Today, I’m excited to share a look inside my Grade Three Literacy Curriculum!

If you’re not familiar with my resources, let me give you a brief introduction before we dive into Grade Three Literacy.

I am a big believer in quality over quantity, which is reflected in all of my homeschool resources. Children do not need to be sitting at a desk for hours upon hours each day, and if your little ones are anything like mine, they certainly don’t want to be either! Children need time to be children—to play and explore, to laugh and be silly, to climb trees and jump in puddles.

That is why, when creating my Math & Literacy Curriculum, I removed the “fluff” and boiled the core skills down to just one page a day. 

Yep, you read that right! One page a day is all it takes to build a rock-solid foundation.

The rest of your days can be spent playing, exploring, learning about fascinating new topics through hands-on Family Unit Studies, and spending quality time together.

Sound amazing? It truly is.

Currently, I have a Math & Literacy Curriculum for Grades One, Two, Three, and Four available in the shop, with Grades Five and Six in the works.

For today, I’m going to focus on the Grade Three Literacy Curriculum so you can see how easy it is to give your little one a solid foundation through one page a day.

Grade Three Literacy Curriculum

Here’s what we’ll cover in this review of How Wee Learn’s Grade Three Literacy Curriculum:

• First up, I’ll give you an overview of the skills covered in the curriculum.
• Next, I’ll show you how each week is structured.
• Then, I’ll give you a few tips to help you on your literacy journey.
• And finally, at the end of this post, you can download a Free Sample so you can see just how easy it all is!

Grade Three Literacy Curriculum Overview

In Grade Three Literacy, skills are taught in a cyclical nature. Each week, we work on reading strategies, comprehension, high-frequency words, and the writing process while exploring various types of media—again and again, in slightly different ways.

This gives children time to develop skills with exposure and practice, bit by bit, deepening their understanding and abilities as they progress through the workbook.

The Four Strands of Literacy

There are four strands of literacy that we focus on throughout the workbook:

1. Literacy Connections and Applications
2. Foundations of Language
3. Comprehension: Understanding and Responding to Texts
4. Composition: Expressing Ideas and Creating Texts

Your child will also build many other skills by writing and learning about posters, comics, letters, perspectives, maps, reader’s theatre, fables, poetry, and more!

Grade Three Literacy Curriculum Weekly Rhythm

So, how are all of these skills taught in just one page a day? Let’s take a look at the weekly rhythm so you can see how these skills fit together and progress each week.

Monday: High Frequency Words

Monday starts with exploring a set of high frequency words. High frequency words are words that occur often in reading and writing. Sometimes we can sound out high frequency words, other times we can not sound them out.

For example, in the first week, your child will explore high frequency words with the ‘th’ consonant digraph.

Tuesday: Short Story

Each week in Grade Three Literacy, your child reads a chapter from a whimsical story following Declan and his friends on their adventures. Along with practicing high frequency words built into the reading, your child will also explore reading comprehension strategies, such as using your schema, making predictions and connections, visualizing stories, and restating.

Wednesday to Friday: Writing Process Project

From Wednesday to Friday, your child will practice the writing process—from brainstorming, to making a draft, revising and editing the draft, making a good copy, and sharing their finished writing piece (if they would like to!)—through a variety of projects.

7 Tips for Success Homeschool Literacy

Now it’s time for those tips that I promised you! Whether you are using the How Wee Learn Literacy Curriculum or another program, these tips will help your child get the most out of their experience while developing a lifelong love for literacy.

#1: Have a conversation together before writing.

Before your child gets writing, have a conversation with them about their ideas. This will allow them to complete and organize their thoughts before adding in the writing element.

#2: Adjust lessons as they best fit your child.

You know your child best. Adjust the lessons as they best fit your child. We want learning to be fun to promote your child’s interest in being a lifelong learner. If that means switching a topic from frogs to dinosaurs, go for it!

#3: Encourage personal interests.

Different parts of the story may pique your child’s interest in various topics. Use this as an opportunity to build a joy for reading and learning. Join your child in researching the topic, make use of a library, or explore the topic with hands-on activities. Enjoy the opportunity to share your child’s excitement with them.

Similarly, as your child explores writing forms and styles, they may begin to take an interest in certain forms such as comics, scientific explanations, or fables. They may also begin to recognize writing styles such as voice, word choice, and different types of sentences. Keep watch for piques in your child’s interests in these regards then look for ways you can include them in fun ways into your family’s life.

#4: Go at your own pace.

During writing portions, the speed through which the course progresses is a suggested speed. Have your child work at the speed that is right for them. 

#5: Use a writing portfolio.

Create and keep a writing portfolio for your child. A two-pocket folder works well. On the left, keep brainstorming and drafts. On the right, keep finished good copies. Add to this throughout the year as your child creates and explores new forms of writing. This will be a wonderful keepsake at the end of the year!

#6: Focus on quality over quantity.

When it comes to writing, try to avoid telling your child how many sentences or paragraphs to write. Instead, focus on ensuring the amount they write is enough to explain their ideas clearly. Too much writing can sometimes sound like unnecessary rambling, while too little writing may not give enough information to express their ideas clearly. Brainstorming and planning, drafting, revising, and editing are all part of the process where you can help your child understand this concept.

#7: Read, Read, Read!

Read with your child. Read anything and everything! Plan a weekly trip to the library to get books on topics your child is interested in, and make reading an integral part of your day. Choose some simple reading books for your child to look through and practice independently each week as well.

Reading is one of the most beneficial gifts you can give to your child.

Grade Three Literacy Curriculum Sample

Now it’s time for the sample!

After you enter your email address below, you’ll be emailed a one-week sample from both the Grade Three Literacy and Math Curriculum. You’ll also be brought to the How Wee Learn shop, where you can grab the complete resource should you decide it is right for you and yours.

Grab your Free Sample right here:

If you value quality over quantity, and the idea of one page a day makes you think, “Yes!! This is how it should be!!” then this is the curriculum for you!

And if you have any questions about the curriculum, simply leave your question in the comments or send an email to Sarah@HowWeeLearn.com. I’m here to help!

xo
Sarah