By the end of 3rd grade, kids should be able to:

• Look for the reasons behind things and ask questions for more information

• Understand cause and effect and make more in-depth connections (for example, know that if 6 + 2 = 8, then 8 ‒ 6 = 2)

• Use those connections to do more complex math like multiplication and division 

• Start planning ahead (for example, create a drawing of something to build or make a plan for an experiment)

• Can sit and pay attention to something that interests them for at least 30–45 minutes

• Start collecting things

• May try out different types of writing, like narratives and opinion papers (“Why I liked this book”)

• Use complex sentences and different types of sentences to express ideas clearly

• Recognize and know the value of coins

• Learn how to do addition and subtraction with regrouping (also known as “borrowing”)

• Understand what they read and begin to move from “learning to read” to “reading to learn”

• Learn vocabulary through reading

• Use words to talk through problems, both socially and academically

• Start playing with words to make puns; understand jokes and riddles

• Test out “bad” words for shock value

• Use all letter sounds correctly; don’t substitute w for r anymore when speaking

• Use writing to express feelings, tell stories, and summarize information