English Language Arts Curriculum

Northern Illinois District

Grade 3

 

I.  Reading Skills

 

State Goal:  As a result of their schooling, students will be able to read with understanding and fluency.

 

Learning Standard A:  Apply word analysis and vocabulary skills to comprehend selections.

 

Decoding

 

Objective 1:  Apply phonics to decode words:

·        Diphthongs

·        Special vowel spellings

·        Common word endings

·        Two and three letter blends/ digraphs

·        Syllable patterns

 

Word analysis

 

Objective 2:  Apply knowledge of structural analysis strategies:

·        Compound words

·        Word families/ chunks

·        Prefixes and suffixes

·        Root/ base words

·        Plurals

·        Contractions

·        Syllabication using patterns and stress

·        Spelling patterns

 

Vocabulary

 

Objective 3:  Clarify word meaning using context clues and a variety of resources including glossaries, dictionaries, and thesauruses.

 

Objective 4:  Read and comprehend unfamiliar words using root words, synonyms, antonyms, word origins, and derivations. 

 

Objective 5: Comprehend and utilize vocabulary in the content areas.

 

 

Learning Standard B:  Apply reading strategies to improve understanding and fluency.

 

Reading skills

 

Objective 1:  Read for a variety of purposes and identify author’s purpose.

 

Objective 2:  Predict and infer to make connections to prior knowledge and personal experiences.

 

Text features 

 

Objective 3:  Utilize pictures, titles, subtitles, headings, captions, graphs, tables, maps, bold words, and italics in various forms of written material.

 

Fluency

 

Objective 4:  Select and read instructionally appropriate materials.

 

Objective 5:  Utilize rhythm, phrasing, volume, rate, expression, and punctuation cues to improve accuracy in reading.

 

 

Learning Standard C:  Comprehend a broad range of reading materials.

 

Comprehension strategies

 

Objective 1:  Identify structural elements including main idea, setting, characters, details, and plot.

 

Objective 2:  Identify themes in written text.

 

Objective 3:  Utilize graphic organizers.

 

Objective 4:  Be able to summarize, sequence, and generalize what was read.

 

Objective 5:  Discern fact and opinion, determine cause and effect, and compare and contrast the content and organization of selections.

 

Genre

 

Objective 6:  Know the characteristics of fiction, nonfiction, biographies, fairy tales, and poetry.

 

 

 

 

II.  Literature

 

State Goal:  As a result of their schooling, students will be able to read and understand literature representative of various societies, eras, and ideas.

 

Learning Standard A:  Understand how literary elements and techniques are used to convey meaning.

 

Literary elements

 

Objective 1:  Identify the theme, setting, plot, tone, and point of view within literary works. 

 

Objective 2:  Identify the characters and their attributes within literary works.

 

Literary techniques

 

Objective 3:  Identify literary devices including rhyme, rhythm, repetition, alliteration, simile, and metaphor.

 

 

Learning Standard B:  Read and interpret a variety of literary works.

 

Objective 1:  Read literature from different time periods and cultures.

 

Objective 2:  Respond to literary materials by connecting them to their own experiences.

 
III.  Written Communication

 

State Goal:  As a result of their schooling, students will be able to write to communicate for a variety of purposes.

 

Learning Standard A:  Use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and structure.

 

Spelling

 

Objective 1:  Demonstrate correct spelling of high frequency words.

 

Objective 2:  Apply spelling patterns and strategies in written work.

 

Punctuation and capitalization

 

Objective 3:  Use periods, commas, apostrophes, quotation marks, question marks, and exclamation points correctly.

 

Objective 4:  Use capitalization correctly.

 

Sentence structure

 

Objective 5:  Identify and use the four types of sentences (statement, question, command, and exclamation).

 

Objective 6:  Identify and use subjects and predicates in sentences.

 

Objective 7:  Identify run-ons, fragments, and complete sentences.

 

Word use and vocabulary building

 

Objective 8:  Identify and use parts of speech correctly.

 

Objective 9:  Correctly use homophones and homographs.

 

Objective 10:  Identify and use synonyms and antonyms.

 

Handwriting

 

Objective 11:  Use legible handwriting for written communication.

 

 

Learning Standard B:  Compose well-organized and coherent writing for specific purposes and audiences. 

 

Process writing

 

Objective 1:  Use the writing process to produce written pieces. 

 

Support and elaboration 

 

Objective 2:   Write paragraphs using details and examples.

 

Organization

 

Objective 3:  Use appropriate tools to generate and organize ideas.

 

Objective 4:  Establish and maintain focus throughout various forms of writing.

 

Objective 5:  Write paragraphs using appropriate transition words.

 

Objective 6:  Construct well written introduction and conclusion sentences.

 

Editing

 

Objective 7:  Proofread and revise written work.

 

Objective 8:  Identify and correct grammatical errors in written work.

 

 

Learning Standard C:  Communicate ideas in writing to accomplish a variety of purposes.

 

Modes of writing

 

Objective 1:  Write for a variety of purposes including description, information, explanation, persuasion, and narration.

 

Visual presentation

 

Objective 2:  Use available technology to produce a finished product. 

 

Purpose for writing

 

Objective 3:  Write well-developed pieces in a variety of formats including poems, letters, stories, reports, diaries, news articles, summaries, and speeches. 

 

Objective 4:  Produce and format compositions for specified audiences.

 

 

 

 

IV.  Oral Communication

 

State Goal:  As a result of their schooling, students will be able to listen and speak effectively in a variety of situations.

 

Learning Standard A:  Listen effectively in formal and informal situations.

 

Objective 1:  Listen to read-alouds.                  

 

Objective 2:  Display attentive listening behaviors (e.g., maintain eye contact, listen without interrupting).

 

Objective 3:  Listen for a specific purpose.

           

Objective 4:  Follow oral directions accurately.

 

 

Learning Standard B:  Speak effectively using language appropriate to the situation and audience.

 

Objective 1:  Express ideas in sentences using correct grammar.

 

Objective 2:  Demonstrate the following age-appropriate speaking behaviors: voice projection, ability to stay on topic, fluency, expression, eye contact.

 

Objective 3:  Participate appropriately in classroom discussions.

 

 

 

V.  Application of the Language Arts

 

State Goal:  As a result of their schooling, students will be able to use the language arts to acquire, assess, and communicate information.

 

Learning Standard A:  Locate, organize, and use information from various sources to answer questions, solve problems, and communicate ideas.

 

Objective 1:  Identify questions and gather information.

 

Objective 2:  Locate information using a variety of resources including print, non-print, human, and technological.

 

 

Learning Standard B:  Analyze and evaluate information acquired from various sources.

 

Objective 1:  Discriminate between relevant and irrelevant information.

 

Objective 2:  Determine the accuracy, currency, and reliability of information from various sources.

 

 

Learning Standard C:  Apply acquired information, concepts, and ideas to communicate in a variety of formats.

 

Objective 1:  Create and present in a variety of print and non-print formats to communicate acquired information for specific audiences and purposes.