Every year, when the school year begins, I see the same wide eyes from my new third graders. They walk in with their shiny supplies and a little more confidence than they had in second grade — but by week two, it hits them: third grade is different.
I once told my third grade class, I could write an entire essay titled ‘Third Grade Stinks’. You can imagine their surprise when I told them, I was serious, third grade does stink. It is the first time you receive number grades, it is the first time you are required to take standardized tests (oh the so many tests). Third grade is the first time you need to sit for extended periods of time to not only do but complete work. There are less field trips, less fun Friday, less movies and crafts, less rewards. Third grade is a doozy. However, third grade is also amazing. It is the beginning of a new set of academic skills; third graders learn organization, time management, and problem solving at a whole new level. Real friendships develop, students learn to persevere, and gain confidence in struggling and then overcoming hard things.
It’s not just the kids that feel it, parents feel it too. Parents feel a dread in third grade when those first low grades come home for review. It makes parents question, is my student behind? Should I get a tutor? Did they no learn what they needed to learn in second grade? Feeling overwhelmed for your third grader is normal. I am here to tell you, it gets better- give it some time.
From “Learning to Read” to “Reading to Learn”
The biggest shift in third grade is reading. In second grade, kids are still working on building fluency — sounding out, using strategies, growing their stamina. In third grade, we still care about those skills, but suddenly every subject expects them to use reading to learn new information. Students are now expected to read passages on third grade level, and respond to comprehension questions. Those questions are not always ‘in the text’ as we say, sometimes students must infer the answers. Inferring is an advanced skill requiring your third grader to apply information from the text, and information they think about the text to generate the correct response.
It’s a huge adjustment. Science experiments come with written directions. Social studies passages are longer and more detailed. Even math story problems feel like mini reading tests- yes, students must also read math problems, which are often two-steps.
Parents often tell me: “My child loves to read, but now they’re frustrated.” That’s normal — it’s the push from decoding words to actually digesting content.
To make this reading transition easier, read at home together and read often. Reading to your third grader is valuable- when students are read to their brains use listening comprehension to analyze the text. Students can also listen to stories online, or listen to podcasts. Make your home a reading home, set a timer for your student to read every night or day for 20 minutes. There are numerous research studies about how 20 minutes a day of reading can change the trajectory of a reader and student. Students that read 20 minutes a day will have 60 more days equivalent of learning by 6th grader compared to a reader that reads 5 minutes a day. If you do nothing else, make your third grader read.
Multiplication, Division, and Math That Feels “Hard”
Another giant leap? Math.
In second grade, math feels familiar — addition, subtraction, regrouping, a little intro to multiplication. But third grade says, “Surprise! Multiplication and division are here to stay.” We start the big stuff by the second week of school. To better prepare your now third grader, practice addition and subtraction facts before they arrive to third. Students should be experts in addition and subtraction fact families within 20. Think 20-7, 19-8, etc. Students should know how to add or subtract 10 from any number, 98-10, 66+10. These basics need to be automatic before students enter third grade.
We expect kids to memorize facts, apply them to multi-step word problems, and connect them to bigger ideas like area and fractions. That’s a tall order for 8- and 9-year-olds who, just a few months earlier, were still drawing tally marks for subtraction. Speaking of tally marks, we no longer draw tally marks for larger addition or subtraction problems. We now use expanded form to add and subtract to connect to the traditional algorithm (the way you and I learned).
It’s not that they can’t do it — it’s that they suddenly realize school feels more like “real work”, because it is.
Testing Becomes Real
Parents sometimes don’t realize that third grade is the first year for state testing (in most states). That adds pressure — not only on the teachers, but on the kids. In our state, we test those third graders in the first 10 days of school. Surprise, welcome to third grade to take your first big tests. Students are expected during standardized testing to sit still for a long period of time, they can not get up to ask questions (they must raise their hands), testing often lasts more than two hours.
Third graders can sense when things matter more. Suddenly, there’s “practice testing,” longer reading passages, and grown-ups talking about results. Some kids thrive on the challenge, but others feel anxious for the first time about schoolwork. Remember, your student is more than a test data number, while we may discuss the testing results, the greatest reward for your student is the progress they make throughout the year. Praise progress, not results.
Growing Independence (But Still Kids)
Third grade is also when we start holding kids more accountable for organization and responsibility. Homework isn’t just a worksheet — it might be a project or multi-day assignment. We expect them to write in planners, remember to bring their books back, and manage their own materials. Students learn to bring their homework, there is no more ‘ my mom forgot my homework’. We tell students in third grade, ‘you forgot your homework’. We are not trying to be mean to your baby, we are trying to teach them accountability for their learning. I consider third grade to be the Kindergarten of the rest of school, it is the beginning of all the ‘real school’. In Kindergarten through second grade, students are learning while practicing being a student. In third grade, we expect them to now be students- as they have been learning to be one for three years. When you struggle at home with homework, or getting your student to read, remember we need your help too. They can do the work, and gently reminding them to ‘try it’ first before you swoop in to save the day, will increase their confidence. A confident student will be more successful. Please don’t swoop in to save the day to make things easier, it is ultimately making things harder for them at school.
That independence is important, but here’s the truth: they’re still little kids. They need scaffolding, gentle reminders, and lots of encouragement. Parents often feel torn between letting their child figure things out and wanting to swoop in to rescue them. That’s normal.
How Parents Can Help at Home
Here are some small, realistic ways to ease the transition:
- Read together — still. Even if they can read independently, sharing a chapter book aloud helps with comprehension and builds confidence. Read, read, read.
- Talk through word problems. Don’t just solve them — let your child explain the story in their own words before doing the math. Draw it out- in our math class we say ‘ when in doubt, draw it out’.
- Practice multiplication in little bites. Flash cards, skip-counting songs, or quick challenges in the car go a long way.
- Build routines. A set spot for the backpack, a regular homework time, and a checklist for morning prep help your child feel organized.
- Reassure them. Let them know it’s okay that school feels harder — that means they’re growing.
Final Thoughts
Third grade is often described as a “milestone year,” and it really is. Kids go from being early-elementary learners to more independent, critical thinkers. It’s not always an easy jump, but it’s one of the most rewarding years to watch — because you get to see the “lightbulb moments” when it all starts to click.
So if your child is in third grade right now and you’re wondering why it feels harder than last year: you’re not alone. The leap from second to third grade is real — but with support at school and home, kids don’t just make the jump… they soar.
