Apps that teach parts of speech, verb tenses, pronouns, paragraph structure, and punctuation to eight- and nine-year-olds.
STSpellingJoy Team
•Last Updated: July 13, 2026
For 3rd grade grammar, SpellingJoy ELA leads by putting grammar to work while a child drafts short paragraphs, and IXL is the deepest tool for adaptive, standards-tagged skill practice. BrainPOP is the pick for explaining parts of speech on video. Third grade is where grammar turns systematic: students name the parts of speech, juggle verb tenses, and organize sentences into paragraphs.
By age eight or nine, a student is expected to do more than write correct sentences; they have to edit them. That is a real leap. A third grader learns to catch a verb that jumps tenses mid-story, to pick the right pronoun so it matches its noun, to punctuate a line of dialogue, and to arrange several sentences around one topic sentence. The apps worth using pair a clear explanation of a rule with practice on the student's own writing.
Third grade grammar goals
Parts of speech: adding adverbs to nouns, verbs, and adjectives
Verb tenses: handling past, present, and future, including irregular verbs
Pronouns: using subject, object, and possessive forms correctly
Paragraph structure: building a topic sentence with supporting details
Punctuation: commas in a series and quotation marks in dialogue
Our selection method
We checked current pricing, feature depth, and store descriptions, then kept the apps with grammar strands that reach a genuine third grade level. Programs that stop at early phonics were set aside, because a third grader needs practice with tenses, pronoun cases, and paragraph building rather than letter sounds. Explanation quality mattered here as much as the practice itself.
Each pick lives within the larger set of reading and phonics apps, and the reading side pulls its weight: a child who reads richer texts meets tenses and punctuation used correctly, which makes the rules easier to internalize. The free SpellingJoy spelling app closes the list as a companion; it does not teach grammar, but strong spelling frees a third grader's attention for the sentence work that does.
† Pricing note: Prices are checked against each vendor's official website or help center at the time of writing, but vendors change plans and prices at any time. Always confirm current pricing on the vendor's own site before purchasing. How we review and verify →
Our pick
1
SpellingJoy ELA
Best guided ELA that teaches grammar
SpellingJoy ELA is a voiced, interactive English Language Arts curriculum for ages 5-10. The child plays a ~20-minute daily lesson alone - the AI tutor reads aloud, the child builds words with tappable tiles, reads back (speech recognition), and writes with AI feedback. Phonics-first, standards-aware, a full 36-week year per grade. Parents review the week's work. It is an AI tutor, not a state-accredited program, and is not COPPA/FERPA certified - parental consent and supervision are the parent's responsibility.
Best for:Grammar applied while an 8-9 year old drafts short paragraphsPrice:$19/month†Grades:K-5Platforms:Web
Pros
7-day free trial - try the full course before you pay
A full 36-week guided ELA year per grade (K-5)
Phonics-first and mapped to Common Core standards
Cons
Card required up front; $19/mo after the 7-day free trial
Web-only (no native mobile app yet)
AI tutor, not a state-accredited program
2
IXL
Best dedicated skill builder
IXL is a comprehensive adaptive learning platform covering all subjects from Pre-K through 12th grade.
Best for:Deep, adaptive third grade grammar strands with analyticsPrice:$79-159/yr†Grades:Pre-K-12Platforms:Web, iOS, Android
Pros
Comprehensive K-12 coverage
Adaptive learning
Detailed analytics
Cons
Expensive
Spelling is small part of ELA
3
BrainPOP
Best for parts of speech
BrainPOP uses animated videos to teach concepts across all subjects for K-8 students.
Best for:Animated lessons and quizzes on tenses and word typesPrice:$119-159/yr†Grades:K-8Platforms:Web
Pros
Engaging animated videos
Covers all subjects
Quiz assessments
Cons
Expensive
Not spelling-specific
4
Reading Eggs
Best reading-linked practice
Reading Eggs provides a comprehensive reading program for children ages 2-13 with lessons, games, and books.
Best for:Grammar reinforced by leveled reading through age 13Price:$70-100/yr†Grades:Ages 2-13Platforms:All platforms
Pros
Wide age range
Comprehensive program
Includes spelling component
Cons
Expensive
Can be overwhelming
5
SplashLearn
Best game-based practice
SplashLearn offers game-based math and ELA practice for Pre-K through 5th grade. Known for engaging gameplay that keeps kids motivated.
