
Keep reading time enjoyable and relaxed.

When Your Child Comes to an Unfamiliar Word…

Give your child “wait time” and see what he/she attempts to do to help him/herself before you intervene.
Ask, “What do you think that word could be?”
Suggest rereading the sentence or the last couple of sentences.
Suggest skipping the word and reading on, then return to ask, “Now what do you think it is?”
Try chunking the word while thinking about what would make sense.

Book Choices

Book choices that are easy...

You can read all the words
You can read it smoothly- fluently
Won’t take a lot of time or effort
Very easy to understand

Book choices that are “just-right”...

You can learn things
You like the book
You can read almost all the words
You understand almost all of it
You may have read it before

ü These should be the books you’re reading most of the time

Book choices that are challenging...

ü It has many words you don’t understand
It doesn’t make sense to you
You don’t have the background
You’re not interested in the topic
If it’s confusing, it may be too hard.
Sometimes it’s OK to read these, but
Not very often
Not for very long

Most Importantly...

Reading at home should be a positive experience for both you and your child. Providing time to read and having books available are keys to your child’s reading success. Most importantly, focus on what your child is doing well.

Writing in Grade 3

A writer’s notebook is used as a tool to help writers capture their ideas. These ideas can then be cultivated into published pieces as the children learn about the writing process and the craft of writing.

Writing Process:

Planning
First draft
Selection of Writing Piece and Revision
Edit
Publish

Various Genre Writing Includes:

Poetry
Non-fiction
Personal Narrative
Interview Writing
Letter Writing
Reflective writing

Word Study

The purpose of word study in 3rd grade is to specify developmentally appropriate spelling features in order to improve the children’s knowledge of word structure, thereby helping to improve their reading and writing abilities.
Children are taught to use a variety of spelling strategies.
Children learn to spell specific high frequency words, based on their individual needs.

Report Card Outcomes and Indicators

Students will become writers.

Generates ideas
Develops voice by taking risks and revealing who he/she is
Uses words and phrases that create a picture in the reader’s mind
Uses writing process to publish a piece of writing
Demonstrates an appropriate use of conventions
Organizes writing pieces
Uses knowledge of writers craft and text features to enhance writing

Students will become independent readers.

Practices and uses comprehension strategies being taught
Chooses appropriate books independently
Reads for a sustained period of time
Recognizes writer’s craft and text features in a genre

Students will be comfortable as speakers and listeners

Conducts research about world communities
Shares conclusions about world communities with others

Kristy Kaiser	Rm 159
Jacqueline Vear (Tromp)	Rm 158
Samantha Tracy / Erin Brodarick	Rm 155
Emma Mirsky	Rm 157

Cutchogue East Elementary SchoolOur Kids, Our School, Our CommunityTogether We Make A Difference

Third Grade

Cutchogue East Elementary School

Cutchogue East
Elementary School
Our Kids, Our School, Our CommunityTogether We Make A Difference