nd

Crossing from
rd
to 3 Grade

From Primary to Intermediate Grades

Table of Contents
1. How is 3rd grade different from 2nd grade?
a. Milestones Testing
b. Teaching Structures
c. USA Test Prep
d. Grading
e. Handwriting
f. Independence/Work Habits
2. How are 3rd grade standards different from 2nd grade standards?
a. ELA
b. Math
c. Science
d. Social Studies
3. What is the same/similar from 2nd grade to 3rd?
a. Grading
b. OLS Courses
c. DIBELS
d. Monthly Instructional Calendar (MIC)

Georgia Milestones
1. Dates
2. Face-to-Face Testing
3. Mandatory Attendance
no opt out due to truancy

How is

rd
3

Different from

nd
2 ?

1. Teaching Structure:
a. Teachers are content-specific, meaning they teach only one content (or
subject)
b. Class Connect whole group sessions are offered 4 days a week.
c. Class Connect small group sessions are also offered throughout the week.
2. USA Test Prep:
a. Replaces Study Island
b. Online, standards-based assessments and lessons.
3. Grading:
a. Students are graded on OLS MIC-required
lesson completion, Assessments and Lessons in
USA Test Prep.
4. Handwriting:
a. OLS Handwriting is replaced with an OLS Cursive (optional).

Independence / Work Habits

In 3rd grade, independence is of growing importance. In the Spring, students will be tested in
a room away from their parents and will be expected to navigate through the test and
successfully complete the test. Now is the time to start building this independence!
At this age, students should be able to do the following:
1. Log into the OLS
2. Enter a Class Connect session
3. Begin their online OLS Lessons
4. Log into USA Test Prep and complete lessons
How is this done?
1. Keep a list of logins and passwords next to the computer.
2. Keep a list of bookmarked websites on the toolbar for students to find easily.
3. Print the MIC for them so they can check off lessons and activities as they complete
them.
4. Lay out any workbook pages, textbooks, or additional resources needed to complete
their work.

How are 3rd Grade Standards Different

from 2nd?

English Language Arts (ELA) - Reading

In third grade, students will read and respond to classic and
contemporary literature, informational texts, biographies, fables, folktales,
myths, poetry and drama. They will apply word analysis skills to unfamiliar words
(e. g. identify common prefixes and suffixes, segment multi-syllabic words,
decode irregularly spelled words). Third grade reading skills are introduced and
supported during literature discussions, partner reading, guided reading, content
area reading (e.g. social studies and science), reading conferences, and
independent reading time with teachers, caregivers, family members and
community members. Within these structures, students participate in a wide
variety of activities (e.g. compare/contrast details, use text features and search
tools to locate information, learn new vocabulary words, use illustrations to
support comprehension, understand point of view, etc.)

English Language Arts (ELA) - Reading

Activities to Support Reading Growth at Home with your 3rd Grader:
Ask your child to retell a story, fable, folktale or myth with supporting details
Ask your child to compare and contrast important details of a text
Ask your child to identify various text features and how those features
contribute to meaning
Encourage your child to read with fluency by rereading familiar texts
Invite your child to ask questions, to predict, and to make inferences
Help your child with word meanings to expand vocabulary development
Remind your child to reread when the text doesnt make sense
Encourage your child to read different kinds of materials (e.g. chapter books,
informational texts, biographies, poems, websites, magazines, newspapers,
etc.)

English Language Arts (ELA) - Writing

In third grade, students produce numerous pieces of writing that are
clear and understandable to the reader. They will begin to write stories with
dialogue and descriptions of characters actions, along with independent research
papers that take place over time. Third grade writers also develop revising and
editing skills (e.g. word choice, sentence structure, spelling, grammar and
punctuation). Third grade writing skills are introduced and supported during minilessons, writing conferences, independent writing, author circles and inquiry
project time with caregivers, family members and community members. Within
these structures, children participate in a wide variety of activities (e.g. write in a
range of genres including narratives, memoirs, poems, reports, persuasive texts,
digital texts, and journals; engage in peer editing, etc.)

