How to Homeschool Third Grade Students

Homeschooling a 3^rd grader can be highly rewarding when using the right teaching strategies. You can influence your young one to become more productive and engaged by leveraging the best teaching plan and testing strategies.

You can also streamline the transition from 2^nd grade to 3^rd grade by checking for readiness through assessments. These can help you know whether your child is able and ready to get going with the syllabus. Homeschooling a 3^rd grader can be made smoother by being flexible with routines as well.

You’ll also need the right reading list to keep your child engaged. You’ll need to pick up third grade homeschool books that are right for your child’s reading level and that are impactful. Through the right reading list, you can also improve comprehension, which helps children understand word problems much better.

Now that we’ve explored a little bit about how homeschooling a 3^rd grader works, let’s dive deeper into the main areas you need to focus on.

SplashLearn: Most Comprehensive Learning Program for PreK-5

SplashLearn inspires lifelong curiosity with its game-based PreK-5 learning program loved by over 40 million children. With over 4,000 fun games and activities, it’s the perfect balance of learning and play for your little one.

Try for free

We have compiled the homeschooling math program with extensive research to bring your kids the best study material to excel in their studie at their own pace!

Introduction To Homeschooling Third Graders

Homeschooling a 3^rd grader can be difficult for many parents if they don’t have the right approach to teaching. You can’t start by being too flexible with the curriculum or the schedule. You need the right approach to planning, routine setting, study materials and testing so that your third grader can excel.

It’s also vital to know when homeschooling a 3^rd grader, to be more hands-on during the first few weeks of learning. This is so that you’re able to encourage them to continue pursuing a type of word problem or scientific experiment. You can also provide help when needed, as well as positively reinforce good manners in kids.

You also need to introduce outdoor games, field trips, and physically engaging events that revolve around learning. These can help break the monotony of reading in one position, which can lower productivity in younger children. It also makes homeschooling a 3rd grader more fun for parents as well.

Related Reading: Best Tips on Homeschooling for Parents

Right Schedule for Third Graders

The right homeschooling schedule can help your child excel in any subject they choose. You can empower them to become more productive and continue exploring topics in a free-flowing way. With the right homeschool schedule, your child can also keep their mind on their educational goals.

A great schedule is designed keeping in mind a few factors. The first factor you need to focus on is attention span, which is why keeping a school day of around 3-3.5 hours is key. If you go over that, then your child may not fully grasp what you’re trying to teach them.

The second factor is how well your child is performing in their current schedule. If you find that your child performs better in a certain schedule, such as weekends off or 3-day study runs, then you can alter it as well. The best way to make the right schedule for your third grader is to have them decide what works best for them.

Related Reading: Helpful Homeschooling Resources for Parents

3rd Grade Homeschooling Subject List

The right homeschooling subject list can be vital for complying with state requirements and ensuring that your child doesn’t miss out on any topics. Otherwise, there may be inadequacies or gaps in learning within your child’s knowledge base.

You also need a good subject list when homeschooling a 3^rd grader so that you can provide the right testing framework based on taught topics within comprehensive subjects. When looking at ways on how to homeschool third graders, all parents need to start with a subject list first. Some of the best homeschool curriculum for 3rd grade involves the following subjects.

Mathematics

3^rd grade math starts becoming more interesting for kids that have developed a foundation in the 2^nd grade. Concepts such as multiplication, division, probability, fractioning, and geometry will be explored further. Measurement, conversions, units and triple-digit numbers will be introduced in greater detail to kids.

Reading & writing

The third grade is when kids move beyond the fundamentals of phonics and go towards applications. This includes using special sounds, spelling words, and improving fluency. In terms of writing, kids will be encouraged to write short stories and use more complex words to express their perspectives.

Science

You’ll need to focus more on the solar system, animal/plant kingdoms, natural sciences, and foundational physics. Your kids will need to get hands-on with experiments while learning more about the scientific method. They’ll also get more acquainted with natural forces and their relationship with the earth.

Social studies

You can focus on different areas within social studies, such as history and geography, in greater detail. Map reading, capitals, and other geographical elements will be explored further. This is also the right age to start teaching about the economy and basic economic factors that influence world events.

Technology

In technology, kids will be taught how to use computers for basic searches and performing standard functions. This is a great way to get kids acquainted with using technology while also making them more independent in solving word problems using computers.  

Fine arts

You’ll need to introduce more types of genres of music, painting, and crafting. You can use different textbooks that talk about how painting can be made more precise and beautiful with the right techniques. Your will be able to improve the fine motor skills with more arts activities for kids.

What Are the Third Grade Learning Objectives?

In the third grade, it is all about how quickly your child can progress across the same subject list. They will be introduced to more complex equations, advanced scientific principles, and intricate word problems. They will need to focus on cross-subject applications for more well-rounded acquisition.

You can focus on the following third grade learning goals to help you ensure that your child is able to keep up. These learning goals can also be modified based on how well your child is performing, and whether you can introduce 4^th grade material.

Mathematics

You should ensure that your children are able to grasp multiplication, equations, word problems, and geometrical shapes. Place values, digits, writing to hundreds, fractions and conversions are also critical skills that young ones will need to develop. They should also understand the concept of 4-digit numbers and convert between different units.  

