Chicopee Public Schools
Academic Benchmarks
Grade 3
Reading and Literature Strand
7. Students will understand the nature of written English and the relationship of
letters and spelling patterns to the sounds of speech.
8. Students will identify the basic facts and main ideas in a text and use them as the basis for interpretation.
9. Students will deepen their understanding of a literary or non-literary work by relating it to its contemporary context or historical background.
10. Students will identify, analyze, and apply knowledge of the characteristics of different genres.
11. Students will identify, analyze, and apply knowledge of theme in a literary work and provide evidence from the text to support their understanding.
12. Students will identify, analyze, and apply knowledge of the structure and elements of fiction and provide evidence from the text to support their understanding.
13. Students will identify, analyze, and apply knowledge of the purpose, structure, and elements of non-fiction or informational materials and provide evidence from the text to support their understanding.
14. Students will identify, analyze, and apply knowledge of the theme, structure, and elements of poetry and provide evidence from the text to support their understanding.
15. Students will identify, analyze how an author’s words appeal to the senses, create imagery, suggest mood, and set tone and provide evidence from the text to support their understanding.
16. Students will identify, analyze, and apply knowledge of the themes, structure, and elements of myths, traditional narratives, and classical literature and provide evidence from the text to support their understanding.
17. Students will identify, analyze, and apply knowledge of the themes, structure, and elements of drama and provide evidence from the text to support their understanding.
18. Students will plan and present dramatic readings, recitations, and performances that demonstrate appropriate considerations of audience and purpose.
Grade 3
Reading and Literature Strand
First Term Academic Benchmarks
Students will be able to:
7.8 Use letter-sound knowledge to decode written English.
Use short vowels sounds and Vowel-Consonant-e Pattern to help decode unfamiliar words.
Use syllabication rules for compound words and VCCV (vowel consonant consonant vowel) pattern to decode unfamiliar words.
Use correctly the long vowel sounds and the long vowel ai, ay, ee, ea, ie, and igh.
Identify and sound three-letter clusters and consonant patterns to decode unfamiliar words.
Use syllabication rules to break unfamiliar words into word parts for decoding.
Read words with the inflected endings –ed and –ing.
7.9 Read aloud grade-appropriate imaginative and informational/expository text with comprehension.
(Follow standard 8.)
7.10 Read aloud grade-appropriate imaginative and informational/expository text
fluently, accurately, and with comprehension, using appropriate timing
change in voice, and expression.
Change sound, pitch, and volume of key words and phrases to increase oral
comprehension of text.
Use pauses at punctuation.
Identify different purposes for reading and adjust rate of reading accordingly.
8.13 Identify the speaker of a poem or story.
Understand that a poem is a form of creative writing that requires a slower reading pace.
Look and listen for patterns of rhythm, repetition, and rhyme.
Analyze the author’s word choices.
Identify the idea the poet is trying to express.
Express their feelings about a poem.
8.14 Make judgments about setting, characters, and events and support them with evidence from the text.
Use the strategy of evaluation to discuss and support with evidence from the text the quality of the author’s writing,
the idea of the story, and personal reactions to the story.
Identify cause-and-effect relationships between story events.
Make inferences using story clues and personal knowledge to make reasonable guesses.
Use event maps or other graphic organizers to record the main events of the story in correct sequence.
Use the strategy of prediction or inferring by using story details and personal knowledge.
Identify important details about characters, events, and setting of a story.
Make judgments about story characters, story situations, and author’s viewpoint.
8.16 Distinguish cause from effect.
Identify cause-and-effect relationships between story events.
8.17 Distinguish fact from opinion or fiction.
Distinguish fact from opinion by using the text to identify sentences that contain
the authors opinion and sentences that can prove or disprove facts statements.
Use the skill of categorizing and classifying information from a story.
10.2 Distinguish among forms of literature such as
poetry, prose, fiction, nonfiction, and drama and apply this knowledge
as a strategy
for reading and writing.
Identify elements of fantasy and realism in stories.
Identify the elements of a photo essay.
Identify the elements of a biography.
Identify the element of expository nonfiction.
12.2 Identify and analyze the elements of plot, character, and setting in the stories they read and write.
Use story illustrations to increase understanding of the text.
Identify character traits using the character’s speech, actions, thoughts, and feelings.
Use a story map to identify the structure of characters, setting, and beginning middle, and end of the plot.
