Program 3 is designed to be one year’s work in a typical classroom setting where one Unit is completed each week.  The standard is for Grade 5 level or the average student aged about 10 years. The program is written in plain English.

 

Program 3 has the same style of exercise as Program 1 and Program 2 which gives students confidence when attempting Activities.  The Activities are again marginally more difficult than Program 2.

 

The content, and the knowledge and skills taught are:

 

  • The 125 ‘Must Know´ listed at the start of Program 3, include the 50 Program 2 ‘Must Know’ words. They form about 75% of writing at this level and learning these words is essential for success in writing and reading.

 

  • Many of the Activities in Program 3 are designed to be completed using a student dictionary.

 

  • Program 3 covers more complex phonemes and digraph, contractions, abbreviations and more complex long vowel sounds.

 

  • There is a stronger focus on syllables, base words and root words and more focus on grammar.

 

  • Program 3 has a much stronger emphasis on vocabulary building or development in the Activities.

 

  • A higher level of difficulty in Program 3 further developed previously learned literacy skills such as editing writing, dictionary skills, blends, homophones, synonyms, antonyms, doubled consonants, contractions, prefixes and suffixes, plurals, nouns – proper nouns, collective nouns, pronouns, verbs and verbs tenses, adverbs, adjectives and conjunctions.

 

  • New skills and knowledge developed include Latin and Greek roots, confused words, base words, guide words, abbreviations and punctuation, more basic grammar including prepositions, compound verbs, adverbial phrases, adjectival phrases, plurals and verbs, direct and indirect speech and statement and questions.

 

  • Word Building lists provide word relationships, extension, and vocabulary building.

 

All Activities require thinking – there is no ‘busy’ work in the program. The answers to about 80% of the Activities of each Unit are the List Words of that unit which encourages students to persevere.

 

The teaching of concepts is required.

 

The online Activities are designed to challenge and engage students.