Third Grade Spelling Words Guide

By the time students reach third grade, their spelling skills are more advanced, and they are ready to tackle more complex words, spelling patterns, and rules. Third graders are expected to spell high-frequency words correctly, use common spelling rules, and begin mastering words with prefixes, suffixes, and irregular spellings. This guide will provide an overview of common third-grade spelling words, strategies for teaching them, and practical tips for helping students become confident, proficient spellers.

Why Spelling Is Important in Third Grade

Third grade marks a key transition in a child’s education. Students are moving from learning to read and write to using reading and writing to learn new material. Spelling plays a vital role in this process by enhancing:

  • Reading Fluency: Correct spelling helps students recognize words quickly, improving reading fluency.
  • Writing Skills: Spelling proficiency allows students to focus on expressing their ideas clearly without being distracted by how to spell words.
  • Vocabulary Development: Learning to spell new words expands students’ vocabulary and helps them understand the meaning and structure of words.
  • Understanding of Word Structure: Third-grade spelling lessons often include instruction on prefixes, suffixes, root words, and spelling patterns, which are essential for both reading and writing.

Common Third Grade Spelling Words

Third-grade spelling words typically include a mix of high-frequency words, words with common spelling patterns, and more challenging words that introduce new spelling rules and patterns. Below is a list of 50 common third-grade spelling words grouped by category.

High-Frequency Words

These are words that occur often in reading and writing. Some follow regular spelling patterns, while others are irregular and must be memorized.

  1. about
  2. again
  3. because
  4. before
  5. important
  6. listen
  7. people
  8. really
  9. sometimes
  10. until

Words with Long and Short Vowels

Third graders continue to practice distinguishing between long and short vowel sounds.

  1. bake
  2. plane
  3. sleep
  4. dream
  5. close
  6. hope
  7. grab
  8. trip
  9. clock
  10. grass

Words with Common Prefixes and Suffixes

Third-grade spelling begins to include words with common prefixes (e.g., un-, re-) and suffixes (e.g., -ing, -ed, -ly).

  1. unhappy
  2. redo
  3. replay
  4. fastest
  5. helpful
  6. running
  7. jumping
  8. sadly
  9. quickly
  10. smiling

Words with Digraphs and Blends

In third grade, students continue to practice words with consonant digraphs (e.g., ch, sh, th) and blends (e.g., bl, cr, str).

  1. brush
  2. shout
  3. think
  4. splash
  5. strong
  6. strike
  7. bridge
  8. climb
  9. throw
  10. scream

Words with Silent Letters

Silent letters (e.g., kn, wr) are introduced in third grade, which can make spelling tricky.

  1. knee
  2. write
  3. wrong
  4. knot
  5. knife
  6. wrist
  7. knock
  8. answer
  9. weight
  10. light

Strategies for Teaching Third Grade Spelling Words

1. Teach Spelling Rules

Third grade is a great time to dive deeper into spelling rules. Teaching students common spelling rules will help them spell more complex words correctly.

Examples of Spelling Rules:

  • Doubling Rule: When adding a suffix to a one-syllable word that ends in a consonant after a short vowel, double the consonant (e.g., run becomes running).
  • Change “y” to “i” Rule: When adding a suffix to a word ending in “y” after a consonant, change the “y” to “i” (e.g., happy becomes happiest).
  • Silent “e” Rule: Drop the final “e” when adding a vowel suffix (e.g., hope becomes hoping).

How to Teach:

  • Create posters or visual aids that explain each rule with examples.
  • Have students sort words into categories based on the rule they follow.
  • Provide worksheets or activities that focus on each rule.

2. Build Vocabulary with Prefixes and Suffixes

Teaching prefixes and suffixes helps students understand how words are constructed and gives them tools to decode and spell unfamiliar words.

Common Prefixes: un-, re-, pre-, dis-, mis-
Common Suffixes: -ed, -ing, -ly, -ness, -ful

How to Teach:

  • Introduce a new prefix or suffix each week.
  • Have students practice adding prefixes and suffixes to root words (e.g., hope → hopeless, hoped, hoping).
  • Use word-building games where students create words by adding prefixes or suffixes to base words.

3. Use Word Families and Spelling Patterns

Word families help students recognize patterns in spelling, which makes it easier to spell new words. For example, if students know how to spell light, they can use that knowledge to spell bright, night, and slight.

How to Teach:

  • Group spelling words by word families (e.g., -ight, -ing, -est).
  • Create word family charts, and have students add new words to the chart as they learn them.
  • Use rhyming activities to reinforce word families.

4. Practice with Multisensory Activities

Multisensory learning engages multiple senses—sight, sound, touch, and movement—making it easier for students to retain spelling words.

How to Teach:

  • Use letter tiles or magnetic letters to build words.
  • Have students trace words in sand, shaving cream, or rice to engage their sense of touch.
  • Practice air writing, where students write letters in the air while saying the letters aloud.

5. Incorporate Spelling into Writing

Spelling words should not be isolated from writing. Encourage your students to use their spelling words in meaningful contexts by integrating them into writing activities.

How to Teach:

  • Have students write stories or journal entries using as many of their spelling words as possible.
  • Assign creative writing prompts that involve using spelling words in context.
  • Use dictation exercises where students write down sentences that include their spelling words.

6. Spelling Games and Activities

Games are a fun and effective way to reinforce spelling words and engage students.

Examples of Spelling Games:

  • Spelling Bingo: Create bingo cards with spelling words. Call out the words, and students mark them off.
  • Word Search: Create word searches that include the week’s spelling words.
  • Hangman: Play hangman using spelling words to help students think about letter placement.
  • Scrabble or Boggle: Use these word-building games to encourage students to think about letter combinations and spelling rules.

How to Structure a Weekly Spelling Plan

Here’s a sample weekly plan for teaching third-grade spelling words:

Monday:

  • Introduce the week’s spelling words.
  • Discuss any relevant spelling rules or patterns (e.g., silent letters, prefixes).
  • Have students write each word once and use them in a sentence.

Tuesday:

  • Use phonics-based activities to practice breaking down words into individual sounds.
  • Practice spelling words with letter tiles or magnetic letters.
  • Introduce a spelling rule and practice applying it to different words.

Wednesday:

  • Use a word family or spelling pattern activity to group words based on their endings or sounds.
  • Have students write a short story or paragraph using as many of their spelling words as possible.

Thursday:

  • Play a fun spelling game, such as bingo or a word search.
  • Practice multisensory spelling activities (e.g., air writing, tracing words in sand).

Friday:

  • Administer a spelling test.
  • Provide feedback and review any words students found challenging.
  • Have students reflect on the spelling words they struggled with and practice them again.

Tips for Parents to Support Spelling at Home

Parents can play an important role in reinforcing spelling skills at home. Here are a few ways to support your child’s learning:

  • Daily Practice: Spend 10-15 minutes each day reviewing spelling words with your child.
  • Use Everyday Contexts: Encourage your child to find their spelling words in books, signs, or conversations.
  • Spelling Apps: Use educational apps like Spelling City or ABCmouse that offer fun spelling games and activities.
  • Positive Reinforcement: Celebrate your child’s progress and effort, focusing on improvement rather than perfection.

Conclusion

Third-grade spelling instruction is an important step in helping students become confident writers and readers. By teaching common spelling rules, prefixes, suffixes, and word families, and incorporating multisensory activities and games, teachers can make spelling an engaging and meaningful part of the curriculum. Consistent practice both in the classroom and at home will help third graders develop the spelling skills they need to succeed as they continue their literacy journey.

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