Alberta Program of Studies (adopted in 2022): Grade 3
Skills available for Alberta grade 3 English language arts objectives
Strand
Print skill plan
Text Forms and Structures
Students relate the form and structure of texts to the communication of ideas and information.
Examine the purpose of a variety of texts.
Examine the purpose of a variety of texts.
Explain personal preferences for texts that provide enjoyment.
Explain personal preferences for texts that provide enjoyment.
Differentiate between fiction and non-fiction texts according to content.
Differentiate between fiction and non-fiction texts according to content.
Examine the form of a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts.
Examine the form of a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts.
Examine the structure of a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts.
Text structure
Story elements
Main idea
Examine the structure of a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts.
Text structure
Story elements
Main idea
Determine how the structure of texts can help organize the expression or understanding of ideas or information.
Determine how the structure of texts can help organize the expression or understanding of ideas or information.
Examine a variety of text features that provide additional information in a text.
Examine a variety of text features that provide additional information in a text.
Include a variety of text features to organize, clarify, or enhance personal messages.
Include a variety of text features to organize, clarify, or enhance personal messages.
Differentiate between a variety of fiction sub-forms, considering content, characters, time, or place.
Differentiate between a variety of fiction sub-forms, considering content, characters, time, or place.
Examine fictional text structures that contribute to organization, clarity, or personal engagement.
Examine fictional text structures that contribute to organization, clarity, or personal engagement.
Examine circular plot structures found in fictional texts.
Examine circular plot structures found in fictional texts.
Examine elements within a variety of fictional texts.
Examine elements within a variety of fictional texts.
Examine major characters in fictional texts.
Examine major characters in fictional texts.
Create imaginative representations or dramatizations of fictional texts that depict understandings of characters, setting, and plot.
Create imaginative representations or dramatizations of fictional texts that depict understandings of characters, setting, and plot.
Investigate the narrator's contribution to a text.
Investigate the narrator's contribution to a text.
Compare and contrast ways that non-fiction texts can be organized.
Compare and contrast ways that non-fiction texts can be organized.
Investigate linear and cyclical sequencing in a variety of nonfiction texts.
Investigate linear and cyclical sequencing in a variety of nonfiction texts.
Investigate words or phrases applied creatively in poetry.
Poetry
Sensory details
Literary devices
Shades of meaning
Idioms
Investigate words or phrases applied creatively in poetry.
Poetry
Sensory details
Literary devices
Shades of meaning
Idioms
Examine poetic structures that contribute to creative expression of ideas.
Examine poetic structures that contribute to creative expression of ideas.
Experiment with creating haikus and limericks.
Experiment with creating haikus and limericks.
Vocabulary
Students analyze new words and morphemes to enhance vocabulary.
Use tier 2 words in a variety of literacy contexts.
Use tier 2 words in a variety of literacy contexts.
Develop tier 3 vocabulary through content-area learning.
Develop tier 3 vocabulary through content-area learning.
Engage with texts that include more sophisticated concepts and ideas expressed through expanded vocabulary.
Engage with texts that include more sophisticated concepts and ideas expressed through expanded vocabulary.
Integrate knowledge of vocabulary across multiple literacy contexts.
Categories
Synonyms
Antonyms
Shades of meaning
Idioms
Context clues
Alphabetical order
Reference skills
Integrate knowledge of vocabulary across multiple literacy contexts.
Categories
Synonyms
Antonyms
Shades of meaning
Idioms
Context clues
Alphabetical order
Reference skills
Recognize and use figurative language in oral and written communication.
Recognize and use figurative language in oral and written communication.
Analyze and use synonyms, antonyms, homophones, homographs, and words with multiple meanings in a variety of texts.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Homophones
Multiple-meaning words
Analyze and use synonyms, antonyms, homophones, homographs, and words with multiple meanings in a variety of texts.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Homophones
Multiple-meaning words
Analyze bases and affixes for meaning.
Prefixes
Suffixes
Base words, prefixes and suffixes
Greek and Latin roots
Analyze bases and affixes for meaning.
Prefixes
Suffixes
Base words, prefixes and suffixes
Greek and Latin roots
Recognize and use suffixes to form adverbs that describe a specific manner, period of time, or order.
