Junior Great Books

Third grade has officially completed our first ELA curriculum, Jacob’s Ladder. We’ve now moved onto Junior Great Books! So far, the response from the class has been extremely positive and kids are excited to try Shared Inquiry this week. This is a method of teaching and learning that enables students to explore the ideas, meaning, and themes from the stories (mostly folktales) we read in class. It centers on interpretive questions that have more than one reasonable answer and can lead to engaging and insightful conversations about the text.  Shared Inquiry is based on the idea that students can gain a deeper understanding of a text when they work together and listen to others’ perspectives. The most difficult part is that students lead the conversations, and I am merely a listener! It’s hard to not impart my opinion, but it’s so exciting to hear what the kids come up with on their own.

Spelling- this week I DID NOT check the students’ spelling words for errors. We are now on our 14th week of spelling, and I expect that kids are copying the words correctly. The kids are still choosing their words, as we’ve always done, but I am no longer spell checking their list. They are literally copying from a printed list on their desk. I share this with you in case you happen to notice a spelling error on their list! (This is a little lesson on responsibility and concentration!)

I hope you’re all recovered and rested from the holidays and getting ready for the next! 

Monica