What Kids Should Learn in Reading In the area of reading, the teacher’s principle goal is that the children view reading as central to learning and as a source of endless information and enjoyment. The teacher also wants each child to gain confidence about being a successful reader. More specifically, the third grade curriculum is designed to ensure that children: The teacher continues to support invented or transitional spelling, but children are encouraged to pay more attention to What Kids Should Learn about Listening and Speaking The oral aspects of language are important and are closely related to the development of children’s reading, writing, and thinking skills. Teachers allow children to gain considerable experience in telling and retelling stories, speaking informally, sharing information with classmates and visitors, leaving and taking telephone messages, and distinguishing fact from make-believe. Focused discussion activities are also important; here the teacher guides the children in a slightly more formal discussion of a selected topic. In addition, children participate in readers’ theater and plays. They read poetry aloud, learning to match their volume and inflection to the demands of the subject matter. The teacher helps them explore the differences in intensity of various words and speech patterns. Reprinted from 101 Educational Conversations with Your 3rd Grader by Vito Perrone, published by Chelsea House Publishers Copyright 1994 by Chelsea House Publishers, a division of Main Line Book Co. All rights reserved.