Recognize and use suffixes to form adverbs that describe a specific manner, period of time, or order.
Recognize and use suffixes to name a person that does something.
Recognize and use suffixes to name a person that does something.
Analyze frequently used compound words and their meanings.
Analyze frequently used compound words and their meanings.
Distinguish syllables in words.
Distinguish syllables in words.
Phonics
Students investigate how phonics connects to word formation and supports the processes of reading and writing.
Recognize consonant clusters at the beginning and ending of a word.
Recognize consonant clusters at the beginning and ending of a word.
Recognize and apply less frequent consonant digraphs.
Recognize and apply less frequent consonant digraphs.
Recognize and apply consonant letters that represent no sounds.
Recognize and apply consonant letters that represent no sounds.
Recognize and apply a wide variety of long and short vowel sounds when decoding unknown multisyllabic words.
Recognize and apply a wide variety of long and short vowel sounds when decoding unknown multisyllabic words.
Use phonetic strategies to decode complex words in continuous text.
Rhyme
Open and closed syllables
Consonant-l-e
Irregular words
Use phonetic strategies to decode complex words in continuous text.
Rhyme
Open and closed syllables
Consonant-l-e
Irregular words
Fluency
Students apply fluency strategies and develop reading comprehension.
Demonstrate automaticity in reading complex words, phrases, and continuous text.
Demonstrate automaticity in reading complex words, phrases, and continuous text.
Read increasingly complex text with appropriate pace, word stress, phrasing, and pausing.
Read increasingly complex text with appropriate pace, word stress, phrasing, and pausing.
Read a variety of text forms with fluency and expression.
Read a variety of text forms with fluency and expression.
Read the 300 high-frequency words learned in grades 1 and 2 fluently in continuous text.
Read the 300 high-frequency words learned in grades 1 and 2 fluently in continuous text.
Comprehension
Students analyze text and make connections to personal experiences to support meaning.
Independently read and demonstrate comprehension of texts that vary in length or complexity.
Literary texts: level 1
Literary texts: level 2
Informational texts: level 1
Informational texts: level 2
Main idea
Independently read and demonstrate comprehension of texts that vary in length or complexity.
Literary texts: level 1
Literary texts: level 2
Informational texts: level 1
Informational texts: level 2
Main idea
Make connections between a text and personal feelings, experiences, or background knowledge.
Make connections between a text and personal feelings, experiences, or background knowledge.
Make connections between various aspects within or between texts.
Text structure
Visual elements
Make connections between various aspects within or between texts.
Text structure
Visual elements
Make connections between texts and ideas that relate to past, present, or future world events.
Make connections between texts and ideas that relate to past, present, or future world events.
Make predictions using background knowledge and information within a text.
Make predictions using background knowledge and information within a text.
Identify information from texts that supports predictions.
Identify information from texts that supports predictions.
Modify predictions based on new or additional information.
Modify predictions based on new or additional information.
Reflect on predictions to confirm or change understandings.
Reflect on predictions to confirm or change understandings.
Make inferences by combining background knowledge with information that is not explicitly stated within a text.
Make inferences by combining background knowledge with information that is not explicitly stated within a text.
Identify connections between the actions, feelings, or motives of a character and evidence in text.
Identify connections between the actions, feelings, or motives of a character and evidence in text.
Determine the most important information in a text.
Theme
Main idea
Determine the most important information in a text.
Theme
Main idea
Order significant information from a text in a logical sequence.
Order significant information from a text in a logical sequence.
Share important information from a text in a logical order using own words.
Share important information from a text in a logical order using own words.
Examine the location in texts where reading comprehension becomes challenging.
Examine the location in texts where reading comprehension becomes challenging.
Identify self-monitoring skills that are personally effective in supporting reading comprehension.
Identify self-monitoring skills that are personally effective in supporting reading comprehension.
Writing
Students investigate writing and research processes that support informed written expression.
Create written texts for a variety of audiences and purposes.
Create written texts for a variety of audiences and purposes.
Create written texts using a variety of forms and structures.
Create written texts using a variety of forms and structures.
Use organizational processes, methods, or tools to support the creation of written texts.
