Common Core State Standards

  • Common Core Parent Information
     
    The way we taught students in the past simply does not prepare
    them for the higher demands of college and careers today and in the
    future. Your school and schools throughout the country are working to
    improve teaching and learning to ensure that all children will graduate
    high school with the skills they need to be successful.
    In English language arts and literacy, this means three major changes.
    Students will continue reading and writing. But in addition to stories
    and literature, they will read more texts that provide facts and
    background knowledge in areas including science and social studies.
    They will read more challenging texts and be asked more questions
    that will require them to refer back to what they have read. There will
    also be an increased emphasis on building a strong vocabulary so that
    students can read and understand challenging material.
    America’s schools are working to provide higher quality instruction
    than ever before.
     
    What your child will be learning in grade three English language arts and literacy
    In grade three, students will build important reading, writing, speaking,
    and listening skills. They will think, talk, and write about what they read
    in a variety of articles, books, and other texts. In their writing, students
    will pay more attention to organizing information, developing ideas, and
    supporting these ideas with facts, details, and reasons. Activities in these
    areas will include:
    • Reading a wide range of stories and describing how a story teaches a
    lesson
    • Describing characters in a story and how their actions contributed to
    events
    • Reading texts about history, social studies, or science and answering
    questions about what they learned
    • Referring to information from illustrations such as maps or pictures as
    well as the words in a text to support their answers
    • Learning the rules of spoken and written English
    • Learning and using new words, including words related to specific
    subjects (such as science words)
    • Participating in class discussions by listening, asking questions, sharing
    ideas, and building on the ideas of others
    • Giving a class presentation on a topic or telling a story using relevant
    facts and details and speaking clearly
    • Writing stories with dialogue and descriptions of character’s actions,
    thoughts, and feelings
    • Gathering information from books, articles, and online sources to
    build understanding of a topic
    • Writing research or opinion papers over extended periods of tim3
     
     
    In grade three, students will read stories, plays, and poems. Additionally, they will
    read to learn information about history, the world, science, and other areas. Here are
    just a few examples of how your child will develop important reading skills across
    grade levels.
    As they progress through grade levels, students will be asked more questions that require
    them to cite details or information from increasingly challenging texts. This will encourage
    them to become observant and analytical readers.
    Grade Three Reading
    • Students ask and answer
    questions about what they read
    by referring directly to parts of
    the text.
    • Students use information gained
    from images or illustrations.
    Reading literature
    Reading for information
    Grade Two Reading
    • Students ask and answer
    such questions as who, what,
    where, when, why, and how to
    demonstrate understanding of
    key details in a text.
    • Students explain how specific
    images or illustrations (such as
    a diagram of how a machine
    works) are useful.
     
    Helping your child
    learn outside of school
    Additional Resources
    1. Provide time and space for your child to read independently. This
    time should be free from distractions such as television.
    2. Ask your child what topics, events, or activities he or she likes. Then
    look for books, magazines, or other materials about those topics that
    would motivate your child to read.
    3. It is also helpful when your child sees other people reading at home.
    You could share what you have read.
    4. Start a family book club. Let different members of the family pick the
    book. This could be a good way to enjoy quality family time while
    experiencing the joy of reading together!
    5. Be sure your child has a library card. Children should select books
    they are interested in to develop a passion for reading. Many libraries
    have book clubs and family activities that make reading fun for the
    entire family.
    6. Use technology to help build your child’s interest in reading. There
    are several websites where students can read books or articles
    online. The computer will help with words the student cannot
    read independently. Libraries also have computers students can
    use to access those sites. Feel free to ask a librarian or teacher for
    suggestions.
    For more information on the Common Core State Standards for English
    Language Arts and Literacy, go to http://www.corestandards.org/thestandards/
    english-language-arts-standards.