News from the 3rd Grade classroom
“There is no real ending. It’s just the place where you stop the story.”
— Frank Herbert
Third Grader Tommy takes questions after reading his story.
This past week, the Third, Fourth and Fifth Graders finally got to read (just read) their stories out loud to one another for the pure enjoyment of it. The kids had worked for weeks critiquing, polishing and perfecting their stories and now was their chance to present their final versions. For once, finally, there were no rubrics and no judgements.
Until this point, most lessons for Language Arts had consisted of a mini-lesson, in which a student learns a new skill, followed by a twenty to thirty minute writing workshop in which students try out that new skill. The process is focused on giving students new abilities every class or two, layering skill after skill in a way that slowly builds the students’ writing muscles. Students have been working now for weeks to shape stories that are, in some cases, nearly twenty pages long.
With all of the analysis that often takes place surrounding the work that’s done at school, sometimes it’s nice to just sit back and listen to a good yarn and enjoy compelling characters.
Nevaeh takes some questions after having read her story to Fourth and Fifth Grade.
The video below features a typical interaction between students, as Ethan reads his story and then responds to thoughts from the audience. Listen as students discuss the elements of storytelling and how they relate to Ethan’s story.
And, for more stories and question and answer sessions with the Third Graders… check out the video below. Each ‘session’ last about thirty seconds, and you can skip through the video to find your child’s reading!
And now, some excerpts from the Fourth and Fight Grade readings…
Green Beans, Green Beans… and Did I Mention Green Beans?
During the week leading up to Thanksgiving, PNA participated in an annual tradition, gathering green beans to take to Anchorage’s Thanksgiving Blessing on November 19th, sponsored by the Food Bank of Alaska. PNA students gathered hundreds of green bean cans this year, participating with community volunteers from around Anchorage to provide a delicious and nutritious holiday meal for those less fortunate.
For more information on the Thanksgiving Blessing, and for ways that you can help the whole year round, please click on the link below to check out the Food Bank of Alaska website.
