3rd Grade ELA (Arizona ELA Standards)

Reading Standards for Literature

• 3.RL.1 Ask and answer questions about a story, pointing to the text to back up answers.
• 3.RL.2 Recount stories from diverse cultures, find the central message or moral and explain how key details convey it.
• 3.RL.3 Describe what characters are like, want or feel and how their actions drive the events.
• 3.RL.4 Work out the meaning of words and phrases in a text, telling literal from nonliteral language.
• 3.RL.5 Use terms such as chapter, scene and stanza and explain how each part builds on the parts before it.
• 3.RL.6 Tell one's own point of view apart from that of the narrator or characters.
• 3.RL.7 Explain how a text's illustrations add to what its words convey (e.g. mood, character, setting).
• 3.RL.9 Compare themes, settings and plots in stories one author wrote about the same or similar characters.
• 3.RL.10 By year's end, read grade 3 stories, plays and poems well on their own.

Reading Standards for Informational Text

• 3.RI.1 Ask and answer questions about an informational text, referring explicitly to it for answers.
• 3.RI.2 Find the main idea of a text, recount key details and explain how they support it.
• 3.RI.3 Describe how historical events, scientific ideas or steps relate, using time, sequence and cause/effect language.
• 3.RI.4 Work out the meaning of general academic and subject-specific words and phrases in a grade 3 text.
• 3.RI.5 Use text features and search tools (keywords, sidebars, hyperlinks) to find information efficiently.
• 3.RI.6 Tell one's own point of view apart from the author's.
• 3.RI.7 Use information from images (maps, photos) and words to show understanding of where, when, why and how.
• 3.RI.8 Describe logical links between sentences and paragraphs (comparison, cause/effect, sequence).
• 3.RI.9 Compare and contrast the main points and key details of two texts on the same topic.
• 3.RI.10 By year's end, read grade 3 history, science and technical texts well on their own.

Reading Standards: Foundational Skills

• 3.RF.3 Use grade-level phonics and word-analysis skills to sound out and read words.
  • a. Know the meanings of common prefixes and derivational suffixes.
  • b. Decode words with common Latin suffixes (e.g. -ous, -ible, -ment).
  • c. Use the six syllable types to read grade-level multisyllable words.
  • d. Read grade-appropriate irregularly spelled words.
• 3.RF.4 Read with enough accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
  • a. Read texts at grade level with a clear purpose and understanding.
  • b. Read grade-level prose and poetry aloud accurately, at a suitable rate and with expression, over repeated readings.
  • c. Use context to confirm or correct word reading, rereading as needed.

Writing Standards

• 3.W.1 Write opinion pieces about a topic or text and back the opinion with reasons.
  • a. Introduce the topic, state an opinion and organize reasons.
  • b. Give reasons that support the opinion.
  • c. Link opinion and reasons with words such as because, therefore, since.
  • d. End with a concluding statement or section.
• 3.W.2 Write informative texts that examine a topic and convey ideas clearly.
  • a. Introduce a topic, group related information and add illustrations if useful.
  • b. Build up the topic using facts, definitions and details.
  • c. Link ideas within categories with words such as also, another, and, more.
  • d. End with a concluding statement or section.
• 3.W.3 Write narratives of real or imagined experiences with descriptive details and a clear sequence.
  • a. Set up a situation, introduce a narrator or characters and order events naturally.
  • b. Show how characters react through dialogue and by describing actions, thoughts and feelings.
  • c. Use time words and phrases to signal event order.
  • d. Give a sense of closure.
• 3.W.4 With guidance and support, produce writing whose development and organization suit the task and purpose.
• 3.W.5 With help from classmates and adults, plan, revise and edit writing.
• 3.W.6 With guidance and support, use technology to produce and publish writing (keyboarding) and work with others.
• 3.W.7 Carry out short research projects that build knowledge of a topic.
• 3.W.8 Gather information from experience and print or digital sources, take brief notes and sort evidence into categories.
• 3.W.10 Write often, in long projects and short sittings, for many tasks, purposes and readers.

