3rd Grade ELA Skill Spotlight: Alphabetizing & Dictionary Skills

Why do alphabetizing and dictionary skills matter in 3rd grade?

By 3rd grade, kids aren’t just learning how to read words — they’re learning how to find information quickly. Knowing ABC order and how to use a dictionary helps them look up unfamiliar words in glossaries, indexes, and other reference tools. This skill supports learning in every subject, from science to social studies.

What is my child is learning?

For this week’s Dancing Panda activity, your child is practicing:

• Understanding the parts of a dictionary page

• Using guide words (the two words at the top of each page that show the first and last word on that page)

• Putting words in ABC order to find them quickly

Example: If the guide words are slide and sweet, every word on that page will fall alphabetically between those two.

This week’s Dancing Panda activity

📅 Coming tomorrow: Shopping the Alphabet — a fun way for your child to put ABC order and dictionary skills into action. Look for it in your text tomorrow!