Best for:Grammar and writing games that keep motivation highPrice:$80/yr†Grades:Pre-K-5Platforms:Web, iOS, Android
Pros
Strong math AND reading content
Game-based learning kids love
Personalized learning paths
Cons
Reading is newer than math content
Can be addictive for some kids
6
Education.com
Best worksheets and printables
Education.com offers thousands of worksheets, printables, and learning activities for Pre-K through 8th grade.
Best for:Printable tense, pronoun, and paragraph sheetsPrice:$120/yr†Grades:Pre-K-8Platforms:Web
Pros
Huge worksheet library
Printable resources
Good for homeschool
Cons
Web only
Expensive
7
ABCya
Best quick review games
ABCya offers educational games for Pre-K through 6th grade across all subjects. Free with ads, or pay for ad-free premium access.
Best for:Grade-tagged language games for short review burstsPrice:$70/yr (ad-free)†Grades:Pre-K-6Platforms:Web, iOS, Android
Pros
Large game library
Free tier with ads
Covers all subjects
Cons
Free version has ads
Games vary in educational value
Not a structured curriculum
Our pick
8
SpellingJoy
Free spelling companion
SpellingJoy is a 100% free spelling practice platform for K-6 students. Unlimited spelling games, unlimited tests, 134+ word lists, custom list creation, and progress tracking - all completely free with no subscriptions and no hidden costs.
Best for:Free spelling reps that free up focus for grammarPrice:100% Free†Grades:K-6Platforms:Web
Pros
100% free - unlimited games, tests, and lists
No subscription or hidden costs ever
K-6 curriculum with 134+ word lists
Cons
Web-only (no native mobile apps yet)
Classroom features coming soon
Frequently asked questions
What grammar is taught in 3rd grade?
Third grade grammar gets systematic. Students name the parts of speech, including adverbs alongside nouns, verbs, and adjectives, work with regular and irregular verb tenses across past, present, and future, sort subject, object, and possessive pronouns, punctuate dialogue and a series with commas, and begin shaping sentences into an organized paragraph with a topic sentence and supporting details.
Are there free grammar apps for 3rd grade?
A few free routes work well. ABCya offers grade-tagged language games at no cost on its ad-supported tier, Education.com posts many free printable grammar sheets, and the SpellingJoy spelling app is free for the spelling practice that clears mental space for grammar. Free tools cover review nicely, though deeper tense and pronoun strands usually live in paid programs.
Do 3rd graders still need grammar practice if they read a lot?
Heavy readers absorb a great deal of correct grammar, but reading alone rarely teaches a child to explain why a verb tense is wrong or to fix it on purpose. Short, deliberate practice on tenses, pronouns, and punctuation turns that intuition into a skill a student can apply while editing their own writing, which is exactly what third grade asks for.
How much grammar should a 3rd grader practice each week?
Around twenty minutes, three or four times a week, hits the sweet spot. Third grade grammar rewards application, so the most productive setup is a brief skill lesson followed by writing a sentence or a short paragraph that uses it. Editing a rough draft together afterward teaches more than a longer round of isolated exercises.
Is SpellingJoy ELA a full grammar curriculum for 3rd grade?
It is close to a daily spine, but be clear about the label. SpellingJoy ELA is an AI tutor and not a state-accredited course, and it teaches grammar as part of a voiced ELA lesson rather than a graded, standards-certified program. For deep, sortable third grade grammar practice with progress data, IXL is the specialist to run alongside it.
Which app best teaches parts of speech to a 3rd grader?
BrainPOP is the standout for parts of speech because its short animated lessons make nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs concrete before a quiz checks understanding. Follow the video with adaptive questions in IXL, then have your child label the parts of speech in a sentence they wrote, so the concept moves from watching to doing.
Our Verdict
Our top pick for third grade is SpellingJoy ELA, because it has students apply grammar while they draft and revise inside a voiced lesson, with the honest note that it is an AI tutor and not a state-accredited course. For the deepest, most sortable practice, IXL is the specialist for pure grammar drilling, complete with analytics that show where a child is stuck.
When a concept needs explaining first, BrainPOP has the best short lessons on tenses and parts of speech, and SplashLearn turns the practice into games a third grader will repeat without complaint.
For reading-linked grammar, Reading Eggs stretches well past this grade, while Education.com supplies printable tense and pronoun sheets and ABCya is handy for quick, grade-tagged review games.
Add the free SpellingJoy spelling app as a companion. It is not a grammar program, yet fluent spelling lets a third grader spend their thinking on tense, pronouns, and paragraph shape instead of on how a word is spelled.
ST
About the Author
SpellingJoy Team
The SpellingJoy team is dedicated to creating free, high-quality spelling resources for K-6 students and their families. We test every app we review and provide honest assessments to help parents make informed decisions.