13.6 Identify and use knowledge of common textual features.
Identify and use different parts of a book: title page, table of contents, index, glossary.
Identify paragraphs, topic sentences, and concluding sentences.
13.7 Identify and use knowledge of common graphic features (charts, maps, diagrams, captions, illustrations).
Identify the parts of a K-W-L strategy chart.
Use a compass rose to find north, south, east, and west.
Read labels to locate information.
Understand that symbols on a map give information.
Understand and use a key to acquire information.
Take notes to use in a graphic organizer.
Identify parts of an outline and use the outline to organize information.
Use Venn Diagrams to compare and contrast how two things are alike and how they are different.
13.8 Identify and use knowledge of common organizational features (chronological order).
Follow written directions by gathering information, viewing pictures, following correct sequence, and rereading.
13.9 Locate facts that answer the reader’s questions.
Use the strategy of
questioning to monitor their comprehension as they read the story.
Use the skill of skimming and scanning to quickly locate information.
Identify cause-and-effect relationships between story events.
13.12 Summarize main ideas and supporting details.
Use the strategy of summarizing by identifying the main characters, setting,
story problem, solutions to the story
problem, and
events at the beginning, middle, and end of the story.
14.2 Identify rhyme and rhythm, repetition, similes, and sensory images in poems.
Identify a simile as a direct comparison and recognize the signal words like and as.
Grade 3
Reading and Literature Strand
Second Term Academic Benchmarks
After assessment, review previous skills as necessary.
Students will be able to:
7.8 Use letter-sound knowledge to decode written English.
Read and understand the symbols in the Pronunciation Key of a dictionary.
Pronounce words using a dictionary pronunciation.
Correctly read the vowel sounds /ou/, o, vowel + r.
Correctly read the sounds of /j/ /k/, and /kw/.
Read correctly the digraphs ch, sh, th, tch, wh, and wr.
7.10 Read aloud grade-appropriate imaginative and informational/expository text
fluently, accurately, and with comprehension, using appropriate timing
change in voice, and expression.
Change sound, pitch, and volume of key words and phrases to increase oral
comprehension in poetry.
Use pauses at punctuation and line breaks to increase oral comprehension in
poetry.
Identify different purposes for reading and adjust rate of reading accordingly.
8.11 Identify and show the relevance of foreshadowing clues.
Identify story clues that foreshadow the story’s outcome.
8.13 Identify the speaker of a poem or story.
Distinguish between first person and third person point of view.
8.14 Make judgments about setting, characters, and events and support them with evidence from the text.
Analyze a character’s ability to solve the story problem.
Generate inferences to a character’s behavior in solving the story problem.
Generate inferences about a character’s personality by supporting it with evidence from the text.
Draw conclusions by using story details and support with evidence from text.
Identify main idea and details of a selection.
Make generalizations using information from the text.
Make inferences and predict outcomes with supporting evidence from the text.
Use an inference chart.
Compare and contrast story details that are alike and different.
8.16 Distinguish cause from effect.
Distinguish effect as what happened and cause as why it happened.
9.3 Identify similarities and differences between the characters or events in a literary work and the actual experiences in an author’s life.
Compare the life of an author to his/her characters and story problems.
10.2 Distinguish among forms of literature such
as poetry, prose, fiction, nonfiction, and drama and apply this knowledge as a
strategy for
reading and writing.
Identify elements of fantasy and realism in stories.
Identify the elements of a folktale.
Identify the elements of an interview.
Identify the element of nonfiction magazine articles, such as science, social studies, and interviews.
11.2 Identify the themes as lessons in folktales, fables, and Greek myths for children.
Identify the lessons in folktales.
12.2 Identify and analyze the elements of plot, character, and setting in the stories they read and write.
Identify the story problem (conflict) and character’s solutions.
Evaluate character’s solutions to story problem.
13.6 Identify and use knowledge of common textual features (paragraphs, topic sentences, concluding sentences, glossary).
Identify main title and subheadings, labels on diagrams, introductory
headings, photos and captions, paragraphs organized by main ideas and supporting details.
Use the SQRR (Survey, Question, Read, Review) method to increase comprehension of nonfiction text.
13.7 Identify and use knowledge of common graphic features(charts, maps, diagrams, illustrations).
Identify and use diagrams, story maps, charts, tables, graphs, and conclusion charts.
13.8 Identify and use knowledge of common organization structures(chronological order).
Identify and follow steps in directions.
