Whole Class Junior Journal Resource Year 3 – The Stars of Matariki
NZ$8.50
Description
Enhance Reading Comprehension with Science of Reading Strategies
Boost your learners’ reading comprehension skills using Science of Reading principles with this detailed resource, based on the article The Stars of Matariki from Junior Journal 67. Designed to complement your Year 3 structured literacy program, this whole-class teaching tool emphasises deep comprehension strategies, vocabulary development, sentence structure, punctuation, verbal reasoning, and content knowledge—all critical components of the Science of Reading approach.
How This Resource Works
Engage your entire class with a 60-slide slideshow, support worksheets, and graphic organisers that make teaching structured literacy simple and effective.
- Preparation Made Easy:
- Display the Junior Journal PDF on a projector or TV.
- Share copies of the text between 2–3 students.
- Use Presenter View for seamless lesson delivery—just click and teach!
- Chunked for Manageable Learning:
- The text is divided into three chunks, ideal for reading over three sessions.
- Dive deep into vocabulary, comprehension, and content in each session.
- Days 4 and 5 Activities:
- GIST Summarising Activity: Condense the text into a 20-word summary.
- Text Structure Analysis (Concept Map): Examine how the text is organised.
- Critical Thinking Questions: Build connections and encourage deeper inferences.
Key Features of the Resource
- Comprehension Focus: Monitor comprehension, summarising, drawing conclusions, and citing evidence.
- Writing Integration: Strengthen sentence structure and punctuation skills through literacy activities.
- Explicit Vocabulary Instruction: Includes definitions, examples, and semantic activities like synonyms and antonyms.
- Aligned with the New Zealand English Curriculum: Supports Year 3 learning areas such as monitoring comprehension, summarising, making inferences, and analysing text structure.
Why This Resource is a Must-Have
- Active Learning: Engages students through reading, discussion, and critical thinking.
- Improves Comprehension: Explicit instruction builds strong vocabulary and comprehension strategies, making it effective for diverse learners.
- Curriculum-Aligned: Helps students develop essential skills such as summarising, drawing conclusions, and making inferences.
- Flexible for Teachers: Use it as part of your structured literacy program or as a standalone reading comprehension tool.
Benefits for Students
- Gain a deeper understanding of texts by making connections to their own experiences.
- Learn how to summarise effectively, improving memory and comprehension.
- Build confidence with a structured approach to reading and vocabulary development.
Tips for Teachers
- Use the PowerPoint in presentation mode for smooth lessons.
- Encourage students to read in pairs or small groups to promote discussion.
- Extend learning with follow-up activities for critical thinking and text structure analysis.
Why This Resource Works
Explicitly teaching comprehension strategies like summarising, making connections, and vocabulary building is proven to improve students’ reading abilities. This resource is perfect for teachers looking to enhance literacy instruction while aligning with curriculum goals.

