Queen of the Third Grade

By: Jane Carlile Baker

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Gwen Murphy intends to put a fine point on her final year teaching third grade. However,

• the new, and decidedly unsupportive, principal
• her firefighter husband who coughs worse every passing day
• her colleagues who decide it’s Gwen who should take on the inadequacy of state testing
• Jemma, head of the mean girls’ club’s accusation that Gwen has bruised her arm

may thwart Gwen’s plan. With the challenges life throws at her, can she entwine grace and truth in her solutions?
When she thinks things can’t get worse, a wildfire hits her Sierra Nevada foothill town. Raging flames chase the students and staff out of the school, and her husband’s cell goes to voicemail. Can she find solutions?

"The Queen of the Third Grade is a teacher whose "moves" are wonderfully instructive for anyone working with students. Driven by a conscious and deliberate choice to love her students--informed by her deep humanity and her Christian faith--Gwen shows us the day-to-day work of teaching and supporting students and building community.
Debra Schneider, Ph.D., Director of Instructional and Media Services and Curriculum, Tracy Unified School District; Great Valley Writing Project and UCDavis History Project Teaching consultant.