Education and Reference Q&A
Advice needed from third status teacher!?
I moved to a different area a few years ago and have been trying since I get here to get a job in the public conservatory system. I finally succeeded and have been given a third grade classroom. My setting is in PreK and Kindergarten (I taught these grades for 8 years in another state). I hold worked with inner city, affluent, and rural schools. I feel I enjoy strengths in classroom management, writing, science, social studies, organization, and dealing beside parents (both the easy and the difficult). I was so excited to get a undertaking, but now that school will be starting in a week, I am looking for some give support to with the following issues.My main concern is about reading. I am impracticable to teaching reading to this age level and do not really know how to start. I plan to follow textbooks, manual, and lesson plans from the last year left in the classroom. Someone told me that you can't school reading to this age group in small groups. I wonder, why not? So how to begin?
I know I have 19 students, 4 will be ESE (Special Education students) though I do not know within what areas, I will have an aide for 5 hours a day to help work next to mainly the ESE students. My question here is what would you do with an aide for 5 hours if you have one or if you have had a similar experience? I want to use him or her to maximize learning among the students.
Lastly, I am wondering around 3rd grade students in general. They come across so old to me after working with the very youthful. Do they like to be treated like grownups? Do they like stickers? Are they still devoted to please? I know these are silly things to worry about but I do not want to baby them and be paid them feel silly.
Thanks for the input and please feel free to give guidance about anything 3rd grade related.
Answers:
I've qualified multi-age 1st-3rd for several years now and I also taught kindergarten. By far my favorite grade is 3rd. Why? Mostly they can read and read ably. Their writing is fun to read and it is fun to teach them because they can try different skills. Lastly they are so independent but still love school.
Yes, you will have to school some small group especially in reading / spelling for 3rd grade. Whoever said that is a poor mentor. You have to. You might get kids that have impulsive 2nd grade reading skills or writing skills. I do know that small group work in this grade isn't for every student necessarily. You will inevitability to spend way more time with a certain group of kids(lower ones) track more than say the older ones.
I suggest Fountas Pinnell Benchmarks book (brand new)- great resource because it pinpoints specific things to be taught contained by this age group.
I use words their way for spelling / vocab study. Easy to follow workbooks that differentiate.
I would use a writers and reader's workshop model for literacy.
I am not a 3rd grade teacher, but I am a trainer for 10 years now and think you are starting in the right place. Asking around other 3rd graders will help you a lot (It helped me when I go from 7th to 8th and that is only one year different).
For teaching Reading I would take advice but also check out a couple of places I suggest below which may help you get a better perceive...
1. Check with your local library and ask what the hot books for 3rd graders are. Start reading them so you know what they are into. Get a range so that you know what higher and lower reader enjoy.
2. Go to a teacher store and look at or buy some of the summer lesson books they offer (Like What every 3rd grader should know stuff) or other learning resources that suggest they are for 3rd grade.
3. Talk to the other 3rd grade teachers within your new school. They will help if you ask contained by a polite way.
4. Check out TeachersPayTeachers.com They have thousands of lessons both for Dutch auction and FREE that might help guide you in your instruction.
5. State websites for teachers/test score recurrently give advice or tell what exactly a 3rd position student needs to know. In Illinois the state board of education has power points that explain the test and give advice on how to prepare students for them.
Congrats on the new post!! You will be great with the attitude that you need to ask for help and save learning. My guess is soon you will love this grade level.
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