Children at this age are eager to explore new ideas, deepen their understanding, and develop essential skills across various subject areas. 

Differentiate Instruction to Meet Individual Needs:

• • Differentiate instruction to accommodate varying levels of readiness and learning preferences.
  • Offer a variety of learning activities, materials, and resources that cater to different interests.
  • Empower kids to take ownership of their learning by offering choices and opportunities for self-directed inquiry, exploration, and creativity.

Emphasize Hands-On Learning Experiences:

• • Some children learn best through active engagement and hands-on experiences. Incorporate manipulatives, experiments, simulations, and real-world examples to make learning meaningful and memorable. Check out our “Favorite Products” section for ideas on where to start.
  • Use technology as a tool to enhance learning, allowing kids to explore interactive simulations, multimedia resources, and educational apps such as those recommended below, to reinforce key concepts and skills.

Foster Literacy Development:

• • Develop students’ literacy skills through a balanced approach that includes reading, writing, speaking, and listening activities.
  • Encourage independent reading.
  • Teach explicit reading strategies, such as summarizing, making predictions, asking questions, and making connections, to support deeper understanding and critical thinking.
  • Inspire a love of writing and creative expression through writing workshops, journaling, and storytelling.

Strengthen Numeracy Skills:

• • Build upon their mathematical foundation by focusing on key concepts such as multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, geometry, measurement, and data analysis.
  • Use manipulatives, visual models, and hands-on activities to help children develop conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills in math.
  • Encourage mathematical discourse and reasoning by facilitating discussions, explaining reasoning processes, and exploring multiple strategies for solving problems. We like to incorporate the “What’s the Point of Math?” book into our math lessons to grasp the history and reasoning behind the subject. It helps break the monotony of constant calculations. The book is linked under our “Favorite Products” section.

Promote Social-Emotional Learning:

• • Support their social-emotional development by teaching important skills such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
  • Create a supportive and nurturing environment where children feel comfortable expressing their feelings, sharing their thoughts, and building positive relationships with those around them.
  • Teach conflict resolution strategies, communication skills, and empathy-building exercises to help children navigate interpersonal challenges and develop healthy relationships.
  • Incorporate mindfulness activities, relaxation techniques, and stress-management strategies to help kids manage emotions, reduce anxiety, and cultivate a sense of well-being. We have added videos for different age groups to help start your mindfulness journey. Around this age, we incorporated a daily journal where our children can write about their day, feelings, or simply follow a prompt. Some of our recommendations are linked under our “Favorite Products” section.

Teaching third graders requires dedication, creativity, and a deep understanding of child development. By implementing these strategies, you can empower their students to become confident, curious, and lifelong learners.