Tell me about Year 3

[Inesyoucantbelieveawordshesays]

So after a very many years in Year 6, I've been told today that I will be moving to Year 3 in September.

Not sure how I feel about it.

Tell me about Year 3 please:

• good points
• downsides
• strategies that work really well
• what are they into? What are their cultural reference points these days??? (My own DC are young adults so it's a long time since I've mixed with 7 year olds on the reg).

Also, tell me about your not-to-be-missed class read-alouds for Year 3.

Thank you 🙂

Optimistic bump

I love Y3 - they're so keen! And hopefully can read and write (somewhat). Don't overestimate them - they need lots of training in simple things like not missing pages in books, sticking things in straight, how to follow a page of questions etc. I do lots of whole class instruction and don't ask them to do too many things at once. Things take a long time at first. Don't forget they're closer to being KS1 that they are to Y6; I sometimes find 'juniors' are lumped together but Y3s are still little really.

I'm rubbish with cultural references but my class this year are very into any of the newer Disney films and love anything they can sing and dance to. They also absolutely love Horrible Histories which they are always talking about in history lessons.

The 'nearer to KS1' warning is a really, really good point!

I was a bit sad about it at first but after a couple of days to get used to the idea I'm beginning to get quite excited now 🙂

Your other poster has really good points.
I love Year 3 too and am heading back that way myself. Yes think more KS1, but such a lovely age and enthusiasm. A friend of mine just went from 6 to 3 and they were unsure and have really loved being there. I am sure you'll love it.

Year 3 and Year 4 are my favourite year groups to teach! Just the right level of independence without being too needy nor having a bad attitude to learning 😆

Do you still sit them on the carpet at that age?
Also, I'm thinking lots of time getting routines right & making transitions as efficient as possible.
I need to polish up my phonics (taught KS1 many moons ago so not entirely new to that).
I'm optimistic that it's going to make me a better teacher - I've survived on sarcasm & dry wit for long enough!

Depends on the school re carpet sitting. In my last school, we had carpet sitting all the way through to Year 6! Current school stop after Year 2.

Also, I don't remember there being much Phonics teaching in Year 3 as the childen do the Phonics screening at the end of Year 1 and then resit end of Year 2 if not passed. But that's about it AFAIK.

Thank you - yes, definitely depends on the setting I suppose. We still have the majority learning phonics because we're a completely EAL school and many of the children arrive in Years 2&3 with little English and no prior UK education.

Year 3 is a fun year, however I'd just caution that likely the first term (maybe more depending on developmental delays due to covid still) you will find their difficulties with independence a real change... I think (and from others who I know have had similar experiences) is that you will find the first term difficult (or really just different) but get into the swing of things soon after

I teach Year 3 and think it's a lovely age - changing from little kids but not yet too cool for school.

Definitely lots of routines and reinforcement needed. My current class need specific place seating on the carpet and partners allocated. They love classroom jobs and responsibility.

We still have carpet time for most lessons but they don't in Y4 so we are doing this less now to get them ready.

Dd is in Yr3 and her and her class have absolutely loved The Wild Robot by Peter Brown.

I still get both my 3s and 4s on the carpet but given a choice they always choose to stay in their chairs. I like everyone to move around now and again though!