Writing Foundations (Arizona)

• 3.WF.1 Show handwriting skills by reading and writing cursive letters.
  • a. Read and write upper- and lowercase cursive letters.
  • b. Write ideas legibly in cursive or manuscript with suitable spacing and indentation.
• 3.WF.3 Use spelling patterns, including less common letter groups, possessives and affixes, when writing.
  • a. Spell one-syllable words with less common letter groups (e.g. ough, augh).
  • b. Use dictionary notes to find a word's language of origin.
  • c. Spell singular and plural possessive nouns (e.g. dog's, dogs').
  • d. Spell regular multisyllable words that combine syllable types and common affixes.
  • d.1. Combine closed, VCe, open, vowel-team, r-controlled and consonant-le syllables in spelling.
  • d.2. Add common prefixes and suffixes (e.g. re-, un-, -able, -ness) when spelling.
  • e. Spell grade-level words from a research-based list.
  • e.1. Spell irregular words.
  • e.2. Spell words that follow common patterns.

Speaking and Listening Standards

• 3.SL.1 Take part effectively in collaborative discussions with different partners, building on others' ideas and expressing one's own clearly.
  • a. Come prepared, having read or studied the material, and use that preparation in discussion.
  • b. Follow agreed rules for discussion (e.g. one speaker at a time, listening with care).
  • c. Ask questions to check understanding, stay on topic and link comments to others' remarks.
  • d. Explain personal ideas and understanding as shaped by the discussion.
• 3.SL.2 Pick out the key ideas and backing details of a read-aloud or of information shown in different media.
• 3.SL.3 Ask and answer questions about a speaker's information with suitable elaboration and detail.
• 3.SL.4 Give a report, tell a story or describe an experience with fitting facts and details, speaking clearly at an easy-to-follow pace.
• 3.SL.5 Make engaging audio recordings of stories or poems read fluently, and add visuals when helpful.
• 3.SL.6 Speak in complete sentences when suitable to give requested detail or clarification.

Language Standards

• 3.L.1 Use correct standard English grammar when speaking and writing.
  • a. Explain what nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs do in sentences.
  • b. Make and use plural nouns, both regular and irregular.
  • c. Use abstract nouns (e.g. childhood).
  • d. Form and use regular and irregular verbs.
  • e. Form and use the simple verb tenses.
  • f. Make subjects agree with verbs and pronouns with their antecedents.
  • g. Form comparing words (bigger, biggest, more quickly) for adjectives and adverbs and pick the right one for the word described.
  • h. Use coordinating and subordinating conjunctions.
  • i. Produce simple, compound and complex sentences.
  • j. Write a paragraph with a main idea, supporting details and a conclusion.
• 3.L.2 Show command of capitalization, punctuation and spelling when writing.
  • a. Capitalize the right words in titles.
  • b. Use commas in addresses.
  • c. Use commas and quotation marks in dialogue.
  • d. Form and use possessives.
• 3.L.3 Apply what is known about language and its rules in writing, speaking, reading and listening.
  • a. Choose words and phrases for effect.
  • b. Recognize and observe differences between spoken and written standard English.
• 3.L.4 Work out unknown and multiple-meaning words using a range of strategies.
  • a. Figure out a new word made by adding a known prefix or suffix to a known word.
  • b. Use a familiar root as a clue to an unfamiliar word built on it.
  • c. Use the rest of the sentence as a clue to what a word or phrase means.
  • d. Use glossaries or beginning dictionaries, print and digital, to clarify meanings.
• 3.L.5 Understand figurative language, how words relate and fine shades of meaning.
  • a. Tell the literal and nonliteral meanings of phrases in context (e.g. take steps).
  • b. Find real-life links between words and their use (e.g. people who are friendly or helpful).
  • c. Tell apart shades of meaning among related words for states of mind or certainty (e.g. knew, believed, suspected).
• 3.L.6 Learn and use grade-level conversational, general academic and subject-specific words, including those for time and place.