The third grade language arts curriculum will develop literate individuals through a balanced program that includes:

• An engaging and motivating curriculum that grows in complexity throughout the year

• A comprehensive curriculum that includes reading comprehension, fluency, vocabulary development, grammar, writing, literary analysis, and research skills

• Assessment based, differentiated instruction to meet the individual needs of students

Our language arts curriculum endeavors to inspire independent reading, critical thinking, and creative writing.

Reading

• Developing comprehension strategies for fiction and nonfiction texts
  

• Provide opportunities to improve reading fluency by further developing the use of appropriate expression, intonation, pacing, and rhythm

• Explore the characteristics of literary genres

• Strengthen the identification of the literary elements: main idea, theme, and author’s purpose

• Reinforce social studies learning through historical fiction book clubs

Writing

• Use the writing process to prewrite, draft, revise, edit, and  publish
  

• Develop appropriate grammar skills

• Develop cursive writing skills

Research

• Develop skills for accessing information using multimedia resources
  

• Apply research skills to written and oral presentations

Speaking and Listening

• Reinforce oral fluency and develop an awareness of an audience through multiple opportunities to speak formally and informally

• Demonstrate attentive listening by following multi-step directions and offering positive feedback to a speaker

• Provide opportunities to use appropriate voice and give eye contact during oral presentations