3rd Grade ELA Skill Spotlight: Alphabetizing & Dictionary Skills

• Subject: English Language Arts

• Grade: 3

What is my child learning?

In addition to solidifying foundational phonics and grammar skills that they need to be successful readers, third graders must begin to learn more advanced reading skills, such as morphology (word parts) and dictionary skills. Key dictionary skills include understanding the parts of a dictionary page and entry and using guide words, the words at the top of the dictionary page that tell you what other words are on the page. For example, if the guide words on a dictionary page are slide and sweet, every word listed on that page will come alphabetically between those two guide words. That means that in order to use guide words and find entries on a dictionary page, children must first have solid alphabetizing skills..

📅 Coming tomorrow

This week’s activity is called “Shopping the Alphabet.” It’s a fun way for your child to put ABC order and dictionary skills into action. Look for it in your text tomorrow!