TEKS Objectives for Language in the Third Grade

Texas Essential Skills and Knowledge objectives provide the curriculum standards for Texas public schools.

The Texas Essential Skills and Knowledge standards (TEKS) represent the skills necessary for students to succeed throughout and after their school years. The TEKS drive the curriculum in Texas schools at all grade levels. Texas assesses critical concepts beginning in third grade. Students must demonstrate exemplary performance in reading and writing of English. Students should accomplish the essential knowledge and skills and meet the expectations for third grade.

Vocabulary

Vocabulary plays an essential part in the third-grade curriculum. Students develop vocabulary skills by listening to and reading challenging selections. Third grade is the first time students learn how to use resources and reference materials such as dictionaries and glossaries to look up definitions of unfamiliar words. Students develop their vocabulary by identifying the meaning of words used in context and by writing new words learned in simple sentences. The TEKS objectives include improving skills in identifying new vocabulary in students' reading and matching vocabulary words with their meanings.

Reading

Texas requires that all third-grade students read at grade level before going on to fourth grade. The TEKS objectives for reading require students to distinguish between fact and opinion in different types of texts. Students must respond to stories and poems in ways that reflect comprehension. They then demonstrate that understanding through writing. A third-grade reader must connect ideas and themes in reading across texts. Students must be able to distinguish fiction and nonfiction and recognize the unique features of familiar genres including poetry and informational texts.

Language Use and Grammar

Grammar plays a critical role in student writing and requires a high level of skill. Students must differentiate sentence types and be able to write them. For example, a student should recognize the difference between a declarative and an interrogative sentence in context and use each correctly in a composition. Students punctuate sentences correctly and use the correct verb tense in their writing. Spelling objectives require mastery of spelling regular and irregular multisyllabic words. Students must demonstrate the proper use of prefixes and suffixes in spelling and writing.

Writing

TEKS writing objectives require students to demonstrate proficiency in cursive writing skills. Students learn to generate ideas for writing and learn how to organize their writing with pre-writing activities at this level. They must learn to write creative and expository pieces. Students must demonstrate organizing, drafting, editing and revising short compositions. Practice writing at this level prepares students for TAKS testing in writing in fourth grade.

References

• TEA: Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills
• Texas Education Agency: Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills
• Northeast ISD: 3rd Grade Language Arts
• Pflugerville ISD: Third Grade English Language Arts and Reading TEKS Introduction

Resources

• Texas Education Agency: Taks Revised Information Booklets