13.9 Locate facts that answer the reader’s questions.
Use an Atlas to locate information about nonfiction articles.
Use an encyclopedia to locate information to answer questions.
Use the skill of skimming and scanning to locate information.
13.10 Distinguish cause from effect.
Use an Atlas to locate information about nonfiction articles.
Use an encyclopedia to locate information to answer questions.
Use the skill of skimming and scanning to locate information.
13.11 Distinguish fact from opinion or fiction.
Distinguish fact from opinion by using the text to identify sentences that contain the author’s opinion and sentences that
can prove or disprove fact statements.
Use the skill of categorizing and classifying information from a story.
13.12 Summarize main ideas and supporting details.
Use details from the story to make generalizations based on facts that can be checked.
Identify words that give clues to generalizations(usually, often, most, many, few)
Identify main idea and supporting details.
Create main idea and details charts, KWL charts, graphic organizers.
14.2 Identify rhyme and rhythm, repetition, similes, and sensory images in poems.
Identify rhythm as a pattern of stressed syllables and rhyme as ending words with the same sound in poetry.
Grade 3
Reading and Literature Strand
Third Term Academic Benchmarks
After assessment, review previous skills as necessary.
Students will be able to:
7.9 Use letter-sound knowledge to decode written English.
Correctly identify the VCCV pattern, double consonants and the VCV pattern for syllabication and decoding.
Read correctly the patterns ough and augh as o.
Read correctly the patterns oo and ew as oo in tooth.
Read correctly the patterns oe and ue as oo in tooth.
Read correctly the pattern oo as oo in cook.
Read correctly words that end in er and le as having the schwa r sound.
Read correctly the patterns ge, gi, gy, and dge as /j/.
Read correctly the patterns ce and ci as /s/.
Correctly read contractions and identify their meanings.
8.11 Identify and show the relevance of foreshadowing clues.
Identify places in a story where the author uses foreshadowing to give clues to later events.
8.12 Identify sensory details and figurative language.
Identify words from the text that develop the mood of a selection.
Identify metaphors in poems and text.
Identify elements of humor and point out examples of humor in text.
Discuss how imagery increases interest in a story.
8.16 Distinguish cause from effect.
Identify the cause and effect of story events.
10.2 Distinguish among forms of literature such as
poetry, prose, fiction, nonfiction, and drama and apply
this knowledge
as a strategy for reading and writing.
Identify the elements of historical fiction.
Identify the elements of narrative fiction.
Identify the elements of realistic fiction.
Identify the elements of a play.
Identify the elements of a biography.
15.2 Identify words appealing to the senses or involving direct comparisons in literature and spoken language.
Discuss how the author’s use of imagery enhances the story.
Discuss the author’s choice of words to describe story details.
17.2 Identify and analyze the elements of plot
and character, as presented through dialogue and scripts that are read,
viewed, written, or performed.
Understand the elements in a play.
18.2
Plan and perform readings of selected texts for an audience using clear
diction and voice quality.
(volume, tempo, pitch, tone) appropriate to the selection, and use teacher-developed assessment
criteria to prepare
presentations.
Perform a play for class members.
Grade 3
Reading and Literature Strand
Fourth Term Academic Benchmarks
After assessment, review previous skills as necessary.
Students will be able to:
10.2 Distinguish among forms of literature such as poetry, prose, fiction, nonfiction, and drama and apply this knowledge as a strategy for reading and writing.
Identify the elements in a myth.
Identify the elements of a fable.
11.2 Identify the themes as lessons in folktales, fables, and Greek myths for children.
Identify the lessons in fables and myths.
16.4 Identify phenomena explained in original myths. (Prometheus/ Fire; Pandora/evils)
Identify phenomena in original myths and connect to scientific fact.
16.5 Identify the adventures or exploits of a character type in traditional literature.
Identify common character traits among several tales from different cultures.
16.6
Acquire knowledge of culturally significant characters and events in
Greek, Roman, and Norse mythology and other
traditional literature.
Retell myths.
Match significant characters and events in mythology and traditional literature.
18.2 Plan and perform readings of selected texts for an audience using clear diction and voice quality. (volume, tempo, pitch, tone) appropriate to the selection, and use teacher-developed assessment criteria to prepare presentations.
Perform a play, poetry reading, skit, etc. for a large audience (parents, multiple classrooms).
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