Maryland ELA RF.3.3.b

ELA3rd GradeReading Foundational Skills

The Standard

RF.3.3: Know and apply phonics and word analysis skills in reading (decoding) and writing (encoding) words. Know and apply phonics skills to read (decode) and write (encode) words. Read (decode) and write (encode) multi-syllable words with known letter-sound correspondences. (neighbor, suitcase, fascinate, suggest) Read (decode) and write (encode) words with common prefixes and derivational suffixes. Know and apply spelling rules to write (encode) words with increased accuracy and automaticity.

Read (decode) and write (encode) multi-syllable words with known letter-sound correspondences. (neighbor, suitcase, fascinate, suggest)

Maryland College and Career Ready Standards for English Language Arts (2025)

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students break longer words into syllables, read each part using familiar letter patterns, and blend the parts. They also listen to words and spell each syllable.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student reads magnet and fantastic without guessing from the first few letters. They spell sunset and napkin, then check each syllable for missing letters.
Common Misconceptions: Some students guess a word after reading only its first syllable. Others write baskit for basket because the vowel in the last syllable is hard to hear.
How to Assess It: On an exit ticket, have students read basket and fantastic aloud, then spell napkin and sunset from dictation. Check whether they read and spell every syllable.

Lesson moves

Dictate sunset and napkin; pairs build each word with letter tiles, separate the syllables, and read it aloud.
Ask: Why is reading all three syllables of fantastic more reliable than guessing from fan?
Play syllable match with sun, set, nap, kin, mag, and net cards; students pair cards and write each finished word.
Hand out a breakfast menu listing pancake and oatmeal; students read the items aloud, then write a breakfast order without looking.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to RF.3.3.b, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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