Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Third Grade Fluency

3rd Grade Fluency
I've been writing fluency passages for the last four years.  I never really dreamed that it would help so many teachers across the country, but it has, and I am truly grateful.  I've been asked many times over the years to provide fluency for third grade and I've said no.  Largely because it would take time away from me creating resources for my own classroom.  Writing a fluency pack takes on average about 30 hours.  I have to research topics, align the fluency to standards, and make sure that the text is appropriate for multiple levels.  Creating for first when you teach first is tough, but manageable.  I use all of the things that I make, and I'm able to fix things as I go.  Creating for third was daunting.  First of all, I haven't taught third in five years.  Second, here in Florida, the standards have changed at least twice in that time.Initially, the first few third grade packs were much more challenging than even my largest first grade packs and I was very overwhelmed.  Over the last several weeks, I've gotten the sweetest feedback from third grade teachers about these sets.  Thank you friends for that.  It was just the encouragement I needed to keep going!  Frankly, I was strongly considering making December the last unit until the summer, but with the feedback I've gotten, I really believe that it would be best to continue forward and finish with a set in May.
3rd Grade Fluency

For those of you who are not familiar with my fluency sets, each pack has 12 passages. Three passages per topic. So, four differentiated sets per topic, basically.  The passages are numbered for ease of recording.  There are oral questions on the front page, for those of you who just need a passage for centers and want only discussion.  Students can take some quick notes in the side bar of the sheet to help them organize their recollections of the text.  Another way you could use this tool is to use the text coding features.  If you do a double sided copy, these questions would show up on the back.  Students have to mark the text with different color crayons or colored pencils.  They have to offer extended responses.  There's even a question where they have to go on the internet and do a wee bit of research.
Each page has the standards written at the top for fidelity.
The texts are aligned to three different programs, Accelerated Reader, DRA and Fountas & Pinnell.  I even include a number and question free copy of each passage that you could use to test students on their fluency.
Currently I have four sets for third grade in my store.

3rd Grade Fluency September
Click HERE to see this unit.

3rd Grade Fluency October
Click HERE to see this unit.

3rd Grade Fluency November
Click HERE to see this unit.
3rd Grade Fluency December
Click HERE to see this unit.
My goal is to have the next set up around the 15th of the month before.  So far I've been fairly successful with that. :)  I am human though, and things come up, and sometimes I will have to get it out a wee bit later.  Thanks in advance for understanding.
I will create passages until May and will not bundle them until I finish the last set.
I will probably raise the price of each individual set, right around the time where I bundle.  This is the best way to make sure that teachers who purchased individually from the very beginning are treated fairly with the pricing.  So, if you're reading this, and it is not May 2016, individual month purchases are best until then! :)
My second and first grade fluency sets are quite popular as well, so, if you need something for remediation, I will leave the links below so that you can take a look.
2nd Grade Fluency
Click HERE for this unit.

1st Grade Fluency
Click HERE for this unit.

1st Grade Fluency
Click HERE to see this unit.

Third is the highest grade I will do, unless I am moved to a higher grade level at some point in the future.  Plus, I feel like, if you're not fluent by fourth grade, you probably could benefit from some of the lower level passages I've already written.
Thanks for your support!
Look for a January set in mid-December! :)
Thanks for following my adventures!

No comments:

Post a Comment