English Language Arts (ELA) - Writing

Activities to Support Writing Growth at Home with your 3rd Grader:
Ask your child to respond to suggestions from others and revise an original
piece of writing
Ask your child to write about a topic, stating opinions and providing reasons
Encourage your child to use the computer and keyboard for writing
Share with your child the importance of planning, revising, and editing
Help your child write notes from multiple sources to be used in short research
reports

Math
To preview the 3rd grade math standards, please visit http://gcamath3.weebly.com/.

Incoming third graders can begin using models and manipulatives to develop
multiplication and division strategies. http://www.gcamath.com/fact-fluency.html

Third grade students will:

Develop an understanding of the meanings of multiplication and division of whole numbers
through activities and problems involving equal-sized groups, arrays, and area models.
Use properties of operations to calculate products of whole numbers, using increasingly
sophisticated strategies based on these properties to solve multiplication and division
problems involving single-digit factors.
Begin the step to formal algebraic language by using a letter for the unknown quantity in
expressions or equations for one and two-step problems.
Develop an understanding of fractions, beginning with unit fractions. Students view fractions
in general as being built out of unit fractions, and they use fractions along with visual fraction
models to represent parts of a whole..

Math
Third grade students will:
Need many opportunities measuring the length of various objects in their environment
While exploring data concepts, students should Pose a question, Collect data, Analyze data,
and Interpret data (PCAI). Students should be graphing data that is relevant to their lives
Develop an understanding of the concept of perimeter
Use geoboards, tiles, graph paper, or technology to find all the possible rectangles with a
given area (e.g. find the rectangles that have an area of 12 square units.)

In second grade, students identify and draw triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, and hexagons.
Third graders build on this experience and further investigate quadrilaterals
Students should classify shapes by attributes and drawing shapes that fit specific categories.

Science
2nd Grade Topics

3rd Grade Topics

Scientific Method

Habitats of Georgia

Matter and Energy

Rocks and Soil

Forces of Motion

Fossils

Simple Machines

Heat Energy

Stars

Magnets

Sun and Moon Patterns

Interdependence of Man / Pollution

Changes in Surroundings

Conservation

Life Cycles of Animals and Plants

Social Studies
2nd Grade Topics

3rd Grade Topics

Need for Rules, Laws and Government

The Foundation of the USA

Economics Scarcity and Opportunity Cost

Our Democratic Heritage the Levels of

Government

Five Regions of Georgia

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

Georgias Major Rivers

Rights and Freedoms for Everybody

Cherokee and Creek Indians

Work Force in a Democracy

Georgia Becoming a Colony

Rights of Workers in the USA

Georgia and Civil Rights: Martin Luther

King, Jr.
Being a Georgian Today: Jimmy Carter

What is the same/similar from 2nd to 3rd?

Grades in 2nd Grade are Based On:
Coursework Assignments (Portfolios, TODs,
Teacher Created Assignments) 20%

Grades in 3rd Grade are Based On:

Monthly MIC Course Assignments in USA
Test Prep 30%

Interim Assessments 40%

MIC Interim Assessment Benchmarks in USA
Test Prepin
35%
Monthly MIC Course Assignments
USA TP
MIC OLS Assignments 40%
MIC OLS Assignments 35%

2nd Grade DIBELS Goals

3rd Grade DIBELS Goals

Benchmark 1 (Fall)

41 wpm

Benchmark 1 (Fall)

72 wpm

Benchmark 2 (Mid-Year

76 wpm

Benchmark 2 (Mid-Year

89 wpm

Benchmark 3 (End of Year)

96 wpm

Benchmark 3 (End of Year)

110 wpm

What is the same/similar from 2nd to

3rd?
Health Grades Updated by HR Teacher
15 hours by the end of the semester
30 hours by the end of the year

PE Grades Updated by HR Teacher

30 hours by the end of the semester
60 hours by the end of the year

OLS Courses
2nd Grade OLS Courses

3rd Grade OLS Courses

Math Orange

Math Purple

ELA Orange Writing Skills

ELA Purple Writing Skills

ELA Orange Literature & Comprehension

ELA Purple Literature and Comprehension

ELA Orange Vocabulary

ELA Purple Vocabulary

ELA Orange Spelling

ELA Purple Spelling

ELA Orange Handwriting

ELA Purple Cursive (optional)

Science 2

GA Science 3

Social Studies 2

Social Studies 3