Grade 3 · English Language Arts
3.10A
Author’s purpose/message
Explain the author’s purpose and message within a text.
3.10B
Text structure & purpose
Explain how the use of text structure contributes to the author’s purpose.
3.10C
Print/graphic features
Explain the author’s use of print and graphic features to achieve specific purposes.
3.10D
Language & imagery
Describe how imagery, literal/figurative language (e.g., simile) and sound devices (e.g., onomatopoeia) achieve purposes.
3.10E
Point of view
Identify the use of first‑ or third‑person point of view.
3.10F
Voice
Discuss how the author’s use of language contributes to voice.
3.10G
Hyperbole
Identify and explain hyperbole.
3.11A
Plan drafts
Plan a first draft by selecting a genre for a topic, purpose, audience; use strategies (brainstorming, freewriting, mapping).
3.11B
Develop drafts
Develop drafts into a focused, structured, coherent piece (introduction and conclusion; engage idea with relevant details).
3.11C
Revise drafts
Revise drafts to improve sentence structure and word choice by adding, deleting, combining, and rearranging ideas.
3.11D
Edit conventions
Edit drafts for conventions (complete simple/compound sentences; verb tenses; nouns; adjectives incl. comparatives/superlatives; adverbs of time and manner; prepositions/phrases; pronouns; coordinating conjunctions; capitalization; punctuation, incl. apostrophes and commas; correct spelling).
3.11E
Publish
Publish written work for appropriate audiences.
3.12A
Compose literary texts
Compose literary texts, including personal narratives and poetry, using genre characteristics and craft.
3.12B
Compose informational texts
Compose informational texts that convey information with a clear central idea using genre characteristics and craft.
3.12C
Compose argumentative texts
Compose argumentative texts, including opinion essays, using genre characteristics and craft.
3.12D
Compose correspondence
Compose correspondence such as thank you notes or letters.
3.13A
Generate questions
Generate questions on a topic for formal and informal inquiry.
3.13B
Research plan
Develop and follow a research plan with adult assistance.
3.13C
Gather information
Identify and gather relevant information from a variety of sources.
3.13D
Primary vs. secondary
Identify primary and secondary sources.
3.13E
Show understanding
Demonstrate understanding of information gathered.
3.13F
Paraphrase vs. plagiarism
Recognize the difference between paraphrasing and plagiarism when using sources.
3.13G
Works cited
Create a works cited page.
3.13H
Present results
Use an appropriate mode of delivery (written, oral, multimodal) to present results.
3.1A
Active listening & discussion
Listen actively, ask relevant questions to clarify information, and make pertinent comments.
3.1B
Follow & give oral instructions
Follow, restate, and give oral instructions that involve a series of related sequences of action.
3.1C
Speak coherently
Speak coherently on a topic using eye contact, speaking rate, volume, enunciation, and conventions to communicate ideas effectively.
3.1D
Collaborative rules & norms
Work collaboratively with others by following agreed‑upon rules, norms, and protocols.
3.1E
Social communication
Develop social communication such as conversing politely in all situations.
3.2A
Phonics/Decoding (multisyllabic, patterns)
Demonstrate and apply phonetic knowledge: decode multisyllabic words; closed, open, VCe, vowel teams, r‑controlled, final stable syllables; decode compounds, contractions, abbreviations; use syllable division; prefixes and suffixes, and high‑frequency words.
3.2B
Spelling knowledge
Spell multisyllabic words with common syllable types; spell homophones; compounds, contractions, abbreviations; apply patterns, prefixes, and suffixes including changes to base words.
3.2C
Alphabetize to the third letter
Alphabetize a series of words to the third letter.
3.2D
Cursive writing
Write complete words, thoughts, and answers legibly in cursive leaving appropriate spaces between words.
3.3A
Use print/digital resources
Use print or digital resources to determine meaning, syllabication, and pronunciation.
3.3B
Use context clues
Use context within and beyond a sentence to determine the meaning of unfamiliar and multiple‑meaning words.
3.3C
Affixes
Identify the meaning of and use words with affixes such as im‑ (into), non‑, dis‑, in‑ (not, non), pre‑, ‑ness, ‑y, and ‑ful.
3.3D
Relationships among words
Identify, use, and explain the meaning of antonyms, synonyms, idioms, homophones, and homographs in a text.
3.4
Fluency
Use appropriate fluency (rate, accuracy, prosody) when reading grade‑level text.
3.5
Self‑sustained independent reading
Self‑select text and read independently for a sustained period of time.
3.6A
Purpose for reading
Establish purpose for reading assigned and self‑selected texts.
3.6B
Generate questions
Generate questions about text before, during, and after reading to deepen understanding and gain information.
3.6C
Predictions
Make and confirm/correct predictions using text features, genre characteristics, and structures.
3.6D
Mental images
Create mental images to deepen understanding.
3.6E
Make connections
Make connections to personal experiences, ideas in other texts, and society.
3.6F
Inferences & evidence
Make inferences and use evidence to support understanding.
3.6G
Key ideas
Evaluate details read to determine key ideas.
3.6H
Synthesize
Synthesize information to create new understanding.
3.6I
Monitor comprehension
Monitor comprehension and make adjustments (re‑reading, using background knowledge, asking questions, annotating).
3.7A
Personal connections
Describe personal connections to a variety of sources, including self‑selected texts.
3.7B
Write a response
Write a response to a literary or informational text demonstrating understanding.
3.7C
Text evidence
Use text evidence to support an appropriate response.
3.7D
Retell & paraphrase
Retell and paraphrase texts maintaining meaning and logical order.
3.7E
Interact with sources
Interact with sources (notetaking, annotating, freewriting, illustrating).
3.7F
Use new vocabulary
Respond using newly acquired vocabulary as appropriate.
3.7G
Discuss key ideas
Discuss specific ideas important to a text’s meaning.
3.8A
Theme
Infer the theme of a work, distinguishing theme from topic.
3.8B
Characters
Explain relationships among major and minor characters.
3.8C
Plot
Analyze plot elements including sequence of events, conflict, and resolution.
3.8D
Setting
Explain how setting influences plot.
3.9A
Children’s literature
Demonstrate knowledge of distinguishing characteristics of folktales, fables, fairy tales, legends, and myths.
3.9B
Poetry
Explain rhyme scheme, sound devices, and structural elements such as stanzas in a variety of poems.
3.9C
Drama
Discuss elements of drama such as characters, dialogue, setting, and acts.
3.9D
Informational text
Recognize characteristics and structures of informational text (central idea with supporting evidence; features such as sections, tables, graphs, timelines, bullets, numbers, bold/italic; organizational patterns such as cause/effect and problem/solution).
3.9E
Argumentative text
Recognize characteristics and structures of argumentative text (identify the claim; distinguish facts from opinion; identify intended audience/reader).
3.9F
Multimodal & digital
Recognize characteristics of multimodal and digital texts.