Hello families and students! I am thrilled to welcome you to our English Language Arts community. In third grade, reading and writing become powerful tools for exploring the world. Through daily reading groups, interactive read-alouds, and writer's workshops, our classroom is a place where every voice matters and every story counts.
Core Learning Focus
Reading Comprehension: Analyzing fiction and non-fiction texts to identify main ideas, central lessons, character traits, and text structures.
Writing Workshop: Crafting structured personal narratives, persuasive opinion essays, and research-based informational reports.
Vocabulary & Morphology: Mastering prefixes, suffixes, root words, and context clues to unlock complex texts.
Foundational Skills & Grammar: Standardizing punctuation, capitalization, sentence variety, and transition words in daily writing.
Classroom Expectations:
Read Daily: Aim for at least 20 minutes of independent reading each evening to build stamina and fluency.
Stay Curious: Ask questions about what you read and share your original ideas during class discussions.
Take Ownership: Track your reading goals, keep your binder organized, and revise your writing with pride.
Recommended Digital Resources
Epic!: Digital library for independent reading time and audiobooks.
Newsela: Differentiated non-fiction articles tailored to current events and science topics.
May your passion drive the energy you put forth in the pursuit of your academic goals this year. :)
*~ Reading Instruction~*
Becoming a reader and writer takes dedication and perseverance. When children learn how to communicate their ideas through different genres and mediums, they begin to discover how powerful writing can be. I enjoy teaching the fundamental skills that help children become successful readers and writers. These two subjects go hand in hand in helping us all better understand ourselves. When we discover who we are and what we are passionate about, we can begin to find careers and develop ways to make a difference in the world and in the lives of others. Advancing our reading and writing skills will build our confidence on how we communicate with the world. Most importantly, it allows the process of reflection to unfold naturally, and that is when children begin to discover who they are and what they connect with. A print-rich environment is essential in promoting literary skills. The reading instruction that takes place during the reading class is enriching, core comprehensive, and encompasses the right skills to help children read for understanding. Many of the novels we read have worldly settings, universal themes, and are designed to target deep level questioning. Throughout the course of the year, children will frequently generate higher-level thinking questions. Students will engage in important text analysis through culturally rich novels. The readers in this class remember some of the literature we dissect for years to come!
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If you are visiting this page as a class parent, I'm Mrs. Young, and I look forward to meeting you. I am teaching Third Grade Literacy instruction this year. In previous years I have taught the Gifted & Talented program at Defino Central consisiting of REACH, PEP and Gifted Literacy. Prior to that, I have taught grades one through five in the surrounding area. This will be my sixteenth year as an elementary school educator and it will be my 13th year teaching at Defino.
My career as an educator officially began when I pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University at Albany. Subsequently, I furthered my education with a Master’s degree in Elementary Education at Monmouth University. Additionally, in 2013, I completed Georgian Court University’s certification program to teach students with disabilities. I welcome the opportunity to communicate with you throughout the school year, and I'll be available to answer any questions that may arise. If you need to contact me, please feel free to email me at: [email protected]