Reading & writing

When it comes to reading, kids should be able to use advanced techniques such as summarizing and questioning. They should be able to write short stories, descriptives, fiction, and other types of materials. They should also have a grasp over context hints while reading different types of literature as well.

Science

Your children will become more aware of the scientific method, including hypotheses, proofs, experimentation, etc. The concept of measurement and analysis in the larger natural world will be key to understanding as well. They should have a better idea about the solar system, physical concepts, astronomy, and life sciences.

Social studies

US history should be explored further in the 3^rd grade, as well as more iconic leaders and historical events. They should be introduced to the idea of history and government and the role of local agencies in our daily lives. They should also be aware of economic concepts that impact macro-level events in our world as well.

Fine arts

In terms of fine arts, your kids should have progressed along in arts, music, crafting, molding, and other vital skills. They should have greater precision in drawing, coloring, and other creative expressions. Your young ones should also have improved their ability to emulate different objects and art standards.  

Related Reading: How to Select a Homeschooling Curriculum: 5 Simple Ways

Books for Third Grade Homeschooling

There are several books that you can opt for when it comes to third grade homeschooling. When homeschooling a 3^rd grader, you need to ensure that you’re getting a mix of genres, authors, and reading levels so that you can keep them interested.

You can also focus on specific types of lessons that you want your child to grasp through reading. You can get books on leadership, teamwork, being a good citizen, respectfulness, and responsibility. You can also get books that talk about historical leaders and their courageous acts if you want to set the right examples for your homeschooled child.

1. Clean Getaway by Nic Stone

2. The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary

3. Pages & Co. Series by Anna James

4. Stuart Little by E.B. White

5. The Unicorn Rescue Society Series by Adam Gidwitz

6. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

7. National Geographic Kids Readers: Wolves

8. Confessions of a Dork Lord by Mike Johnston

9. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

10. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

11. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein

12. Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage

What To Do If Your 3rd Grader Doesn’t Like Reading?

Reading can be a challenge for many kids, and with the 3^rd grade the material becomes more complex. If your child is struggling with the source material, then trying different ways of teaching reading can help. Using toys, puzzles, worksheets, and activities can help encourage your child to read better.

You can also get kids excited for reading by reading together. You can select from a wide range of books online and in-print so that you can read something together. By reading together, you can subtly encourage your child to take over as you both enjoy spending quality time.

Another interesting way of encouraging your child to read is to lower their reading level. You can start by getting books that are within their area of interest and then encouraging them to read through them. You can take advantage of inherent interest in books about subjects they cherish.

Related Reading: What is a Homeschool Co-op?

Best Homeschooling Tips for 3rd Grade

Homeschooling a 3^rd grader can be made more streamlined with the right tips and strategies. You can leverage these tips at any time of the year to help you teach your child the right course material. You can also use multiple strategies simultaneously to make the learning experience more impactful for your child. Here are some of the best tips for homeschooling third graders. 

1. Incorporate multiple third grade homeschool activities to make the learning process more fun for kids.

2. Use a range of books that are both visually engaging and informative for maximum impact.

3. Talk to your kids every few weeks about how well they’re able to understand the material.

4. Ensuring outdoor visits, trips to museums, exploring galleries, etc. can help your child learn outside the homeschool setting.

5. Performing science experiments with science kits for kids can also help to learn about physical objects through different lenses.

6. You need to be more hands-on during the first few weeks of teaching, making it more impactful for young ones.

7. Adding multiple breaks in the middle of the homeschooling day can make your child more productive.

How To Assess Readiness for 3rd Grade Homeschooling?

One of the most important aspects of entering the 3^rd grade is understanding readiness for the school year. You can get a sense of how well your child is going to perform under the new curriculum with the right tests, quizzes, and conversations. You can understand how much information has been retained after grade 2.

When you’re homeschooling a 3^rd grader, you also need to know what has worked well for them. Whether they are visual learning or prefer more hands-on teaching methods, you need to determine what strategy helps them excel.

Readiness also depends on how they perform on a weekly basis. You can change their routine, the lesson plan, and how you teach distinct topics to get a sense of readiness for more advanced material.

Best Third Grade Homeschool Routine

When looking at homeschool 3rd grade schedules and routines, it is important to understand the unique requirements of young ones. You can create a robust and dynamic schedule that is both flexible and serves core needs.

Homeschooling a third grader can become so much easier when you have a set routine in place. You can introduce a sense of consistency within the daily schedule of your child and provide them the necessary structure to thrive. That’s why the perfect third grade homeschool schedule is the one that works best for them.

An example of a great 3rd grade homeschooling program routine is as follows.

9:30 am – Reading

10:30 am – Writing

11:30 am – Math

12:00 pm – Lunch

12:30 pm – Social studies

1:30 pm – Break

2:30 pm – Science

Conclusion

As a parent, there are several challenges that you need to face when it comes to teaching 3^rd grade. You need the right books, tools, and routines to ensure that your child is able to excel in their study. You can try different strategies until you find the right one that helps your child understand what’s being taught.

You need to also focus on letting your child take the lead in terms of self-exploration, independent learning, and inquiry fulfillment. You can provide the right sets of books and enable access to online search platforms, to let them try to find answers to questions in their minds. You can also establish the right subject list with the best 3rd grade homeschool curriculum.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)