Organize writing
Topic sentences
Linking words
Opinion writing
Use organizational processes, methods, or tools to support the creation of written texts.
Organize writing
Topic sentences
Linking words
Opinion writing
Create drafts of writing that maintain audience interest by focusing the number of ideas in sentences and limiting repetitions.
Create drafts of writing that maintain audience interest by focusing the number of ideas in sentences and limiting repetitions.
Include a range of sentence beginnings and types to vary and add interest to writing.
Include a range of sentence beginnings and types to vary and add interest to writing.
Sequence sections of writing in a logical order.
Sequence sections of writing in a logical order.
Revise written texts for accuracy, clarity, or appeal by adding, removing, or changing words or sentences.
Revise written texts for accuracy, clarity, or appeal by adding, removing, or changing words or sentences.
Edit writing for spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
Sentences, fragments and run-ons
To be
To have
Subject-verb agreement
Pronouns
Plural and possessive nouns
Articles
Adjectives and adverbs
Punctuation
Edit writing for spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
Sentences, fragments and run-ons
To be
To have
Subject-verb agreement
Pronouns
Plural and possessive nouns
Articles
Adjectives and adverbs
Punctuation
Read written texts aloud to check for writing fluency.
Read written texts aloud to check for writing fluency.
Select a variety of texts to be shared according to their purpose.
Select a variety of texts to be shared according to their purpose.
Examine how relationships between audience, purpose, and text form can influence creative expression.
Examine how relationships between audience, purpose, and text form can influence creative expression.
Examine how other writers use words, sensory detail, and figurative language for creative expression of thoughts and emotions.
Sensory details
Literary devices
Shades of meaning
Examine how other writers use words, sensory detail, and figurative language for creative expression of thoughts and emotions.
Sensory details
Literary devices
Shades of meaning
Create written texts that draw upon a variety of sources of inspiration.
Create written texts that draw upon a variety of sources of inspiration.
Select from a variety of text forms or structures to express personal thoughts or feelings.
Select from a variety of text forms or structures to express personal thoughts or feelings.
Create beginnings that catch the audience's attention by experimenting with ideas and word choice.
Create beginnings that catch the audience's attention by experimenting with ideas and word choice.
Include a variety of carefully selected words and sensory detail to add interest and keep audiences engaged.
Descriptive details
Shades of meaning
Sensory details
Synonyms and antonyms
Include a variety of carefully selected words and sensory detail to add interest and keep audiences engaged.
Descriptive details
Shades of meaning
Sensory details
Synonyms and antonyms
Include dialogue to add variety to texts.
Include dialogue to add variety to texts.
Use punctuation to generate effects in creative expression.
Use punctuation to generate effects in creative expression.
Create thoughtful conclusions to tie up events or leave readers wondering.
Create thoughtful conclusions to tie up events or leave readers wondering.
Select from a variety of presentation forms or text features to enhance and share selections of creative writing.
Select from a variety of presentation forms or text features to enhance and share selections of creative writing.
Persevere through challenges that may arise in the creative expression of ideas.
Persevere through challenges that may arise in the creative expression of ideas.
Access information from a variety of sources to answer questions or expand knowledge.
Access information from a variety of sources to answer questions or expand knowledge.
Organize, categorize, or sequence information using a variety of methods or tools.
Organize, categorize, or sequence information using a variety of methods or tools.
Use research to create written text that is appropriate for an audience.
Use research to create written text that is appropriate for an audience.
List sources of information used to inform research.
List sources of information used to inform research.
Demonstrate writing fluency using at least one method or tool.
Demonstrate writing fluency using at least one method or tool.
Use cursive handwriting to write some texts with appropriate letter formation, size, proportion, and slant.
Use cursive handwriting to write some texts with appropriate letter formation, size, proportion, and slant.
Demonstrate basic keyboarding skills.
Demonstrate basic keyboarding skills.
Conventions
Students investigate and demonstrate how conventions support written communication.
Capitalize words appropriately in different contexts.
Capitalization
Capitalize titles
Capitalize words appropriately in different contexts.
Capitalization
Capitalize titles
Include a variety of punctuation at the end of sentences.
Include a variety of punctuation at the end of sentences.
