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3rd grade · English Language Arts · Unit 17 of 21

Listening & Talking Together

Key ideas, taking turns, thoughtful questions and sharing opinions.

What your child practices

Practices listening for key ideas, using non-verbal cues and turn taking, asking thoughtful questions, giving evidence, and sharing thoughts and preferences in a group.

New York State Learning Standards learning standard: 3SL1; 3SL2; 3SL3 · listening for key ideas, taking turns and asking questions

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. In a group, one person speaks while the others listen.
  2. Ask questions to understand better, after the speaker finishes.
  3. Give evidence: say where your idea comes from, like “The book says…”

Example: Which answer gives evidence: “I think owls are cool.” or “The book says owls hunt at night.”? Evidence points to where the idea came from. The second one names the book. Answer: “The book says owls hunt at night.”

Listening & Talking Together in New York

In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 17 of 21 in 3rd grade English Language Arts, after Make Writing Better and before Posters, Slides & Media.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: New York State Education Department (NYSED)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    A partner shares an opinion different from yours. A kind reply is…

    • “Nobody cares.”
    • “Thanks for telling me. Here is what I think.”
    • “You are wrong.”

  2. Question 2

    Saying “I felt happy when…” is a way to share…

    • a map
    • your feelings
    • a recipe

  3. Question 3

    Taking turns in a group talk means…

    • everyone talks at once
    • nobody ever talks
    • one person speaks while others listen

  4. Question 4

    Which helps you remember key ideas while listening?

    • Jot a word or a quick picture
    • Talk to a friend
    • Look out the window

  5. Question 5

    Saying “I prefer cats because…” shares a…

    • fact that never changes
    • rule
    • preference

  6. Question 6

    Which question would help you think deeper about a story?

    • Is the book heavy?
    • What might happen next, and why?
    • How many pages are blue?

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