3rd grade spelling words
3rd grade spelling words: r-controlled vowels, two-syllable and compound words, and suffix rules. Generate weekly practice sheets and tests with answer keys.
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3rd grade spelling patterns: suffixes and longer words
3rd grade spelling words move from one-syllable patterns to longer words: two-syllable and compound words, r-controlled vowels in longer words, and the rules for adding suffixes. Common Core's examples for adding suffixes are sitting, smiled, cries and happiness (L.3.2.e). This generator turns a 3rd grade list into tests or pattern practice sheets.
R-controlled vowels in longer words
An r after a vowel changes its sound: ar in 'park', or in 'storm', and er, ir and ur in 'her', 'bird' and 'burn'. The last three sound alike, so 3rd graders often guess between them. 3rd grade lists use them in longer words such as 'garden' and 'thirsty'.
R-controlled: park, barn, star, corn, horse, bird, fern, burn
Digraphs in longer words: shelter, kitchen, thunder, whisper
Two-syllable: rabbit, sudden, winter, garden, number
Compound words: sunset, bedroom, football, playground
The three suffix rules
Three rules cover most suffix changes. Practice one rule per sheet, such as 10 base words where students add -ing, before mixing them.
Double the final consonant after a short vowel: sit, sitting
Drop the silent e before a vowel suffix: smile, smiled
Change y to i before most suffixes: cry, cries; happy, happiness
Spelling and content-area words
3rd graders read more science and social studies, with multisyllabic words (habitat, climate, pioneer) they need to read and write. Add two or three of them to the weekly pattern list.
How to make a spelling test
- 1
Add the words
Paste your list, or describe the grade and spelling pattern.
- 2
Pick the format
Describe it in the box, then set the grade and number of items.
- 3
Print
Print the student copy, then the answer key.
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All five: ar, or, er, ir and ur. Most students meet them in 1st or 2nd grade. In 3rd grade the work is choosing between er, ir and ur, which sound alike, in longer words.
The Dolch 3rd grade list has 41 words, including about, better, bring, carry, clean, eight, laugh, myself, never, seven, together and warm. Mix a few into pattern lists, and check them against your district's copy.
Yes. Ask for a Dolch or Fry list by name (for example, Dolch pre-primer or Fry's first 100) and check the words against your district's copy before printing. The lists aren't stored in the tool; the AI writes them from what it knows.
Yes. Paste the words into the description and the worksheet uses them.
Fill-in-the-blank sentences, multiple choice with one correct spelling, practice sheets, and spelling bee lists. It doesn't draw tracing letters.
Yes. Leave it on to print the answers on a separate page, or turn it off for the student copy.
Yes, with no account.
Spelling lists and tests by grade
Starting points with the grade, list, or test format filled in.
Format
Spelling bee
By grade
- Kindergarten spelling words
- 1st grade spelling words
- 2nd grade spelling words
- 4th grade spelling words
- 5th grade spelling words
- Spelling test for 1st grade
- Spelling test for 2nd grade
- 3rd grade spelling bee words
- 4th grade spelling bee words
- 5th grade spelling bee words
- 6th grade spelling words
- 7th grade spelling words
- 8th grade spelling words
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