English Language Arts3-5
Narrative Reading: The New Student for Grade 3
By Brandy S.
A short narrative reading passage about Mateo, who starts at a new high school and gets lost on his first day, paired with graphic organizer worksheets on plot elements and character development. It builds comprehension of story structure, feelings-based inference, and written responses, and it can be used as an ELPA 21 practice set for third graders.
Customize for your classroom
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use this as a 30 to 40 minute reading block, starting with the callout tip about noticing words that show how a character feels, then having students read the passage aloud or silently.
- Discussion question: How does Mateo feel when he gets lost, and which words in the story helped you know?
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Pause after each paragraph to fill in a simple organizer with the characters, the problem, and what happens next, and offer a word bank of feeling words such as nervous, worried, and relieved.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask them to identify the rising action and resolution, then write a short paragraph describing how Sarah's kindness changes the story's outcome.
- Plan roughly 10 minutes for the passage and 20 to 30 minutes for the graphic organizer worksheets on plot and character.
English Language Arts3-5
Narrative Reading: The New Student for Grade 3
By Brandy S.
A short narrative reading passage about Mateo, who starts at a new high school and gets lost on his first day, paired with graphic organizer worksheets on plot elements and character development. It builds comprehension of story structure, feelings-based inference, and written responses, and it can be used as an ELPA 21 practice set for third graders.
Customize for your classroom
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use this as a 30 to 40 minute reading block, starting with the callout tip about noticing words that show how a character feels, then having students read the passage aloud or silently.
- Discussion question: How does Mateo feel when he gets lost, and which words in the story helped you know?
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Pause after each paragraph to fill in a simple organizer with the characters, the problem, and what happens next, and offer a word bank of feeling words such as nervous, worried, and relieved.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask them to identify the rising action and resolution, then write a short paragraph describing how Sarah's kindness changes the story's outcome.
- Plan roughly 10 minutes for the passage and 20 to 30 minutes for the graphic organizer worksheets on plot and character.