Literacy

So many things happen in the areas of literacy (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) each day in second and third grade.

A daily reading group provides opportunities for all aspects of literacy. A group might do some word study. That could include studying vocabulary that will be found in a text. They might concentrate on the syllable patterns in the words, learn about meaningful word parts, such as word “roots,” or study about the meaning of a word’s suffix. Word study could include phonemic awareness, which could mean learning the phonetic rules of sound spellings. This is part of mastering the common core standard listed here:

• 3.L.2.f        Use spelling patterns and generalizations (e.g., word families, position-based spellings, syllable patterns, ending rules, meaningful word parts) in writing words.    

Here, students are reviewing the two sounds that “oo” typically make. They choose a card, read the word, and decide in which column it belongs.

Students might study spellings of long “i”, including “igh,” as in light”, “i __e,” as in twice, and “ie,” as in “lie.”

Then there is actual reading.

These students are reading a “Little House” chapter book.Some days, reading is independent and there may be a question to respond to:Other days, students might discuss the reading with one another and the teacher, answering questions by referring to the text. All along, students are reading with purpose and understanding, using context to conform and self-correct as they read.

You may have noticed all the following standards addressed in reading group.

• 3.RF.4.a       Read on-level text with purpose and understanding.
• 3.RF.4.b       Read on-level prose and poetry orally with accuracy, appropriate rate, and expression on successive readings
• 3.RF.4.c       Use context to confirm or self-correct word recognition and understanding, rereading as necessary. 
• 3.RL.1          Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.

Some days, students will work on grammar, mechanics, and usage.  Working on capital letters, making compound sentences, and building words are all important, useful writing skills.

Knowing when to capitalize words (holidays product names, geographic places) are all necessary to become strong writers.  Writing more sophisticated compound sentences also supports strong student writing.  Looking at letters to build words with specific vowel patterns helps support spelling.

Students built these compound sentences after discussing with a partner different endings the sentences could have!

Literacy time is a fun time to learn many new skills.