Insert commas to indicate a pause between parts of sentences or to separate items in a list.
Insert commas to indicate a pause between parts of sentences or to separate items in a list.
Insert quotation marks to identify the words of a speaker.
Insert quotation marks to identify the words of a speaker.
Insert quotation marks to bring attention to a word that is used in a special way.
Insert quotation marks to bring attention to a word that is used in a special way.
Insert apostrophes in place of letters in contractions.
Insert apostrophes in place of letters in contractions.
Insert apostrophes to show possession.
Insert apostrophes to show possession.
Distinguish between a variety of sentence types.
Sentence types
Sentences, fragments and run-ons
Distinguish between a variety of sentence types.
Sentence types
Sentences, fragments and run-ons
Identify the subject of a variety of sentences.
Identify the subject of a variety of sentences.
Identify the predicate of a variety of sentences.
Identify the predicate of a variety of sentences.
Examine conjunctions in a variety of sentences.
Examine conjunctions in a variety of sentences.
Use adjectives to describe nouns.
Use adjectives to describe nouns.
Use adverbs to describe verbs.
Use adverbs to describe verbs.
Identify subject-verb agreement in a variety of sentences.
Identify subject-verb agreement in a variety of sentences.
Differentiate between possessive nouns, possessive adjectives, and possessive pronouns.
Possessive nouns
Possessive pronouns
Differentiate between possessive nouns, possessive adjectives, and possessive pronouns.
Possessive nouns
Possessive pronouns
Recognize and use prepositions in sentences to show time and place.
Recognize and use prepositions in sentences to show time and place.
Identify spelling patterns within and across words.
Short and long vowels
Blends
Open and closed syllables
Consonant-l-e
Spell adjectives
Regular plurals
Regular past tense
Irregular words
Identify spelling patterns within and across words.
Short and long vowels
Blends
Open and closed syllables
Consonant-l-e
Spell adjectives
Regular plurals
Regular past tense
Irregular words
Apply knowledge of known words, word parts, and word patterns to spell unfamiliar words.
Prefixes
Suffixes
Base words, prefixes and suffixes
Short and long vowels
Blends
Open and closed syllables
Consonant-l-e
Irregular words
Spell adjectives
Regular plurals
Regular past tense
Apply knowledge of known words, word parts, and word patterns to spell unfamiliar words.
Prefixes
Suffixes
Base words, prefixes and suffixes
Short and long vowels
Blends
Open and closed syllables
Consonant-l-e
Irregular words
Spell adjectives
Regular plurals
Regular past tense
Identify plural nouns that are spelled the same as or differently from their singular form.
Identify plural nouns that are spelled the same as or differently from their singular form.
Add an apostrophe and an to nouns to show ownership.
Add an apostrophe and an to nouns to show ownership.
Add only an apostrophe to show ownership if a noun is plural and already ends in an [s].
Add only an apostrophe to show ownership if a noun is plural and already ends in an [s].
Spell a variety of prefixes and suffixes accurately in words.
Spell a variety of prefixes and suffixes accurately in words.
Identify words that are not spelled in predictable ways.
Identify words that are not spelled in predictable ways.
Apply a variety of spelling strategies to enhance written expression.
Regular plurals
Short and long vowels
Blends
Open and closed syllables
Consonant-l-e
Irregular words
Spell adjectives
Regular past tense
Apply a variety of spelling strategies to enhance written expression.
Regular plurals
Short and long vowels
Blends
Open and closed syllables
Consonant-l-e
Irregular words
Spell adjectives
Regular past tense
Use a variety of tools to spell or confirm the spelling of words.
Use a variety of tools to spell or confirm the spelling of words.
Spell common abbreviations in writing.
Spell common abbreviations in writing.
Recognize and spell contractions in writing.
Recognize and spell contractions in writing.
Apply inflectional endings in writing.
Apply inflectional endings in writing.
Spell compound words accurately.
Spell compound words accurately.
Spell singular and plural possessives.
Spell singular and plural possessives.
Spell some complex plural words.
Spell some complex plural words.
Apply endings that show comparisons.
Apply endings that show comparisons.
Recognize basic guidelines for adding inflectional endings.
Recognize basic guidelines for adding inflectional endings.