Reading for 3rd grade Teachers....?

Question

Do any of you 3rd grade teachers read novels in class like Charlottes Web or do you do literature circles. Is 3rd grade too young to be doing novels as a class or literature circles?

I am talking about the students reading the book also and doing activities on it.

Answer 1

I have used novels a variety of different ways with third grade.

I would read one novel per six weeks. Sometimes I would read and the students would listen. This type of novel tended to be 2-3 grade levels above their reading levels so that they were given more exposure.

Other times I would have a class set and we would read the novel together and make notes as we went along. I would have the students complete three sentance summaries at the end of each chapter so they would remember the important information and have something to go back to. The first time or two, I did this on chart paper and we hung our summaries around the room.

When I read Charlottes Web with my class, I assigned parts. I would read everything except what was inside the quotation marks. Then whoever was that character would be in charge of reading that section. They always had to keep up and understand what was going on in the store because many of them were not strong readers and therefore needed to hear what was being said.

I would only suggestion to literature circles if you are well structured and have great classroom management. Set the expectations very early on. I have used them and would meet with my higher reading groups 1-2 times per week but my lower ones would meet either every day or every other day with me. As long as you are well organized and planned, it can work with third graders. :)

Answer 2

I personally do a lot of read-alouds where I'll read a few chapters a day out loud to my students. The kids all sit attentively and really get into it. We also read some Boxcar children books together because I have class sets. Although picture books are nice for mini lessons, I find that longer novels can generate long-term projects or essays. A few years ago, we read Because of Winn Dixie, then went to see the movie in a theater. My students compared and contrasted the book with the movie.
I still to literature circles too. I spend about an hour and a half a day on reading/writing.

Answer 3

I read small novels in class like Charlottes web to the class as a whole. They really enjoyed. At the end of each chapter i spent about 1min asking one or two questions about the story and at the end of the book I showed them the cartoon about the book.

Answer 4

Again, it varies from school district to school district. In mine, for example, we can't teach books that are on some sacred list for other grade levels. I couldn't teach Charlotte's Web because it's considered a 5th grade book. Third grade is a tough grade for novels because most of the good novels have been reserved for older grades, and our list is shared with K-2. It's crazy! However, if I really like a book, and I know the grade directly above me isn't using it that year, I'll SO read it aloud to my class. This can be beneficial too, because it provides students a chance to just listen (a dying art). They can hear you use expression and read at a rate that's not too fast and not too slow. It helps them when they read, and they'll be eager to read like you if you do it well (accents are fun to try out). Reading novels aloud to students also gives them the opportunity to be exposed to books on a higher reading level than what they can read on their own. I can read 6th grade books to my 3rd graders, and they'll understand it. If they tried reading it on their own, they'd struggle.

Most school libraries have class novel sets you can use on your grade level. Keep in mind that some of your students won't be on grade level. You'll have kids coming in reading on a 1st grade level (sometimes even K or pre-K). You'll have to work up to novel studies with them. You can absolutley use novels with students who can handle it though.

Answer 5

Try it. I would not underestimate the minds of your children. I think that if you introduce it they will bite. Kids like to read you just have to introduce it well. I think the best way to go would be to have a reading circle so that they get more involved and they are not stuck in the same seat zoning out to the same thing they had been zoning out to for the last couple of hours.

It also makes the reading environment more intimate. as in the kids getting closer and interacting which is important to their development. Alot of children grow to be afraid to read in class because they were not put in the position to do so when they were younger.

Readin circle....go for it.

Answer 6

I love to read novels to my 3rd graders! I also read them to my 2nd graders when I taught that level.
I just finished Holes with my 3rd graders and they loved it! We had a great many discussions both in literature circles and whole group. We are starting a before school book club for 3rd and 4th grade students to discuss the books they are reading.
My daughter is in 2nd grade and their teacher just finished Stuart Little with them.
Go ahead and read to them! They will love it and so will you!

Answer 7

i used to visite 3rd grade teachers and read books to thier class. charlotts web is a great choice. the more advanced books they can follow and understand, the beter chance they have at being honors and ap and having a great chance at a great job. read to them using voice and feeling to capture thier attention and they will enjoy it. don't do a reading circle,, just have them sit around you and read.

Answer 8

it is good to start lit circles in first grade for fluent readers and use early chapter books such as Junie B. Jones
Second and Third graders love lit circles...keep the books at their instructional level of easier and remember that they love nonfiction esp. the Magic School Bus series...and they love Magic Tree house too!