SUGGESTIONS FOR PARENTS

PARENTING YOUR THIRD GRADER

WHO IS MY THIRD GRADER?

READING SUCCESS WITH YOUR CHILD

HOME STUDY CENTER ESSENTIALS

THIRD GRADE READING LIST

PARENTING YOUR THIRD GRADER

• DO understand that “I’m bored” is a common complaint of the eight year old, and using redirection goes a very long way; criticism can be devastating.
• DO recognize that eight year olds may appear lazy or unmotivated at times, but they are actually struggling with feelings of inferiority as they try new things.
• DO offer experiences of “incremental successes” in their work, which means gradual.
• DO allow for ten to twelve hours of sleep.
• DO provide healthy food to eat.
• DO understand they have a tendency to establish some independence from adults.
• DO provide adult approval.
• DO support their need to do something or be something which makes them feel important, although they do not want to be singled out or made conspicuous.
• DO organize regular habits for food and rest.
• DO provide toys that will develop good basic motor and muscular skills.
• DO provide enough organization and structure to homework time. Approximately 30 minutes of homework is appropriate for 3rd grade. This is in addition to math facts and home reading.
• DO take time to talk, explain, and reason with your child.
• DO accept your child’s friends and plan happy times for them.
• DO give praise for good work and behavior.
• DO monitor your child’s progress by having close contact with the teacher and having knowledge of the school’s program.
• DO teach children to say no to themselves and to others in dangerous risk-taking situations.

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WHO IS MY THIRD GRADER?

THE THIRD GRADE CHILD

The third grade child is changing from having no social awareness to a growing ability to make social responses. They may continue to hit, tease, and punch for the fun of it, but such behavior normally recedes, and more approved responses become increasingly habitual. They are serious about themselves, impressed with their ability to imitate grown-up behavior, and like to take responsibility. They need a very careful balance between adult guidance and independent action.

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TOGETHER WE CAN TEACH YOUR THIRD GRADE CHILD

• To develop an understanding of how they impact others.
• That there is a cause and effect of personal actions on self/others.
• How to work with others
• To develop a respect of others.
• To practice an accepted code of behaviors.

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COGNITIVE, EMOTIONAL and PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

• Developing better eye-hand coordination.
• Unable to maintain a long attention span.
• Speedy, works in a hurry.
• Listens, but so full of ideas cannot always recall what has been said.
• Vocabulary expands rapidly.
• Engrossed in activity at hand; loves to socialize at same time.
• Basic skills begin to be mastered.
• Begins to feel a sense of competence with skills.
• Enjoys responsibility, though not always successful.
• Tire easily, may give up temporarily on hard assignments, but bounce back quickly.

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SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

• Extremely interested in cliques, teams, friends.
• More likely to wear the most tattered sweater instead of the newest one.
• Sensitive to ridicule, failure, and loss of prestige.
• Careless about how dirty they get.
• Desire for group play activity and teams.
• Interest in dressing up and playing parts.
• Tendency to use unacceptable language.
• A strong sense of justice as they see it.
• Contradictory traits, such as fighting with best friends, sisters or brothers.
• Varying emotional patterns of fear, joy, anger, jealousy, and affection.
• Fear of such things as blood, ghosts, death, dead animals, lightening, robbers, dark, solitude, and even the doctor.
• Ideas and desires to make things which are beyond their ability.
• Physical modesty.

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READING SUCCESS WITH YOUR CHILD

• read to your child often
• expand your child’s experience
• ask your child to retell a story
• let him/her see you enjoy reading
• yield to your child’s interests and tastes in reading
• help your child to find a quiet place to read
• listen to what your child has to say about his/her reading
• praise your child as often as possible
• be patient
• be positive

HOME STUDY CENTER ESSENTIALS

• lined paper
• #2 pencils
• large eraser
• ruler
• pencil sharpener
• scissors
• dictionary
• markers/colored pencils/crayons