3rd Grade Expectations in Reading

By the end of third grade, students should be able to say:

I can read and understand third grade fiction.

I can ask and answer questions to show that I understand the stories that I am reading.

I can find the answers to specific questions within the stories that I read.

I can figure out the lessons or morals of the stories that I have read.

I can retell stories from diverse cultures.

I can describe characters in stories and explain how their actions affect the story.

I can figure out what an author really means by the words and phrases that are written.

I can understand the difference between literal and nonliteral language.

I can write and talk about fiction by using the words for the different parts (e.g. chapter, scene, stanza)

I can describe how new parts of fiction build on previous parts.

I can tell the difference what I think and what the author or characters might think.

I can explain how the author uses illustrations to help the meaning in a story.

I can compare and contrast stories written by the same author about similar characters.

I can use what I know to understand nonfiction.

I can ask and answer questions to show that I understand the information that I am reading.

I can find the main idea of the information I read.

I can show how the main idea is supported by details in the text.

I can describe the historical events, scientific ideas, or steps in procedures using words to show the sequence.

I can describe the cause and effect in historical effects, scientific ideas or steps in procedures.

I can understand the meanings of words and phrases in science and social studies texts.

I can use text features and search tools to find information quickly.

I can tell the difference between what I think and what an author writes.

I can show what I have learned from nonfiction illustrations and text by answering questions about where, when, why, and how.

I can describe how the sentences and paragraphs in nonfiction follow a logical sequence.

I can compare and contrast the most important ideas and details in two pieces of information about the same topic.

I can analyze words and use phonics to help me read third grade words.

I can read and understand words with common prefixes and suffixes.

I can read words with more than one syllable.

I can read third grade words that are not spelled in a regular way.