On Wednesday, March 30th, twenty third grade students in the district’s ALPHA reading program visited Greenview Upper Elementary, where they had an opportunity to participate in a culminating learning activity. This marked the very first time that the students were together in the same classroom. Previously, the students had solely interacted online through a classroom blog by answering and commenting on discussion questions related to assigned readings. The ALPHA Reading program is designed to strengthen the academic abilities of students who have been identified as being gifted in the reading content area.
During the combined group lesson, Mrs. Marcia Armbruster asked the students to use their creativity and critical thinking skills by inventing a new word. Students elaborated by writing a dictionary definition, identifying the new word as a noun, verb or adjective, using the word in a sentence, as well as explaining its proper pronunciation. Students were then directed to create an advertisement to promote their newly invented word. Once completed, each student had an opportunity to share and discuss their new word with the rest of the class. To celebrate the conclusion of their joint learning activity, Mrs. Armbruster and her students enjoyed a pizza party together. Congratulations to our third grade ALPHA reading program students for a job well done!
