Creative Third Grade Authors: What Happens Next?

Our third graders at Victor Ornelas have decided they want to give back to their school by sharing their love of reading with the kindergarteners. In a “Reading Rainbow” style the students will choose books to read that are appropriate for the little guys. They will read the books individually or in pairs and collaborate on a “What Happened Next” chapter to add to the end of the story. Students will discuss what they think happened to the characters after the story ends and work to write a new chapter. Students will then read the entire story, including the new chapter, while being videoed. The students will then work together to illustrate the

stories using images they find on the web, from the book, or that they construct using props and costumes. Once finished, we will help students put it altogether in Movie Maker. Their finished product will include the reading of the story, the new chapter and corresponding illustrations. The stories will be shared with the teachers in Kindergarten to be used as center activities or whole group story time.

Through this activity, we have found that recording students while they read helps them understand their own fluency and accuracy better. Their understanding of what the teacher has been talking about regarding fluency and speech increases when they hear themselves. I have had students say to me, “That does not sound like what I thought it did. I really need to work on my reading.” They instantly know and have a desire to improve.

This project is a unique and fun way for students to give back to their school. The students are excited about the project and eager to share their stories with the younger students!

~Casey Wise, TRC Facilitator, Garden City USD