District News

Following their non-fiction unit, third grade students at Bedwell Elementary School have been working diligently on a character studies literacy unit, where they focused on character development and inferencing skills. Teachers Sarah McShane and Grace Kartelias began by surveying the students about their favorite genres. Classroom book clubs were then created with students joining in groups of four. They had time to read in class, setting goals for their individual titles, and jotting notes and questions as their stories progressed. Their shared goals helped with accountability as students had to keep up with their peers, yet not read ahead. And by jotting notes, they were able to make predictions, highlight passages, and offer clarity if a book club member was confused about a given part. “I loved watching the students collaborate, take on a more active role in their own reading, and lead thoughtful discussions,” shared McShane. “One of the most rewarding parts of the book club is that the children are able to converse on a deeper level and build upon their peers’ ideas.” The third graders were also encouraged to develop theories about the characters based on patterns of behavior they noticed in their stories. They investigated how characters faced and reacted to challenges, and debated characters across book series with questions like, “Who is a better problem solver?” or “Who is braver?” and then supported their opinions by providing text evidence.

Following the district’s spring break, students were offered a myriad of culmination activities such as designing a travel brochure, compiling a mystery bag, and producing a slideshow. Having a variety of options allowed for creativity and self-expression. They also had a whole-class novel study on the book Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo. As is a Bedwell tradition, all of the third grade classes will gather together to recreate the memorable party from the end of the book. Students will be served the same quirky treats that are described in the book: pickles, "Dump Punch," egg salad for the adventurous eaters, and hard candies to represent the "Littmus Lozenge." Teachers plan to incorporate the movie adaptation into their celebration, which will surely result in lively discussions comparing and contrasting the book with the film.