Challenging Common Core Language Arts Lessons, Grade 3

This book, from the Center for Gifted Education at William & Mary, provides gifted and advanced learners challenging activities to master and engage with the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts through four mini units. Each mini unit is packed with activities that enrich and extend grade-level ELA content for grade 3. Included texts have messages and characters that are developmentally suitable for students. Through higher order reasoning questions, resulting discussions, and student-created products associated with these texts, gifted and advanced students' needs are met while still maintaining messages and characters to which students can relate. Students will be exposed to themes such as choices, culture, beliefs, and perseverance. Each theme was chosen with advanced third-grade students in mind and their emerging need to learn more about themselves, their world, and how to work through adversity to accomplish their goals.

Grade 3

The Center for Gifted Education at The College of William and Mary, a research and development center, was established in 1988 under the direction of Dr. Joyce VanTassel-Baska. The center provides services to educators, policy makers, graduate students, researchers, parents, and students in support of the needs of gifted and talented individuals. Located in Williamsburg, VA, the center has established a national reputation for excellence in research, curriculum development, and service. Several major grants, including funding from the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act, have provided significant support for the work of the Center.

Molly Bryan Talbot is a special education teacher of third- and fourth-grade gifted students at Zachary Elementary School in the Zachary Community School District in Louisiana...