In our classes this term, Year 3 students are reading The Little Wave by Australian author Pip Harry. It is a beautiful text, full of rich and engaging language that has captured our attention and imagination as we dive deeply into the characters and themes. This free verse novel follows the emotional journeys of three young Australians: Noah, Lottie, and Jack. Through alternating perspectives, the story explores themes of friendship, resilience, and belonging, set against the contrasting communities of Australian coastal and city life.
We love taking the time to stop and reflect on our reading together. By unpacking new vocabulary, making connections, and asking questions, we can unlock a much deeper understanding of why and how the author has made particular choices—and what we can infer from our reading. We are stretching our thinking to make meaning that goes beyond the words on the page.
Analysing the characters and their traits allows us to understand how their actions and attitudes change throughout the story. We make predictions and inferences about the interactions between Noah, Lottie, and Jack—and it’s so exciting to see their stories unfold as we get to know them more with each chapter.
Sharing our love of reading and discussing the text in class doesn’t just help us improve our comprehension. It helps us grow empathy and expands our understanding of ourselves and others. Each new word we learn is like a treasure we can add to our vocabulary toolbelt. We have found so many new ways to describe people, behaviour and even ourselves! Some of our favourite new words are proudly displayed on our classroom wall, and we can’t wait to discover even more.
Mrs Christine Ross
Junior School Teacher - Year 3 Team Leader