3RD GRADE
3rd grade is an important transition year. Less time is spent on learning to read words, and more time is spent on reading to learn new information in all subjects. Children read more challenging texts, explain their thinking, and write responses using details from what they read. Strong reading skills at this stage help children succeed across all areas of learning.
Explore this page for grade-level goals, activities, and resources!
Language
Spoken language is the foundation of all literacy and is one of the easiest areas to develop at home through experiences and conversations.
END OF 3RD GRADE GOALS
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Learn and accurately use a variety of new words, including academic and topic-specific vocabulary (e.g. denominator, ecosystem).
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Engage in conversations with adults and peers about different topics and texts. Give clear explanations and evidence for their ideas and build on others’ ideas.
TOP TIPS TO HELP AT HOME
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Talk all the time! Engage in back-and-forth conversations using advanced words, sentences, and ideas to help your child learn complex language.
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Expose your child to new knowledge and vocabulary through books and other educational content.
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Make a habit of learning new vocabulary. Help your child notice words that they don’t know. Look up definitions, talk about the words, and keep a list of new words to practice.
RESOURCES
Reading
Third graders are reading increasingly complex texts and showing reading comprehension (understanding what is read) through discussions and writing.
END OF 3RD GRADE GOALS
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Read most words, including words with multiple syllables, prefixes (e.g. re-, un-) and suffixes (e.g. -able, -tion).
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Fluently read grade-level texts (accurately, smoothly, and with expression).
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Ask and answer questions about texts, using details and examples from the text to explain answers. (e.g. I know __ because the book said __.)
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Determine the main idea in a text and explain how important details support the main idea.
TOP TIPS TO HELP AT HOME
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Set a goal to read at least 20 minutes every day! If you don’t have a habit of reading yet, start small and build up. Having a set reading time (like before bed) can help.
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3rd graders should be able to read mostly independently, but they also benefit from reading out loud, especially if they are still working on fluency. Plan time for them to read to an adult or younger family members.
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Ask questions and have conversations with your child about what they read to help develop their comprehension.
ACTIVITIES
Family Literacy Activities
Virtual Story Time on Demand
RESOURCES
Book Lists and Recommendations
Books For Families from Community Partners
Articles
Writing
Writing can be the most challenging area of literacy because it requires children to coordinate skills like spelling and forming sentences while also generating ideas and organizing information.
END OF 3RD GRADE GOALS
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Write organized essays for different purposes, including telling a story, supporting an opinion, or giving information. Include relevant details, examples, and information.
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Write complete simple and expanded sentences using mostly correct spelling and grammar.
TOP TIPS TO HELP AT HOME
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Encourage your child to write for a variety of purposes. For example, they can keep a journal, research a topic of interest and write a report, or write a persuasive letter. Let your child see you use writing in different ways too.
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Talk to your child’s teacher about their writing progress. Ask to see examples of their writing and learn how you can support the skills that they are working on.
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Help your child with organizing their writing and clearly explaining their ideas. Encourage them to edit their writing to fix mistakes and improve wording.
ACTIVITIES
RESOURCES
Learn More