An animal-themed unit focuses on third-grade skills. Scholars practice spelling patterns, prefixes, suffixes, and grammar concepts—nouns, verbs, adjectives, subjects, predicates, and sentences. Assessments gauge proficiency.

Students are taught the spellings of some words with a specific prefix. They comprehend the terms prefix and suffix. Students define the word pre as before and they relate the definition of prefix: the letter blends come before the word....

Students examine the difference between good-natured teasing and bullying through discussion of fictional scenarios and reflect on real-life situations. They use guidelines to help them realize when harmless joking has crossed the line...